We’ve spent a lot of time in San Diego rooftop bars! It’s the city we’ve visited the most in the States and we love it there. It helps that we’ve got good friends living there who also love a good rooftop drinking venue.

The 4 of us have made it our mission to find ever more interesting and exciting rooftop bars in this beautiful Southern California city. As a result, we’ve got a pretty good shortlist of favourites.

3 San Diego rooftop bars you must visit

At a glance

1. Altitude Sky Lounge – 660 K Street

For views of the harbour, city and baseball stadium.

2. Bertrand at Mr A’s – 2550 Fifth Avenue

For amazing cocktails and the sight of jumbo jets flying between the city skyscrapers.

3. RoofTop600 at Andaz – 600 F Street

For the coolest venue, hottest fire pits and… wettest (?) pool bar in town.

In detail

1. Altitude Sky Lounge – 660 K Street

One of the first rooftop bars we visited in San Diego is our favourite. Right in the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San D, this bar sits 22 stories above the city on top of the Marriott Hotel.

We love this place because it’s got an amazing view out over the harbour and the Coronado Bridge, out over the Convention Centre and down the coast to Point Loma.

It’s also an amazing venue to watch the baseball too. The bar looks directly down on Petco Park. It gets a bit crowded here when games are on, but the atmosphere’s great.

Like many San Diego bars, Altitude has an enormous fire pit. It’s awesome and all that, but it always makes me wonder. Why does a city with such an amazing year-round climate need so many fire pits?

Anyway, if you’re not staring out over the views from the balcony edge, the place to be is by the fire pit.

This bar is also cigar friendly and is in our San Diego cigar bar tour here.

Doors open at 5pm, which is when happy hour starts too.

2. Bertrand at Mr A’s – 2550 Fifth Avenue

Since the 1960s this has been a fine dining venue with dignitaries from across the globe coming to visit. We like it for the view!

The balcony bar at the top of the FCAC building is only on the 12th floor but it feels much higher. The view from up here is amazing, looking west towards the airport and south over the city.

And that’s the big draw card for this bar.

Yes, the drinks are immaculately made and yes the service is impeccable. But it’s when the planes come in to land that makes you stop and look. You see, the flight path to San Diego Airport is very unusual.

You descend in literally through the city.

Some look as though they’re going to hit a building. Others soar so low over Little Italy that you swear they’ve come in too low. It’s amazing.

And as the sun sets ahead of the landing aircraft, you sip your drink and watch the city lights come on.

Cocktail hour is from 2.30-6.00pm.

3. RoofTop600 at Andaz – 600 F Street

If it’s fire pits you want, then this is your Yahtzee! This enormous rooftop bar has loads of them. There’s also a pool if you feel like a dip – though when it comes to dips in bars, I prefer to stick with the guac and hummus kind.

The Andaz Hotel is only 7 stories high, but this is still high enough for this rooftop bar to give you some amazing views and a feeling of elevation – especially if you get stuck into their cocktail list!

This is also a cigar friendly venue to the point where you can even order from the bottle service menu a bottle of Don Julio tequila and 6 cigars of your choice to be brought to your table!

Definitely a bar to be seen at, Rooftop600 is pumping at the weekends and the events and special parties they have here go pretty crazy. But early in the evening and during the week, this is a great bar to relax with friends, enjoy a bit of fire pit action and watch the sun set over the Glasslamp Quarter.

They’re open all day every day but happy hour goes from 5.00-8.00pm Mon-Fri.

Where’s your favourite rooftop bar? Have you been to San Diego? Which is your go-to bar in America’s Finest City? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance.

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Of all the places in the USA we’ve visited, it’s been San Diego that’s had most of our time. This means we’ve really been able to explore the ins and outs of what this sleepy yet vibrant California city puts on its plate.

From Chicago-style pizza to authentic Indian curry, we’ve sampled as much as we can here. But the following is a list of 7 great dining experiences in San Diego that you can’t miss.

7 unforgettable dining experiences in San Diego, CA

1. Mexican in Old Town

If you’re after a true taste of how Southern California does Mexican food, you have to go to Old Town. It’s a bit touristy, but there’s always a great vibe here. And you’ll find that plenty of locals come here for a feed too.

