This year I'll be in US for holidays, in August!
I'm planning to drive around California with some friends, for around 15 days.

Consider that it's my first time in California, but I'm not totally new to US (I lived in Chicago for 6 months for study/work, and my original plan was to return there but all my friends voted Cali), so I don't need the very basics (where to sleep/how US works/ etc) advices.

First question: which is the best wireless provider over there? I still have (somewhere ) my T-Mobile sim-card...
I have also to reactivate my bank account, insurance, ...

And second one: here is my very draft plan:
- Milan (Italy) => Land in Phoenix
- Grand Canyon
- Las Vegas
- Death Valley
- Yosemite
- San Francisco
- Coast trip -- where should I stop?
- Los Angeles
- 949racing (if I have enough time I'll call Emilio for a visit to his shop! )
- Fly back: Los Angeles => Milan
Corrections to this list?

Where should I really go? I mean, cities, places to visit (i.e. seaside, best landscapes, etc), attractions, nightlife, and so on.

Any help/advice is really appreciated

Thanks!
Alberto

 

Subscribed as this is of great interest to me as well.

 

do you want touristy places or off-the-beaten-path culture?

cheap and easy dining or spend a bit more awesome dining?

or... all of the above?

 

As to wireless carriers, most of the southwestern US is well served by T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T. Depending on whether or not you can find your SIM card, you might find it just as cost-effective (if not moreso) to purchase a "disposable" pre-paid phone from a carrier such as Virgin Mobile or Cricket (which use the networks of the major carriers) once you arrive in the US- you can find them at airports, petrol stations, large retail stores such as Target and Wal-Mart, etc. Expect to pay around US$40 for a basic voice-only phone, and airtime cards can also be purchased almost anywhere.

As to where you should go in California? Heck, I live here and I don't even know what would be worth seeing. I just spent the whole afternoon driving around aimlessly through the mountains with no destination in mind at all.

Los Angeles, in my opinion, is over-rated. It's crowded, it's ugly, the traffic is horrible, and there's honestly not much worth seeing there, unless you're the sort who absolutely must have your picture taken in front of the Hollywood sign. Plenty of nightlife (bars, restaurants, etc) although that's not really my thing.

 

The drive on highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles is awesome, Big Sur is especially spectacular. It is however pretty long, but it offers a lot of amazing coast line. Hurst Castle is on the way and is pretty cool too (you might do that going from SF to LA, but it'd make it a bit complicated to see Yosemite). But I think your list is pretty good otherwise in terms of the highlights most people want to see.

 

Stop by oakland

 

East Palo Alto is quite the sight to see as well.

 

Google told me that these are "nice and safe places" where to go and stay (forever?!?!?! )

I wrote in the quote how I expect to spend my time there

@sam: thanks, great suggestion!

@Joe I can imagine that LA is definitely too overrated (as well as many other places IMHO), but as I'll be there for my first time, I think it's worthy to visit it (and also take a picture with Hollywood sign )

Thank you all for the good advices!!!

 

spoken like true hillbillies.

Oakland has less than half the murder rate of New Orleans. East Palo Alto isn't even on the list anymore with their whopping 5 murders a year.

I lived in Oakland for several years and commuted through East Paly to my work. unless you're particularly afraid of non-white people, there are some good fried fish and mexican places to enjoy. And the Merritt Bakery.

Miata.Shark: the responses above are why I asked what you were interested in. If you want milquetoast tourism, they are your guides. If you want awesome gritty adventure... maybe I can help.

 

I like hanging out at Compton, CA.

 

If you choose to do this, stop in Monterey on the way and visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium (if that's your thing.) Beware: staying in Monterey is very expensive.

When you get your route more dialed in, drop more info on us and we can make more specific suggestions.

I'm glad you have Yosemite on the list. It's pretty amazing if you get away from the central touristy part of the park. Big Sur is pretty amazing as well, but it is a bit out of the way. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and the Henry Miller Library are stops I'd make, and you can stop at Nepenthe and have a beer on the patio and check out the ocean. (I am slightly bias as I used to live down there )

 

seconded. and get a slice of berry pie a la mode there. served warm, it's probably the best I've had.