7+9 DAYS  American Biz & Fun  Benedict & Rachel  American Dream 6(Fri)Apr to 21(Sat)Apr 2001

San Francisco City Tour, Union Square, Washington Square, China Town, Fishermen Wharf, Coit Tower, Lombard Street, Palace of Fine Art, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, City Hall, Lake Tahoe, Emarald Bay, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Falls, Ei Captain, Three Brothers, Half Domw, Monterey Aquarium, 17th Miles Scenic Drive, Solvang the Little Demark, Great Mojave Desert, Lake Havasu (London Bridge), Flagstaff, Grand Canyon - South Rim, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Las Vegas "Round the World Illumination" tour,  Barstow Factory Outlets, Calico Ghost Town, Anaheim, DisneyLand, Los Angeles,  Hollywood, Universal Studios, Universal City Walk.

18 DAYS AMERICAN BIZ & FUN! 7 Days : Singapore/Taipei/San Francisco After that Day 01 : Lake Tahoe (320km, 3hr 35min) Day 02 : Yosemite National Park (225km, 4hr) Day 03 : Monterey/Solvang (420km,7hr)/(337.7km, 4hr 7min) Day 04 : Flagstaff/Lake Havasu (919.8km, 11 hr 14min) Day 05 : Grand Canyon/ Hoover Dam (130.6km, 2hr 14min) Day 06 : Las Vegas/Calico Town (449.1km, 6hr 24min) Day 07 : Barstow Factory Outlet (252km, 2hr 41min) Day 08 : Anaheim/Disneyland (173.8km, 1hr 58min) Day 09 : Hollywood-Universal Studio (51.7km, 38min) Day 10 : Los Angeles/Taipei/Singapore (Sun, 1:30am) Day 11 : Arrive Singapore (Mon, 12pm) Total Distance Covered: > 3280 km on road This is about the distance from Singapore to Taipei City in Taiwan

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Detailed Itinerary 18 DAYS AMERICAN BUSINESS & FUN!

07 Days Biz Trip : Singapore/San Francisco Our exciting holiday began with a flight to San Francisco-“ Everybody’s favourite city”. We gained a day as we crossed the International Dateline and arrived on the same day. Dinner at colourful Chinatown after checking in to Sir Francis Drake Hotel, Downtown. Our tour of San Francisco started with a visit to Golden Gate Park followed by the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge-the most famous landmark of the city.We also took the famous San  Francisco cable car ride to the vibrant Fisherman’s Wharf and have a panoramic view of the city at the Coit Tower. Effort was made to walk up the Lombard street which is the crookiest road in the world.  Another day was spent walking down (about 30 mins)to the Palace of Fine Art which both of us agreed is the most scenic place in San Francisco (although it is less popular).     After-Business Round California, Nevada & Arizona Tour Day 01 : Lake Tahoe This morning we rented a car at Hertz and started our 9 days adventure round American with our first destination at the shore of the picturesque crystal clear Lake Tahoe.  We checked in to Highland Country Lodge before proceeding to Emerald Bay which is the best spot in Lake Tahoe according to the motel's owner. We have fun in the snow there followed by a visit to the town where the Heavenly Cable Car Station is situated.      Day 02 : Yosemite National Park We started our day driving to Yosemite National Park (With more than 4 million visitors a year, it confirms to be USA’s premier national park of natural beauty). Our tour included seeing geological wonders like El Captain and the Yosemite Falls (At 2525 feet- it is the tallest waterfall in North America). We also enjoyed breathtaking views of Three Brothers, Mirror Lake and Half Dome. At evening, we put up at EC Yoshimite Motel in Mariposa.     Day 03 : Monterey-Carmel/Solvang In the morning  we head for picturesque Monterey - Carmel dubbed “the greatest meeting of land and sea”. We drove along Cannery Row of John Steinbeck‘s fame in Monterey and stopped at Fisherman’s Wharf. A visit was made to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which has the world largest interactive window that exhibits the hidden world of the ocean habitats.  Our next stop was the spectacularly Scenic 17 miles Drive which winds through Pacific Grove, the million dollar homes and golf courses of Pebble Beach. We head for the charming Scandinavian Village of Solvang, home to Danish Pastries and windmills and affectionately referred to as Little Denmark. We stayed overnight in the Hamlet Motel which owned by a Taiwanes family nearby.

