Our two-and-a-half-week honeymoon in California was a whirlwind of contrasts, taking us from the vibrant cities of the West Coast to the serene forests of Yosemite, and the striking, barren beauty of Death Valley.
Arriving in the U.S. just hours after leaving Hong Kong, thanks to the dateline, we were treated to our second sunset of the day—this time with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop, marking a welcome like no other.
SAN FRANCISCO
Unlike many other cities in the U.S. and despite the many hills, San Francisco is great to explore on foot. The first walk we did, and one of the easiest, follows the Embarcadero from the artisanal food stalls of the old Ferry building up to the sea-lions at Pier 39 followed by the nearby Musée Méchanique and its vintage arcade games. The Haight-Ashbury District, Coit Tower, China Town, Lombard Street and of course the Golden Gate Bridge are some of the many other sights we had time to visit during our three days in San Francisco.
ALCATRAZ
On our early morning ferry ride to Alcatraz, we navigated through thick fog, adding a mysterious ambiance to our visit to the infamous island prison.
BIG SUR
In Big Sur, we spent a night in a cozy forest lodge, complete with a campfire and s'mores, surrounded by the stunning beauty of California's rugged coastline.
LOS ANGELES
In Los Angeles, our tour of Warner Bros Studios led us to the iconic Central Perk from "Friends" and the set of "The Big Bang Theory," we also caught the classic view from the Griffith Observatory after soaking up the vibrant culture of Venice Beach.
SAN DIEGO
We attended the Miramar Airshow near San Diego which is the largest military air show in the United States. The show includes aerial acrobatics, pyrotechnics and demonstration of military aircraft special capabilities, like vertical take off. We particularly enjoyed the performances of the US Navy Blue Angels and the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, who were on tour in the US. We also visited the famous bar where a scene from the Top Gun movie was shot, further connecting with San Diego's significant military heritage.
JOSHUA TREE
On our way to Las Vegas, we thought that spending the night in an airstream trailer in the middle of the desert would be a great idea. Turns out it wasn’t the most comfortable experience but the atmosphere early in the morning was absolutely stunning.
LAS VEGAS
Exploring Las Vegas by foot, we hopped from one whimsical hotel to another, some channeling Paris or Venice, while others inspired by the Egyptian era or Middle Ages felt like a time warp to... well, just an earlier Vegas.
Our gambling luck ran out fast, but we scored big with an amazing brunch and chill time at the Wynn's pool. And who needs slot machines when you've got the free shows at the Mirage's Volcano and the Bellagio Fountains?
DEATH VALLEY
Death Valley, one of the largest national parks in the U.S., offered some of the most dramatic desert landscapes.mWe particularly liked Badwater basin, one of the hottest places on the planet and the lowest spot in the Northern hemisphere at 86 meters below sea level. It is filled with cracked salt flats forming patterns across the immense landscape.
YOSEMITE
From the extreme heat of Death Valley to the cool, green trails of Yosemite, it felt like we’d stepped onto another planet in just a few hours.
Yosemite Valley, a magnet for nature enthusiasts, made us work for it with its elusive parking spots and in-demand hotels. We managed to snag a spot and embarked on the Vernal Falls hike, a 500m climb over 10km that left us breathless in more ways than one, especially with whispers of bears in the area adding a thrill to our trek.
The next day, we roamed Mariposa Grove, mingling with the ancient sequoias – it's not every day you get to hang out with 500 of the world's tallest trees. It was the perfect nature finale before our journey back to San Francisco airport.
This trip was a bucket-list adventure, and though we wished to extend it to the Grand Canyon, that will have to wait for another time!