My USA trip September 2017

[gbaplayer]

Hello,

my girlfriend and i will be visiting the USA next week for 3,5 weeks.
We will be on a road trip from San Francisco > Yosemite > Sequoia > Death Valley > Las Vegas > Zion > Bryce Canyon > Torrey > Moab > Monument Valley > Page > Grand Canyon > Laughlin > Joshua Tree > Los Angeles.

Do you have any suggestions what we rellay must eat/do/see during our trip? Are there any good retro game shops in the larger and maybe smaller cities on our way?

Thanks
gbaplayer

[gbaplayer]

Nobody?^^

[Mischief Maker]

I don't live in that part, I'd be of no use to you, sorry!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The franchised video game shops in the USA would be: Gamestop and Electronics Boutique. You could try looking in the Yellow Pages directory of San Francisco to see what video game shops are around.

Also check in the Yellow Pages directory of Las Vegas for some local video game shops there as well.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[MommysBestGames]

I've been to Kings/Sequoia, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon and they were all stellar! We camped out a night in Death Valley. It's wonderful if you like camping/hiking and all that.

I used to work in Burbank CA, near Los Angeles, and can attest that 'Game Dude' is a pretty good retro games store. Had (2007! my info is dated!) good selections of boxed games.

[gbaplayer]

Is driving with an midsize SUV difficult in the USA?

I only drive a VW Polo 6N here in Germany...and i´m rellay curious about the driving situation.

[Specineff]

Do you have any suggestions what we rellay must eat/do/see during our trip? Are there any good retro game shops in the larger and maybe smaller cities on our way?r

Stay away from Taco Bell, McDonald's and Burger King. Also, any Mexican restaurant whose name ends in "Berto's".

Subway, Pollo Loco and Baja Fresh are okay if you need a fast food fix.

[gbaplayer]

But why? I really want to try Taco Bell on my first day in SFO.

[Herr Schatten]

When I visited California a few years ago, there was a very nice retro game store in Santa Cruz, but that's not exactly on your route I guess.

Regarding fast food, I seem to remember having eaten a rather tasty burger at In'n'Out, but that was years ago, so I have no idea what's good today.

[neorichieb1971]

Never went far far west in the USA. Furthest west I went was St louis, MO.

Driving is quite easy. Everything is automatic gearbox and the roads are straight. In fact they are too straight. Your more likely to fall asleep to cause an accident than you are worrying if your SUV driving standards are up to scratch. Stick to the speed limits in the USA, cops jump out of trees, bill boards and sometimes will appear out of nowhere behind you. Happened to me twice. I just waved my foreign licence in front of them and they soon change their tune to "just keep the speed down and be careful".

Most cities have the odd game shop or two outside of those mentioned previously. I left the USA in 2006 so I cannot say one way or the other if you can get good deals on anything.

As far as eating is concerned, thats the Americans favorite hobby. I never ever ran out of places to eat. Some smaller towns have stretches of gas stations and restaurants go on for about a mile as you approach. Mcdonalds use a pole about a mile high to tell you where they are based at and its the first thing you see approaching on the horizon.

[Sparky]

A rough list of recommendations in the Southern California area:

Los Angeles

Arcades
Eighty Two - Official Site | Yelp
Neon Arcade - Official Site | Yelp

Collectibles & Video Games
Amoeba Music - Official Site | Yelp
Anime Jungle - Official Site | Yelp
Book Off - Del Amo - Official Site
Book Off - Gardena - Official Site
Cali Games | Yelp
Frank & Son - Official Site | Yelp
Game Dude - Official Site | Yelp
GamePlay - Yelp
Kinokuniya - Official Site | Located in Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles
World-8 - Official Site | Yelp

Ramen
Daikokuya - Official Site | Yelp
Tsujita LA - Official Site | Yelp
Shinsengumi - Official Site | Yelp

Misc.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) - Official Site
Mount Wilson Observatory - Official Site
Natural History Museum - Official Site
New Beverly Theater - Official Site
Space Shuttle Endeavor - Official Site

Orange County

Arcades
Nickle Nickle Arcade - Yelp

Collectibles & Video Games
Book Off - Costa Mesa - Official Site
Book Off - Westminster - Official Site
Mitsuwa/Kinokuniya - Costa Mesa - Official Site
Phat Collectibles - Official Site | Yelp
Video Game Geeks - Yelp
Video Game X - Yelp

Ramen & Tacos
Kitakata Ban Nai - Official Site | Yelp
Tacos Manuel - Yelp
Taco Rigobertos Brothers - Yelp

Misc.
Bowers Museum - Official Site
Frida Cinema - Official Site | Yelp
Golden West College Swap Meet - Yelp

Is driving with an midsize SUV difficult in the USA?

Driving a mid-size SUV will be easy to navigate in the area. I would suggest getting a vehicle with some power to the engine. You will be driving through varied elevation in California that can be a drag on an under-powered vehicle. Good luck on your journey. Those are all wonderful places to visit. (Well, maybe not Las Vegas and Los Angeles. )

[Koa Zo]

road trip from San Francisco > Yosemite > Sequoia > Death Valley > Las Vegas > Zion > Bryce Canyon > Torrey > Moab > Monument Valley > Page > Grand Canyon > Laughlin > Joshua Tree > Los Angeles.

Two years ago I did a road trip from San Francisco > Yosemite > Death Valley > Zion > Bryce > then back country hiked in Bears Ears National Monument.
Last year I was coming from Denver and went through Black Canyon of the Gunnison > Moab (Arches, was too crowded) > Canyonlands > Bears Ears > Valley of the Gods > Monument Valley > Flagstaff > Phoenix.

I was rolling solo and was focused on staying off the beaten path - back country camping and sleeping in my car ...so my suggestions might not be in sync with what you're looking to do.