Anywhere down the main street – San Diego Avenue – will serve you classic US-Mex, but here are our recommendations:

Fred’s Mexican Café, Miguel’s Cocina, Café Coyote and Old Town Mexican Café. And for saloon dining, try Los Locos Bar & Grill.

Great for: groups or for a boisterous night out.

2. Ironside Fish & Oyster Bar, India St, Little Italy

Ironside has an amazing seafood menu, which is surprisingly hard to find considering this is a harbour city. This expansive industrial style restaurant does great cocktails and the deep fried oyster poboy is absolutely sensational.

Great lunch option though I bet dinner here is even better. Perfect for a night with your loved one.

3. Phil’s BBQ, Sports Arena Blvd, Midway District

If you’re looking for Texan style barbecue, Phil’s BBQ is the only way. Our friend Steph from LipstickAndCake.com raved about this place so much we just had to try it. It’s epically awesome and awesomely epic. Big big serves, so go there hungry.

Top tip: if you’re a newcomer to Phil’s, make sure you get a newbie sticker at the entrance. The counter staff will be kinder to you.

Ideal for fun with friends and an evening of elasticated waistbands. No matter how well you eat ribs, this is a messy meal.

4. Barefoot Bar and Grill, Paradise Point Resort, Mission Bay

With views out over the bay, this little eatery is a waterfront wonder. I wish I could come here for lunch and dinner all the time.

It’s so peaceful yet the food and drinks are excellent.

It’s part of a holiday resort but it doesn’t feel overly touristy or fake – even when you’re standing on the little footbridge over a manmade lagoon that’s teaming with fish.

This place is perfect for a long ‘wet’ lunch.

5. Cucina Urbana, Laurel St, Bankers Hill

As close to the city without heading into the Gaslamp Quarter, which can be a bit overwhelming, Cucina Urbana in Bankers Hill is sophisticated, slick and very impressive.

Of all the meals we’ve eaten in San Diego, this has been the most refined.

Great for special occasions and amazing for a romantic night out.

6. Draft, Mission Beach giant nachos and wings

There are bars and restaurants all the way along the beachfront boulevard, which continues all the way up to Pacific Beach.

Go to Draft for the view, of course, but also for the delicious Buffalo wings and the mountainous shredded beef nachos. A plate of each will fill 4 people easily. When we ordered that nachos, 3 of us ate as much as we could and it didn’t look like we’d even started it. By the way, this was only $16!

Thank goodness for doggy bags!

Great for a hungry beachside lunch with friends.

7. Stone Brewing, Liberty Station, Point Loma

Stone Brewery has grown from a small craft beer movement to international fame for a very good reason: their beer is excellent.

And if you want food, you’re also in the right place. Their Liberty Station location has indoor dining in the form of a table service beer hall restaurant. Outside is a huge oasis, replete with a central water feature, fire pit and 20-metre-long bar.

Get a tasting flight of beers and anything from the menu. The assorted sausage plate and the beef lettuce cups we tried were excellent.

Great for a casual date night or an awesome catch-up with friends.

Extra tip: El Camino, India Street, Little Italy

A food wrap of San Diego just isn’t right without mentioning El Camino. Hidden away on a corner in Little Italy, the vibe of this place is addictive.

It’s incredibly popular with the locals, so tables are always loaded – especially on Taco Tuesdays – but it’s worth it.

Just so you know, El Camino is right under the flight path of San Diego Airport, but it’s part of its charm that you can almost reach up and touch the planes as they go over.

If you want more information on SoCal, here’s our first-timer’s guide to San Diego, California and here are some of our other posts on San Diego, CA. Hope they’re useful.

Do you have any hot tips for food choices in San Diego or SoCal? Where do you go for your Mexican hit? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance using an Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera.

A special thanks to our amazing friends Mona and Brendan who live in San Diego. Without their help, generosity and friendship, we’d never have got to try all these amazing places. Thanks guys! x

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The San Fran – LA drive is one of the great American journeys with plenty of that Hollywood feel about it. Highway 1 winds and curves round some of the most dramatic cliffs and coastline, through some amazing towns and national parks.

