A time-honored tradition of 20-somethings and retirees alike, road trips are a great way to see this country. And I set out to do one of the well-traveled paths, the Big Surr. The itinerary involved flying into San Diego, California, traveling up the West Coast to San Fransisco, heading back Southeast to Las Vega, Nevada, and concluding our travels in Tucson, Arizona. It was a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time. But it meant getting to experience many of America’s treasures without having to take months off of work.
 
Arrivig at the San Diego airport, picking up the car was a bit of a wait, but that was the only obstacle.

We checked into the Hard-Rock hotel, in  the eclectic Gaslamp Quarter, a 16.5 block historic district, ablaze with over 100 restaurants, 40 nightclubs and bars, entertainment, and retail opportunities galore. During daylight, one can visit the 42,000-seat PETCO Park and cheer on the hometown Padres, or climb aboard the USS Midway Museum to explore the city’s rich Navy heritage. During the next 2 days we explored the East Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza, Little Italy, and Marina. Boutique shopping and trendy cafes abound in colorful Little Italy; outdoor recreation, public art and nautical history fills downtown’s waterfront, and the region’s rich arts and culture is on display in the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art. The outskirts of the city are also worth exploring with jaw-dropping vistas and beaches filled with beautiful people who take pride in their sports & fitness.

As we headed North along the West Coast, I was pleased to be the passanger, not the driver. For one because of the sheer drop on the left-side of the road, and two because of the beauty everywhere around us. It took a while to make it to our San Franscisco destination because there are so many phenominal stops along the way, from vistas to parks, to views of noisy, sunbathing sealions. Once in San Fran, it was a great workout walking the windy, hilly streets.  While there we stayed at the Golden Gate Hotel (http://www.goldengatehotel.com/), a charming small B&B just north of Union Sq. The owners were very helpful in giving suggestions and directions to various local spots. We spent the day at Pier 39 (http://www.pier39.com) a beautiful plaza of over 100 shops and restaurants. Just down the road is Pier 33, with the boats leaving for Alcatraz, as well as the world famous fisherman’s wharf. Our favorite restaurant was Ottimista Enoteca, a marvelous Italian Bistro off of Union Square, with fresh ingredients, and magnificent flavor combinations.

One of our destinations while in San Francisco was a stop in Sausalito. We had dinner at Angelino’s restaurant (http://www.angelinorestaurant.com). This one had been recommended to us from someone all the way back in Delaware. Both the food, and the view of the water were amazing. A long stroll down Bridgeway st, takes you past an eclectic collection of shops. No chain stores here.

We then drove southeast to Las Vegas, where the area was booming with construction everywhere. But we managed to get a room at the Paris Hotel (www.parislasvegas.com), a great hotel with top-notch service. They make you feel like a Queen, and the Painted Ceiling, boasting an Eiffel Tower replica growing through a beautiful blue sky is not to be missed. I am certainly not a gambler & did not expect to enjoy Vegas, but the quick taste I had of this city, means I will surely be coming back, hopefully for a longer time next time.

Our final destination was Tucson, AZ, where we stayed  at the La Brissa hotel at the Tuscon airport. Time was very limited so we spent a few hours wandering downtown with  a little help from the trolley. An amazing array of shopping and dining potential, but my favorite was Urban Cowgirl, a trendy Thrift Store where I even nabbed a pair of snakeskin boots for only $28.

The trip was certainly a little rushed, but as a working woman, sometimes that’s the exception you have to make. Even so, I saw some amazing things that this country has to offer & I was able to have that authentic American experience of a roadtrip with the time-constraints of being a hard-working grown-up.