Down the Pacific coast to the desert

Who it is for

For anyone who wants the Pacific coast and the desert in two weeks.

Not for anyone who wants to do every outing on foot; distances between neighbourhoods and cities require choosing transport and allowing time for it.

The strategy

The sequence is Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Choose air or road travel for each leg around the days available. Within Los Angeles and Las Vegas, compare public transport, taxis and cars around your chosen places; renting does not guarantee time savings once traffic and parking are included. Group visits by neighbourhood and leave breaks.

What you will see

• Pike Place Market, Seattle. A public market opened on August 17, 1907, to cut out the middleman between producer and consumer; today it draws about 10 million visits a year across nine levels built into the hillside.
• Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco. Suspension bridge opened on May 27, 1937, with a 1,280 m main span and 227 m towers; it was the longest in the world for 27 years.
• Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles. Opened on May 14, 1935 on the south flank of Mount Hollywood, with free admission as required by Griffith J.
• Fountains of Bellagio, Las Vegas. An artificial lake of 3.4 hectares with about 1,200 nozzles that shoot water up to 140 m, opened October 15, 1998.

Day by day

Seattle

1. 1
   Day 1: Market, waterfront, and downtown

   1. 1Pike Place MarketEssential
   2. 3The waterfront and Seattle AquariumEssential
   3. 2Central LibraryUp to half an hourEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: Seattle Center, Queen Anne, and the canal

   1. 9Space NeedleIf there is time
   2. 4Chihuly Garden and GlassWorth a visit
   3. 5MoPOPUp to half an hourWorth a visit
3. 3
   Day 3: The old city, the Asian neighborhood, and Capitol Hill · if you have more time

   

San Francisco

1. 4
   Day 4: The east shore, the hills, and the old center

   1. 5Ferry BuildingWorth a visit
   2. 6Coit TowerUp to half an hourWorth a visit
2. 5
   Day 5: Alcatraz in the morning, the Presidio in the afternoon

   1. 2AlcatrazEssential
   2. 7Presidio and Palace of Fine ArtsWorth a visit
   3. 1Golden Gate BridgeEssential
3. 6
   Day 6: Mission, park, and ocean

   1. 4Golden Gate ParkWorth a visit
   2. 9de Young and California Academy of SciencesIf there is time

Los Angeles

1. 7
   Day 7: Historic downtown, the Eastside, and a Mexican night

   1. 7El Pueblo and Olvera StreetWorth a visit
   2. 8Union Station and the Bradbury BuildingUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. 4The Broad and Walt Disney Concert HallWorth a visit
2. 8
   Day 8: Griffith, Miracle Mile, and Koreatown

   1. 1Griffith ObservatoryEssential
3. 9
   Day 9: Westside, the beach, and sunset over the Pacific

   1. 2Getty CenterEssential
   2. 6Watts TowersWorth a visit
4. 10
   Day 10: A whole day of eating
5. 11
   Day 11: Malibu and the Pacific Coast Highway (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Las Vegas

1. 12
   Day 12: The Strip end to end

   1. 1Fountains of BellagioEssential
   2. 4SphereWorth a visit
2. 13
   Day 13: Old downtown, museums and locals' bars

   1. 6Mob MuseumUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. 5Neon MuseumWorth a visit
3. 14
   Day 14: Red Rock, the old springs and the desert · if you have more time

   1. 3Red Rock CanyonEssential
   2. Seven Magic MountainsUp to half an hourIf there is time