We did this famous drive as part of our recent trip to the USA. It’s the perfect route to put to the test how good a driving holiday in the States can be.

The distances between San Francisco and Los Angeles are small – and made even smaller by modern freeways. You can get to LA in 5 ½ hours if you want to. Or even faster, take the 1-hour 15-minute flight.

But that’s not what road trips are about.

We took our time and chose the scenic route along Highway 1 as far as we could. Even then, this way will only take you around 10 hours.

We made it last 3 days!

Driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Day 1: San Fran – Carmel-by-the-Sea

Driving time: 2h 50m

From San Francisco city centre it’s pretty straightforward to get on Highway 1 from where it splits from the 101.

Then it’s a case of following it all the way out of town. Before long you’re driving down the coast and the blacktop with its signature double yellow line is leading you on into your adventure.

We must have stopped about a million times on the way south. The views are just spectacular over cliffs and along huge beaches.

There are plenty of parking bays to pull into as you go, which makes stopping much less stressful.

We weren’t sure where we were going to spend the night so we drove until it started to get dark and we were tired. We found ourselves in Carmel-by-the-Sea – a beautiful little seaside community made famous by its Hollywood resident.

None other than Clint Eastwood has a ranch here. You can stay here the night if you like, but it’ll cost you!

Accommodation: Carmel River Inn

Instead we found a motel with good rates and clean rooms. The Carmel River Inn was comfortable, had free wifi and was all we needed for the night. We also had a visitor – the motel cat Penny decided to spend the night in our room.

Before you book direct though, try 3rd party apps like Priceline, which can get you some very good deals.

Dinner: Sea Harvest

For dinner, Mrs Romance had a hankering for clam chowder, so we hunted out a local seafood restaurant.

Sea Harvest is a locally owned fishmonger’s but also has a little restaurant serving delicious seafood. We grabbed the last table at 6.45.

We realised we’d made a good choice to eat here. Mrs R looked up to see the table in the corner leave – it was Clint Eastwood himself having dinner here. We couldn’t believe it.

Day 2: Camel-by-the-sea – Santa Barbara

Driving time: 4h

In the morning, after a quick drive round the beautiful little roads of Carmel to check out the real estate and views from the cliffs, we headed back out along Highway 1.

This section of the road is incredible. The coast along here is stunning and when it’s not too busy, the 1 really is a driver’s dream.

Once again, we stop off regularly to check out the views and take photos.

About half an hour south of Carmel is Big Sur. There’s so much to do in this part of the enormous Los Padres State Forest – hikes, climbs, camping and there’s a magnificent waterfall to see, but sadly we didn’t have time to explore Big Sur.

However, we did pull in at Piedras Blancas, a fairly nondescript rocky section of coastline. But this area is home to one of the largest elephant seal rookeries.

There are hundreds of them lumbering around on the coarse sand or just laying there like enormous slugs.

They’re quite active all the same and it’s not uncommon to see them flicking sand over themselves to cool, slipping into the water to feed, bellowing at each other or even fighting. Well worth stopping.

We also stopped in at Pismo Beach. Mrs Romance had always wanted to see what was so special about this beach as it’s often referenced in her favourite Bugs Bunny cartoons. He’s always trying to get there.

It’s a beautiful public beach and worth checking out – no sign of Bugs though.

We reached our accommodation quite early tonight – by about 3.45. This was to be our last night in the States so we wanted to make the most of it before the long flight back to Sydney.

Santa Barbara is a beautiful little coastal town by all accounts but we didn’t even try to explore it. We decided to stick close to our digs instead and make the most of our luxurious surroundings.

Accommodation: Bacara Restort and Spa

The Bacara is an incredible resort and has a real old-school feel to it. The likes of Oprah, who also has a house in Santa Barbara, Kurt Russell and Michael Jordan are regular guests here, so the resort and its facilities really are first class.

For more information, check out our full review of Bacara Resort here.

We’ve decided that, when you’re travelling long distances like the LA-Sydney flight, a comfortable first and last night is absolutely essential.

Day 3: Santa Barbara – LA

Driving time: 2h 15m

We reluctantly checked out of the Bacara to keep heading south.