If you have any specific questions about a park or roads I'd be happy to try to answer.

Some basics I hope you've already read up on, and have prepared yourselves:

• -have proper footwear
  -be prepared for wildly varying weather. This time of year; in that region, it can be 100F in daytime and below freezing at night.
  -have refillable water bottles and be prepared to carry water with you when hiking and driving
  -cell phone and internet reception is spotty. make your plans before leaving a hotel, and print or carry maps
  -Keep your car fuel tank full as much as possible. There can be long distances with no service stations.

[evil_ash_xero]

I've never been further west than Ohio.

However, I don't know why anyone would tell you not to eat at Taco Bell. It's alright. I mean, it's kinda garbage food, but it's tasty enough.
Subway is a nicer joint, for fast food. But if you want to eat some faux Mexican fast food, Taco Bell is alright. Make sure to ask for some taco sauce, because they tend not to put it on the taco. Which is bizarre to me.

Also, if you get pulled over by the police for speeding or whatever...for the love of god, don't be reaching around your car when they come up to you. Just be still, and make sure they can see your hands. You don't want to end up on the news.

[gbaplayer]

16 days now already in the US, have seen a lot during my 2500 miles trip so far. Tomorrow is the last day in Moab before heading for Monument Valley. Really cool here, but what i hate is how to tank your car on a prepaid basis. XD Got a bigger rental car than expected (just compare my Polo 6N at home to the Dodge Crossroads SUV i drive here). Also glad that it´s an automatic one, cannot imagine how to drive through San Francisco without an automatic car (i´m looking at you streets to Twin Peaks Viewpoint, you scared the shit out of me). Taco Bell is alright and i´m totally into Pastrami/Reuben Sandwiches.

I haven´t been to any game Shops or Comic book Shops. Can you recommend any in LA?

[Frenetic]

I highly recommend Meltdown Comics! http://www.meltcomics.com/blog/

16 days now already in the US, have seen a lot during my 2500 miles trip so far. Tomorrow is the last day in Moab before heading for Monument Valley. Really cool here, but what i hate is how to tank your car on a prepaid basis. XD Got a bigger rental car than expected (just compare my Polo 6N at home to the Dodge Crossroads SUV i drive here). Also glad that it´s an automatic one, cannot imagine how to drive through San Francisco without an automatic car (i´m looking at you streets to Twin Peaks Viewpoint, you scared the shit out of me). Taco Bell is alright and i´m totally into Pastrami/Reuben Sandwiches.

I haven´t been to any game Shops or Comic book Shops. Can you recommend any in LA?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Or you could check out a local Gamestop or EB Games store in LA. Just google in a Gamestop location in the section of LA that you're in. Yeah, trying to drive a manual stick shift up & down them steep hills of San Francisco can be quite something/nerve wracking -- much better with an automatic any ol' day.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[jepjepjep]

Taco Bell is alright and i´m totally into Pastrami/Reuben Sandwiches.

I haven´t been to any game Shops or Comic book Shops. Can you recommend any in LA?

Hey gbaplayer, I couldn't help noticing your Pastrami/Reuben sandwich comment. When you visit LA, there are some of the best Pastrami/Reuben sandwich places around! I highly suggest stopping by either Langers Deli (only visit in the daytime, it closes early because it's in a bad neighborhood), or Canters Deli which is open late night, 24 hours. For fast food, In & Out Burger is the place you want to try. It's a cut above the rest. There are a lot of great food places in LA. Try out some local mexican food while you're here, like Tito's Tacos, or Tsujita LA Ramen as Sparky suggests, or old-fashioned hamburgers at the Apple Pan in West LA. Yelp is a great reference for local food in LA because there are so many reviews.

I'd second Game Dude in North Hollywood as the retro game shop to visit. I haven't been in a few years but it's the largest place that I know about.

There's also the Getty Museum if you're interested.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Del Taco is another famous franchised joint that's in competition with Taco Bell if you want Mexican fast food fare in the USA.

By ordering a side of "Monster Fries" & a double or triple deckered burger, that's ace at the famous In-N-Out burger joints. Of course, the Monster Fries isn't listed on the menu but is a secret menu item worth checking out even for the novelty factor alone.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[gbaplayer]

Our hotel will be Motel 6 in LA, near the walk of fame. Hope that´s not to far from any of the recommended places.
Is driving in LA as nerve wrecking as it is in SFO or what are better alternatives to get around? We only have 2,5 days there sadly.

[jepjepjep]

Driving in LA is not as bad as SF, not as many hills or one-way streets. The only thing to watch out for is traffic can be extremely heavy during commuting hours. Since LA is so spread out, driving really is the best option, but there's a metro rail that runs all the way down to Santa Monica.

[evil_ash_xero]

You enjoying yourself?

You should try going east, next time. Can go to Florida and New York. And if you want, you could go hiking in the Appalachians.

[gbaplayer]

Yes i enjoy this trip a lot, we are currently in Laughlin, tomorrow heading for Joshua Tree NP and then to LA. Sadly only 3 more days until we fly back to Germany.
Next time i will be heading to Florida i think, with the Everglades, Keys and so. Or maybe the south.

[gbaplayer]

Our America trip was so great...

We drove around 6.000 km (~3700 miles) in our 3,5 weeks over and saw so many things.
I especially liked: San Francisco, Yosemite NP, Valley of Fire, Monument Valley, Zion NP (Angels Landing) and Bryce Canyon.

My favorite food was Pastrami and i had the best in SFO at Millers East Coast Delicatessen. In n Out Burger was also nice. And the Philly Cheese Steak at Busters in SFO.
And yes, driving in SFO and LA was hell. And why the heck can you overtake cars from the left and right sides?^^

I will return some day...next time maybe Florida.