We had a road trip from Houston to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Napa valley and Redwoods/ Nov 17 to Dec 4, 2022 in son's car, Here are a few highlight pics
HOLLYWOOD sign
Santa Monica Beach, California
Getty Center, Los Angeles
Highway 1, California
Napa valley vineyards
Redwoods National Park
WHAT TO SEE?
Our goal was to enjoy the fabulous holiday decor in Vegas [5 nights], then drive into California, Los Angeles 2 nights, experience the scenic beauty of Napa valley vineyards with base in Petaluma 2 nights, then onward north to Redwoods National Park with base in Crescent City 2 nights.
Drive from Houston to Vegas took 2 days , same for coming back home
WHEN TO GO?
Son used the Thanksgiving holidays and we got out of Vegas on Thanksgiving Thursday. We were able to enjoy the special Christmas decor in all Vegas hotels without facing the crowds.
Everywhere the weather was cool/cold and pleasant ... the country had been having very bad snow storms , so we were thankful for the good weather at our locations.
LOGISTICS
We booked the bases on the drive only as we neared the city. We had a rough idea of how much distance to cover each day and had in mind some possible bases but did not put pressure on ourselves by advance booking. In fact we arrived a day early in Vegas on Saturday evening instead of Sunday morning as planned and booked that night stay off the strip.
Vegas hotels are expensive on weekends ie Friday, Saturday, better to time the stay during week days as we did.
Also seeing the Christmas decor just before the crowd started pouring in was a good idea
ITINERARY
Day 1 Nov 17: Drive Houston to Ozona
Stay Hillcrest Inn & Suites, Ozona, Texas
Day 2, ,Nov 18: Drive to Benson
STAY Copper Stay Inn, Benson, Arizona
Day 3 ,Nov 19: Reached Vegas by evening
STAY Thunderbird Boutique Hotel, 1 night
Day 4 ,Nov 20: Thunderbird checkout, parked at Strat, Bellagio, Mirage, Venetian
STAY The STRAT 4 nights
Day 5, ,Nov 21:Vegas: Bellagio conservatory, conference halls,, Aria, Cosmopolitan, Planet Hollywood, Paris Paris
Day 6, Nov 22:Vegas: Bellagio conservatory, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay
Day 7 Nov 23 Vegas Wynn, Encore, Treasure Island, Excalibur, NY NY, MGM, Tropicana, Circus Circus
Day 8 Nov 24: Drive from Vegas to LA, Check in, LA Hollywood sign
STAY: Holly Park Motel near LAX, Inglewood, 2 nights
Day 9 Nov 25 LA Santa Monica Beach, Getty Center
Day 10 Nov 26 Drive to Petaluma
STAY Quality Inn, Petaluma, 2 nights
Day 11 Nov 27 Napa valley and Sonoma drive
Day 12 Nov 28 Drive from Petaluma to Crescent City
STAY Lighthouse Inn 2 nights
Day 13 Nov 29 Redwood National Park
Day 14 Nov 30 Drive back home Houston
STAY Motel 6, Santa Nella, California
Day 15 Dec 1 Drive
STAY Motel 6, Tuscan downtown
Day 16 Dec 2 Drive
STAY Hillcrest Inn and Suites, Ozona
Day 17 Dec 3 Saturday Back home in Houston [with time to rest on Sunday before staring the office routine]
Report continues here
https://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2023/02/road-trip-to-las-vegas-los-angeles-napa.html
hotel passage to our room
Anyway, the distances covered to reach Vegas from Houston look CRAZY but we felt fine!!