At Ventura, we decided to move things along a bit. We wanted to get to Santa Monica before our flight that afternoon, so we hit Highway 101. It’s a monstrous 6-8 lane road. A real classic American freeway.

Unfortunately it was clogged with traffic, so Mrs R navigated us onto what I believe is the best road on earth.

Highway 23 is the rock and roll version of Highway 1 with more hairpins in it than on HairRomance.com! It’s incredible.

Running perpendicular to the 101, the 23 heads straight for the coast and to Malibu. It’s the best drive you’ll ever do!

We stopped briefly at Malibu to check out the world famous beach and to catch our breath. The drive here really was that exhilarating.

Finally it was a straight run to Santa Monica and some last-minute shopping. Santa Monica is really worth stopping in at, even just to check out the mall. But the beach is also amazing and that California vibe is super strong here.

Driving into Los Angeles – to LAX – was sad and a bit stressful. Make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the airport. LA’s traffic really builds up fast as you hit the city limits. We had plenty of time, but it’d be easy to see how things could go wrong very fast.

Accommodation: Row 25, seats A and C Virgin Australia flight VA2 ?

This really is a great mini driving holiday. If you’re in San Francisco and you’ve got a few days to play with, this will be the best way to spend your time.

Watch out for timing though – we were there very late on in the year – almost Christmas – and highway 1 wasn’t busy at all. In peak season, I can imagine this road becomes very congested so be aware.

Have you ever been on a driving holiday? Where would you love to drive to? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance using an OM-D E-M1 Olympus camera.

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Finding a place to go out in LA can be a daunting prospect. With so many options spread out over such a vast area, your odds of finding a good place versus a real dump can look pretty long.

One of our favourite tips for shortening those odds is to ask a local. With a couple of insider tip-offs, enjoying the best hospitality of your new destination becomes much more likely.

If we can, we like to do one better than that and ask a local who’s in the industry. Want a great local restaurant? Ask your waiter. Hunting out the best museum? Ask a gallery staff member.

But best of all, if you’re in a hotel, have a drink at the bar, tip well on the first drink, then grill your wait staff!

We did exactly this in our hotel on our first night in LA recently. It worked a treat.

Not only did we get a short list of five top bars in West Hollywood, we also got the low-down on tipping in the USA – something that can be really tricky if you’re not from here.

Here are our local’s tips for West Hollywood, LA:

1. The Mondrian’s Sky Bar

Yes, this was our hotel bar where all this info was gleaned, but the bar here is still well worth the visit.

Set up above the uber-glam pool of the hotel, this bar serves great cocktails with a stunning view out over LA.

Anyone can come and drink here. If you’re driving, there’s also complimentary valet parking.

The hotel itself is also superb. Check out our review of The Mondrian here.

Sky Bar at The Mondrian

8440 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
W: Mondrian West Hollywood
Fb: @Mondrian
Ig: @MondrianHotels

2. Pearl’s

We made a beeline for Pearl’s, keen to check out the Sunset Strip and to see what WeHo had to offer. Up on the rooftop looking down on West Sunset Boulevard, this fun, ’20 style speakeasy.

The vibe is awesome here, even when it’s not too busy, the drinks are great and the burger is… well, it’s my number 1 in our Top 10 Burgers of All Time list. That should give you some indication of how good it is!

Check out our full review of Pearl’s here.

Pearl’s Liquor Bar

8909 W Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
W: pearlssunset.com
Fb: @pearlsliquorbar
Ig: @pearlsliquorbar

3. Rock ‘n’ Reilly’s Irish Pub

Literally downstairs from Pearl’s is Rock ‘n’ Reilly’s. In stark contrast to Pearl’s this is a rough and ready sports bar where real locals come for a drink.

Having said that, they have some great craft beer in the taps and they even have their own whiskey – the ginger rye we tried was delicious!

We sat at the bar and enjoyed a couple of rounds of great drinks while everything happened around us.

We’re not usually into the ubiquitous Irish pub scene, but this one’s great. Full of character and characters, you get the feel of real WeHo right here.

Rock & Reilly’s Irish Pub

8911 W Sunset Blvd,
West Hollywood, CA 90069
W: RnRpub.com
Fb: @RockAndReillys
Ig: @rockandreillys

4. Carny’s

More famous for its food than its drink – and even more famous for its venue – Carny’s is in fact an old Pacific train carriage.

