I have never apprehended the world prior to a road trip I acquired in 2011 down the West Coast. When you’re converging with family, enjoying surprises and amazing twists along the way… Seeing the world makes your experience that much more dynamic.
Our road trip, initiating in Washington State, made a beautiful stop in southern Oregon at Crater Lake. Stopping here was a surprise but none of us expected the 10 feet of snow in July. SNOW IN JULY! We wore sandals, shorts, tanks, etc… Seeing the Herculean lake and the magnanimous amounts of snow was a sight to behold to start the road trip.
To get to Crater Lake was 6 hours of driving but we thankfully made sure we were occupied for all the driving. We asked locals where there was a great place to eat, directed us to this “amazing” Chinese food restaurant but the food was appalling. Don’t go to Yummy Yan’s Chinese Restaurant in Medford, Oregon!
The next day was a day trip in San Francisco! We hit major traffic all over the city but finally got there in time for lunch. We took a trolley tour of the city, making a “memorable” experience by sitting outside. Our mistake here was our comprehension of San Francisco weather in the afternoon… Clouds and cold weather roll into San Francisco unnaturally quickly in the afternoon, hitting the Golden Gate Bridge first. Sitting in the back of that trolley wasn’t the most comfortable, where the cold air hit us like acute needles.
We only planned to tarry in the city for a day but there is SO MUCH TO DO! I would suggest you stay at least more than one day. You won’t regret it. Our plan next was to go straight to Palm Springs, our destination where we relax and bide at the Westin Resort in Rancho Mirage, CA. Not planning this part out very well, we had to drive through traffic out of the busy city and drive a few hours late at night to get to our reserved hotel. Expect traffic and get a hotel near San Francisco!
The next day we reached the gorgeous Westin Resort, the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun in the pool. Of course we dined in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, went to a movie at the Regal Cinema, and shopped downtown Palm Springs for the beautiful Street Fair that is held every Thursday. FAIR WARNING: if you want to stay away from all the senior citizens visiting the area, don’t take a bus tour of the surrounding areas. We went cheep and the bus ended up full of elderly and my sister and I were the only kids under 40 years old.
To keep the road trip thriving, and not bore our entire days getting back up to Washington, we stopped at California’s most alluring greenery. The vegetation is so diverse you can’t miss places like the Redwoods and Yosemite Park. The sights you see here you will never forget about.
All the driving back home gave me a lot of time to ponder what I have seen of the world. My view of the world only came in pictures and now I was received the opportunity to see with my eyes. The world is a lot bigger than me and seeing all those sights…it makes you realize that where you are is just the beginning; the beginning to make a difference in the world and have an experience in life that never ends. A change that has affected my future ever since.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
