As I was away for 14 days in total this post will focus on the first seven days and an additional post will focus on the final seven otherwise this post would have been mega long!
Day 1 California ( San Diego and Hollywood)
The day before we had flown in and stayed in a hotel that Trek America had recommended (Custom Hotel). We met our group leader and the group. The group leader went through typical health and safety stuff and then gave us all a list detailing what we were doing and going on each day and the food kitty. The food kitty is where everyone puts in money ($10 dollars a day) and in groups cooks a meal. After that, we all piled in the white van and travelled to Hollywood. Whilst we were in Hollywood we took photographs of the famous sign and went to Hollywood boulevard where we walked around the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
Afterwards, we travelled to San Diego and arrived at our campsite (Campland on the bay). We all set up our tents together (Mike our tour guide called it tent yoga!) and headed towards the beach. At night, Mike cooked our first meal. We had s'mores which were great as I never had them before. S'mores are essentially crackers with chocolate and marshmallows that are roasted in a camp fire.
Day Two (San Diego)
Today was a completely free day in San Diego so we decided to go to the beach in the morning and have a wander round. I didn't think there was much to do at the beach (i.e. all the shops are the usual tourist shops) however I was pretty happy as I just wanted to chill out anyway. In the afternoon, we travelled to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Old Town San Diego is considered the birthplace of California as it was the site of the first Spanish settlement. It literally reminded me of a Disney set. We all went to a Mexican restaurant. Which served massive portions, I wish I had shared with my fiancé! Around the historic park, there are lots of small shops in the style of what would have been sold in the 1800's. I went to the little Tinsmith shop and brought a mirror and a present for my mum. Finally, we went to Balboa Park which was a bit of a disappointment really as everything was shut.
Day 3 (Lake Havasu, Arizona)
Day Two (San Diego)
Today was a completely free day in San Diego so we decided to go to the beach in the morning and have a wander round. I didn't think there was much to do at the beach (i.e. all the shops are the usual tourist shops) however I was pretty happy as I just wanted to chill out anyway. In the afternoon, we travelled to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Old Town San Diego is considered the birthplace of California as it was the site of the first Spanish settlement. It literally reminded me of a Disney set. We all went to a Mexican restaurant. Which served massive portions, I wish I had shared with my fiancé! Around the historic park, there are lots of small shops in the style of what would have been sold in the 1800's. I went to the little Tinsmith shop and brought a mirror and a present for my mum. Finally, we went to Balboa Park which was a bit of a disappointment really as everything was shut.
The next day we headed to Lake Haversau. Which purely served as a stopover site for the Grand Canyon. It was a long van ride. I think 5 hours long in what is desert. Before we made it to the Lake however we visited Salvation Mountain. The mountain, created from adobe clay and donated paint by Leonard Knight who was a Vietnam War veteran who died in 2014 was his tribute to God. It was nothing like I ever seen in the UK. I thought it was pretty and unique.
When we go to the campsite (River Island State Park) it was the first time where I thought I hate camping as it was so windy dust was just getting everywhere. I long abandoned any hopes of keeping my clothes clean with all the dust! We went stargazing which was fantastic, but we could only identify the plough.
Day 4 (Grand Canyon!)
Full steam ahead to the next stop, we went to a place which had the original London Bridge. To be honest none of the brits were that impressed with it. It's not home and why on earth you would buy a bridge from another country to boost tourism in your own country is beyond me!
When we go to the campsite (River Island State Park) it was the first time where I thought I hate camping as it was so windy dust was just getting everywhere. I long abandoned any hopes of keeping my clothes clean with all the dust! We went stargazing which was fantastic, but we could only identify the plough.
Day 4 (Grand Canyon!)
Full steam ahead to the next stop, we went to a place which had the original London Bridge. To be honest none of the brits were that impressed with it. It's not home and why on earth you would buy a bridge from another country to boost tourism in your own country is beyond me!
We went on a tiny part of the famous Route 66 which was really exciting for me, stopping at this diner which is famous for its milkshakes (and it's decor) and you could leave something behind on it's walls. I left behind a loyalty card. The decor was crazy, literally everywhere contained all this crazy material even the toilets were fully decked out! Finally after a few hours we were at the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon was amazing I paid for the helicopter ride which empathised how vast the canyon is. Our pilot was lovely and gave us lots of facts. The flight was 40 minutes long and in the final twenty minutes I felt so ill I did everything in my power as not to throw up. By the time we got back my partner and I just chilled (I still felt poorly after the ride) and I had an early night.
Day 5 (Grand Canyon)
My fiancé and I woke early (quarter past six) and had a look at the sun rising in the Canyon. On that day, we walked half way down the Canyon Rim. We left at about eight to walk down and I am so glad we went early as it meant missing a lot of the crowds and also the heat! In the afternoon, we did our laundry, had a shower and went bowling in the morning and caught up with wi- fi access in the laundry room!
Day 6 and Day 7 (Hoover Dam and Las Vegas)
Day 5 (Grand Canyon)
My fiancé and I woke early (quarter past six) and had a look at the sun rising in the Canyon. On that day, we walked half way down the Canyon Rim. We left at about eight to walk down and I am so glad we went early as it meant missing a lot of the crowds and also the heat! In the afternoon, we did our laundry, had a shower and went bowling in the morning and caught up with wi- fi access in the laundry room!
Day 6 and Day 7 (Hoover Dam and Las Vegas)
Everyone was looking forward to Vegas not least because it was the first day of being in a hotel. After the muck of the canyon and the tents, it was nice to be in a room to be able to repack. Before Vegas we had to stop in an In and Out burger place. I love places like Wendy's and Denny's so knew I would love In and Out. We also stopped at the Hoover Dam for pictures.
We stayed at the Golden Nugget Hotel which was in the Fremont part of Vegas. We all decided to hire a party bus for the night (which came out of the kitty) which I was so glad we did as it was awesome. Afterwards for the over 21's we went to a club Omnia nightclub in Caesars Palace which happened to have Nicky Romero playing a set. It is an amazing nightclub and I really recommend anyone to go! On our next free day In Vegas all I did was shop, see all the sites such as the Vegas sign, Bellagio Fountains, Ceasars Palace and dabbled in a bit of gambling. At first I wished I had more than two days at Vegas to experience it but two days was enough for me.
We stayed at the Golden Nugget Hotel which was in the Fremont part of Vegas. We all decided to hire a party bus for the night (which came out of the kitty) which I was so glad we did as it was awesome. Afterwards for the over 21's we went to a club Omnia nightclub in Caesars Palace which happened to have Nicky Romero playing a set. It is an amazing nightclub and I really recommend anyone to go! On our next free day In Vegas all I did was shop, see all the sites such as the Vegas sign, Bellagio Fountains, Ceasars Palace and dabbled in a bit of gambling. At first I wished I had more than two days at Vegas to experience it but two days was enough for me.
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