It caught our eye as we went past it, but sadly we didn’t have time to check it out. Our source maintained it’s still worth trying; beer and wine’s cheap but go with an empty stomach. They boast the best ½ pounder burger in the whole city.

Carney’s Express

8351 W Sunset Boulevard,
West Hollywood, CA 90069
W: carneytrain.com
Fb: @CarneyTrainSC
Tw: @carneytrain

5. Pink Taco

If you really want to let your hair down, the Pink Taco seems to be where to go. We spotted this place around the same time as we saw Carny’s.

We’re told the Mexican food here is pretty good, but it’s “the (extremely) happy hour” that you want to go for: 3pm – 7pm every day, there are some serious deals to be had.

It’s hard to miss this pink monster right on the roadside – you’d be forgiven thinking it’s a strip club with it’s name and signage, but it’s straight up and well worth a look.

Pink Taco

8225 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
W: pinktaco.com
Fb: @pinktacolosangeles
Ig: @pinktaco

The most amazing yet thing about LA is how things are laid out. Places like Carny’s and The Pink Taco are literally a stone’s throw from the seriously impressive Chateau Marmont.

And if you want more direct contrast, luxuriant, bohemian Pearl’s and the have-a-go feel of Rock ‘n’ Reilly’s are virtually in the same building… it just doesn’t make any sense, which is the beauty of LA I suppose.

And it adds weight to the fact that finding these special needles in this concrete haystack would be pretty much impossible unless you ask a local.

How do you find a new destination’s hidden secrets? What little gems have you found recently thanks to someone’s tip? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance and courtesy of relative sites and social media.

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When our friend Mona suggested we go for a hike up to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, I wasn’t keen.

A hike? In the Southern Californian sun? With all these microbreweries everywhere? Really?

I mean, I was a little tempted. I’d heard from our guide on a recent winery tour that the Torrey Pines park was a must for visitors and locals alike, but I hadn’t really taken him too seriously.

The Torrey Pines are in fact one of the few native species of tree to grow here. Everything else – yes, even the palm trees So Cal is famous for – are imports. The Torrey Pine is also one of the rarest trees in North America.

But to me a hike means backpacks, supplies, a satellite phone… probably a heli-vac at the end of it.

But what it turned out to be was a really amazing walk through some classic Californian landscapes culminating in one of the most impressive beaches I’ve ever seen. And that’s saying something!

It’s a quick drive from La Holla – a beautiful northern beachside suburb of San Diego – to South Beach and one of the main entrances to the park.

As you come down the hill from the north, the beach opens up to you on your right. You should be able to find parking along this stretch of road as it comes down to almost sea level.

Then it’s a bit of an incline walk as you head into the state park.

Soon you’re in amongst these rare and ancient trees, the noise of the road and the city far behind.

We stopped in at the ranger station/visitors’ centre to have a look at where to go and what to see, then we headed off further into the park.

Our friend Mona led the way until we reached the edge of one of two golf courses in the park and then headed into the scrub towards the coast, taking the South Fork Trail towards the Broken Hill Overlook and Trail.

With names like Broken Hill Trail it sounds like an expedition but it really was a comfortable, easy-going walk. The paths are in great condition and the place is very well kept.

We finally came to the cliffs that drop you straight down onto the beach below. Taking the switchback steps down, down, down until we had our hot, weary feet in the cool Pacific.

From there it was a very relaxing walk along the black sands of the flattest, widest beach I’ve been on in a long time. It was more like a great sandy freeway than a public beach.

The cliffs on our right loomed over us like a strict schoolteacher. The water and wet sand dazzled our eyes and still sparkle in our memories now.

Dolphins are a regular attraction along this section of coastline, but this time – much to Mona’s irritation – we didn’t see any. For a while we stood staring into the waves of the world’s biggest ocean, almost in a daydream state. We all felt so chilled out.

But soon it was time to step off the beach and back into the car. Dolphins or no, it’s still an amazing place to visit – and that first beer tastes so bloody good after, I can tell you!

Snapshot – Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve:

Top tip: walk up the hill through the park then down towards the cliffs and the beach back to the car. Doing it the other way round wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.