 
 

Day 04 : Flagstaff/Lake Havasu Today we journey through the Great Mojave Desert in the comfort of our rented Ford Tauraus enjoying the unique Flora and Fauna as we moved along. On the way we detoured to Lake Havasu to view the Original London Bridge, brought all the way from London.  After driving for approx. 12 hours covering close to 1000km across the Great Mojave Desert,  we  arrived at Flagstaff for an overnight stay at the Travelodge.  We would be turning in early for tomorrow as we would will be witnessing one of the seven natural wonders of the world and arguably USA’s most famous natural attraction - The Grand Canyon.    Day 05 : Grand Canyon National Park/Hoover Dam /Las Vegas This morning our brief journey brought us to the Grand Canyon National Park. We embraced ourselves with the vastness and beauty of nature masterpiece created by the mighty Colorado River. Simply a sight to behold !!! A humbling and inspiring  experience!!!  On the tour, we brought ourselves to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for the best views of the Canyon. Leaving the Grand Canyon, We next proceed for a visit of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead before we arrived at the entertainment Capital of  the World - Las Vegas, visited by more than 33 million visitors a year. We stayed on Las Vegas Boulevard - The Strip, where it all happens …. 24 hours a day ….  After checking into Howard Johnson Inn, we visited Las Vegas “Round the World Illumination Tour” on the Strip. Saw the magnificent Eiffel Tower, the Skyline and the Statue of Liberty of  New York,  and also the hundreds of fountains of Bellagio dancing to a symphony of light and water. We took our proper dinner only at 12am in the morning at Denny's before calling it a day at 3 am.   Day 06 : Las Vegas/ Calico Town/ Barstow Factory Outlet This late morning, we continued our free at leisure in Las Vegas. We visited Treasure Island and the mystical pyramids of Luxor,before departing the glittering Las Vegas and head toward Barstow.  Enrouted we visited Calico Town, an authentic 1880’s Silver Mining Ghost Town.  We enjoyed the Grand West Days at this historical landmark with great photo opportunities. During the late afternoon, we drove to Barstow, famed for its Factory Outlet and stayed a night at the only nearby motel - Goodnite Inn.               Day 07: Barstow Factory Outlet  In the morning, we proceeded to the two Giants Complex in Barstow:  Tanger and 101 for some factory outlet shopping until late afternoon before making our way to Anaheim - Home of Disneyland and put up at Chester Inn for the next two nights.    Day 08 : Anaheim/Disneyland Early morning, we proceeded to Disneyland - The Happiest Place on Earth.  We spent the whole day there enjoying all the rides and attractions Disneyland has to offer. However, we could not cover all the attractions as it has to much to offer. Indiana Jone and the Jungle Cruise are the two theme parks that both of us enjoyed most.    Day 09 : Los Angeles/Hollywood-Universal Studios We have a full day tour of Universal Studios Hollywood, the World’s largest movie studio and Theme Park, where movies comes alive. Terminator 2  was the most impressive theme park for us with 3D effect and involvement of smell and touch.  Followed by was  the Blackdash, a dramatic Wild Wild West and an hour tour into the ultimate cinema of the future, in which we have opportinity to experience artificial rain, earthquakes, falling bridge, driving through the water and etc.  In the evening, we proceeded to Universal City Walk- the coolest Street in America, and completed with fabulous entertainment, food and shopping. We head for the LA airport to check in for our flight and have our first and only Japanese food in US in the airport Cafeteria.   Day 10 & 11 : Los Angeles/Singapore We crossed the International Dateline and arrived home with wonderful souvenir and 35 roll of film awaiting development.  It is indeed a Sweet American Dream!!!.