Time to walk: 2-3 hours – though you can make it longer if you want. There are so many paths to explore.

Hike difficulty: easy-medium – there are some stairs especially when you get to the cliffs, but they all lead down.

Parking: free outside the park.

Open: only accessible during the day. No camping or overnight hiking allowed.

For more information on the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, head to their website torreypine.org, and for other things to do in San Diego, check out our essential guide to San Diego here.

Do you like hiking or is a driving holiday more your thing? Do you dream about being heli-vac’d just for the ride in a chopper?! Tell us in the comments!

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We were out with friends to watch a game of American football when it happened.

Mrs Romance and I were both very excited about going out with real 49ers fans to watch a game we neither particularly liked nor fully comprehended. But we felt sure by the end of the second half – we presumed it was a game of halves – those attitudes would be reversed entirely.

Perched on our bar stools, learning the ropes to gridiron and drinking our way through a rainy San Fran afternoon, we happened to glance at the pub’s menu.

Everything seemed in order until our eye was caught like a quarterback’s pass into the end zone (we learn football good!).

Totchos.

What on earth are they? A rare type of Mexican delicacy we hadn’t seen before perhaps. How do you even say it?

We asked our friends, who thought it was an even weirder question than any of our football-related queries.

When we found out, we ordered two lots of them.

Simply put, ‘totchos’ is nachos but made with tater tots! God bless America indeed.

But you know what’s even better than totchos? The uber-totchos our excellent friend Steph from LipstickAndCake.com has created.

What’s your favourite pub snack? Have you ever had totchos before? When was the last time you had tater tots? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance using an Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera.

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Elvis Presley, 1964

It has to be the greatest song about Las Vegas ever, hasn’t it? What a classic.

And it was this song that was pumping through our veins as we walked up the Graceland Wedding Chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard in the middle of the night.

We’d already been married just short of 5 years, but we were excited about the prospect of renewing our vows… and of meeting Elvis of course!

The Graceland Wedding Chapel is an unassuming place in Vegas terms. Its exterior is twee with whitewash walls, a little bridge and a pergola for photos. There’s a little courtyard where you can have photos too.

But it’s inside where the magic happens.

In spite of the reception feeling more like a doctor’s surgery than a chapel, the staff were attentive yet relaxed. Everyone was there for a fun time and that’s what this is all about.

Here are our other tips on things to do in Vegas.

While we were waiting for Elvis – of course you wait for Elvis – one of the guys at reception even took us outside for a couple of photos.

Back inside the chapel we were greeted by the man himself. Elvis was looking trim and tall in his superb rhinestoned black onesy. And the man can sing!

He walked Mrs Romance down the aisle to me crooning out Can’t Help Falling In Love as he went.

The ceremony was a great mix of hilarious, romantic, surreal and sentimental, and was worth every minute and every penny spent. If you ever visit Vegas, make sure you do this.

I must admit I wasn’t totally sold on the idea – even up to the point that I pinned the rose through my buttonhole, but it’s actually awesome.

Graceland Wedding Chapel

619 Las Vegas Boulevard

South Las Vegas, NV

Local: (702) 382-0091

Toll-free: (800) 824-5732

W: gracelandchapel.com

Fb: @GracelandChapel

Tw: @GracelandChapel

A few things to know

– After some careful research Mrs Romance found this one to be one of the best value Elvis chapels in town. There are lots of options you can add on to your service.

You can do the drive-through wedding where you hire a Cadillac. You can even have 2 Elvises have an ‘Elvis off’ on your wedding.

We stuck to just the one.

– You’ll need to pay Elvis – as the celebrant – in cash after the ceremony. It acts as a kind of tip but it’s more like his fee. You also pay the photographer his tip here. Just put all the money in the envelope the photographer gives you at the end.

– The Graceland Wedding Chapel has been going for over 50 years now – an incredible feat in Vegas terms.

– The chapel is not on the main Vegas Strip any more. The Strip was moved some time ago, so this is in the old Vegas part of town.

– Because of its location – the chapel’s a couple of doors down from where the show Pawn Stars is filmed – it’s a little dodgy at night. We felt safe enough but if you’re there with three or four mates, that’s even better.

– Some very famous people have got married or visited here over the years. John Bon Jovi married his high school sweetheart Dorothea here. Billy Ray Cyrus, Jay Leno, Mariah Carey – they’ve all been guests here too.

– We hung around outside a bit longer taking some more photos just for a bit of fun. They’re fine with this providing it’s not too busy and you’re not in the way.

– We walked on to old Vegas, which probably isn’t advisable (it is a bit dodgy though we did feel safe enough). If you ask reception, I’m sure they’ll call a cab for you.

– Enjoy your time here. It’s brilliant and made for people who don’t want to take things quite as seriously as those who want a big white wedding.

Have you renewed your wedding vows or thought about it? Would you ever elope and have an Elvis wedding? Tell us in the comments!

Images by us using O-MD EM1 Olympus camera or purchased from the Graceland Wedding Chapel.

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Everything you’ve seen in the movies – the road stops, the winding blacktop, the flying yellow line flying down the middle of the road – it’s all true.

And on our recent road trip from San Diego to Las Vegas, we saw it all. If you ever wanted proof that the best way to get a feel of the country is to drive it, this is it.

Here’s a free downloadable doc of our itinerary boiled down for you to use easier.

And here’s an interactive map of where we went to make it a bit clearer:

Our road trip from San Diego, California to Las Vegas, Nevada

Day 1: San Diego – Palm Springs (via Julian for apple pie)

Driving time: 3h 15m

From San Diego it’s a little over an hour to the little town of Julian – home of award winning pies and some very cute houses!

We popped in for a slice of the action (sorry) and were very impressed. If you want to try American apple pie at its best, go to the Julian Pie Company.

We did try the Apple Alley Bakery’s offerings too, but weren’t as impressed. The people were a bit odd (shouting and having a domestic out the back) and the pies weren’t quite as good.

Feeling a bit sick, we plopped ourselves back in the car and carried on to Palm Springs. The road’s a good one, crossing the Santa Rosa – San Jacinto Mountains, and about half an hour out of Palm Springs, there’s some good hairpin driving.

Accommodation: Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs

The Ace is a very cool hotel. Everything here is crafted and styled to within an inch of its life. It used to be a Westward Ho motel with a Denny’s attached. Now it’s a slick, uber-hipster joint with matching restaurant.

Day 2: Palm Springs

We stayed here to explore for the day (plus it bloody well rained) and were pleased we did. There’s an outlet mall about 30 minutes out of town where you can pick up some amazing bargains.

Alternatively, when you’ve seen the town, which shouldn’t take too long, head out into the nearby mountains. There’s a cable car ride you can go on that gives you some amazing views out over the desert.

Accommodation: The Saguaro, Palm Springs

Another hipster hotel, but a little more approachable. Each room is very brightly coloured and has a balcony facing into the pool and resort.

It’s a cool little place and pretty good value.

If you’re looking for something more up-market, you have to stay at the Parker. What an unbelievable hotel that is.

Don’t forget to have a drive around the neighbourhoods before you leave – and check out where Sinatra’s old house at 1148 E. Alejo Road.

Day 3: Palm Springs – Twentynine Palms (via Joshua Tree National Park)

Driving time: 1h direct, longer via Joshua Tree National Park

We didn’t leave much time to explore Joshua Tree National Park so we took the 62 to Alta Olma Drive and the Joshua Tree Visitors’ Center. We chatted to a park ranger, who told us to drive in via the West Entrance Station.

It costs $15 to go into the park. Make sure you buy supplies in Twentynine Palms – the snacks and drinks in the visitor’s centre are ridiculously expensive.

We took what’s known as The North West Loop (though we did it more west north!) with a very worthy detour down to Keys View to check out the San Andreas Fault Line.

Joshua Tree National Park is an incredible, unique habitat, full of these bizarre eponymous trees. There are also magnificent rock features to explore like Skull Rock – and it’s a beautiful drive.

Twentynine Palms is a remote town on the northern border of Joshua Tree, but it’s got plenty going for it in spite of its size.

Accommodation: we stayed in the Best Western Gardens, which was cheap and comfortable. However, we’d recommend staying in the Twentynine Palms Inn on the eastern end of town on Inn Avenue.

Twentynine Palms Inn has the best restaurant and bar in town attached to it.

Other dinner suggestions are: Bistro Twenty-Nine, Edchada’s Mexican, The Rib Co, Rocky’s New York Pizza and Red Lotus Thai and Vietnamese Restaurant.

Day 4: Twentynine Palms, CA – Laughlin, NV (via Route 66, Amboy, Oatman and Bullhead City)

Driving time: 2h 30m direct. Via above locations, it’s a half-day drive.

North of Twentynine Palms, along the Amboy Road, you’ll find saltpans, which are worth stopping for a photo. The Amboy Road ends at a crossroads where it meets Route 66 – also known as the National Trails Highway.

Left is the Amboy Crater – an extinct volcano you can climb.

Route 66 heading east will take you past Amboy itself and Roy’s Motel and Café – a classic Route 66 photo op.

Take Route 66 as far east as you can – it’s not a maintained road any more, so many areas of this fantastic historic road are impassable or closed. Make your way to Needles.

We were planning on spending the night in Needles, but it’s a bit of a sad little town. We did refuel here, which was a mistake. Wait until you get across the Colorado River into Arizona to get petrol. It’s a lot cheaper.

From Needles, we head north on the 95 on the Nevada side of the Colorado River. Then go right on the 153 to Oatman.

Oatman used to be a mining town and produced a lot of gold until the mid-1930s. At its height 10,000 people lived here. Now it’s all but a ghost town, but is popular with tourists.

The donkeys miners used have become feral and roam the streets of this peculiar place. But best of all, it’s here that you can find Route 66 once again.

We headed back south then turned left following 66. It’s called the 10 now, but it’s the best part of the 66, leading you through some great mountain scenery. Going north through Oatman is apparently even better with sharp hairpins steep elevations, but 66 will take you too far east.

For more information on Route 66 from Santa Monica Pier all the way to Chicago, Illinois, check out RoadTripUSA.com

Heading back past Needles, it’s a straight drive along the tri-state border to Bullhead City. We were going to stay here, but realised across the river, in Nevada, the casino town of Laughlin had cheaper accommodation.

Accommodation: Stay in a casino for a great hotel rate. We stayed at the Aquarius Casino Resort and paid the extra $10 for a river view room.

Laughlin itself isn’t the best, but it’s perfect to get you into the Vegas mindset – it’s a bit like Vegas was about 20 years ago! If you’re a non-smoker, you’ll find the casinos all very smoky – the ventilation here isn’t as good as Vegas.

Make sure you check out the Colorado Belle Casino – it’s in the shape of a giant paddle steamer – and the Pioneer Hotel and Gambling Hall for its sheer cheesiness. The Golden Nugget is worth looking at too.

Day 5: Laughlin – Las Vegas

Driving time: 1h 30m

The drive from Laughlin to Vegas is straight forward enough, but its here you’ll see some classic Nevada desert views.

The 95, the 582 then the 592 lead you through the Mojave Desert straight to the famous Las Vegas Strip where your next adventure begins!

Accommodation: We stayed at the Delano – a fantastic hotel that’ll make your time in Vegas so much more memorable. Check out our full review of the beautiful Delano here – an all-suite hotel with no casino attached, which is a rarity in Vegas.

For more to do in Las Vegas, here’s what we’ve covered so far:

Things to do in Las Vegas – helicopter landing tour of the Grand Canyon

Things to do in Las Vegas – the Neon Museum

Where to eat in Las Vegas – miX at the Delano

One of our top 10 burgers was found here too!

Do you have a favourite road trip? Where would you go if you could take a drive anywhere? What’s the longest road trip you’ve been on? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance.

The post American Road Trip – San Diego to Las Vegas… the long way appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Click here for our free printable cheat sheet for driving in the USA here.

California is an excellent place for a road trip. Spectacular coastal roads, enormous freeways, grid-patterned city streets, windy back roads… but driving here has its issues.

While we were there recently, we discovered California has a number of strange rules that – if broken – will get you a ticket faster than you can say zinfandel.

On the topic of zinfandel and wine, how’s this one for starters: you can’t have an open container of alcohol in your car. Makes sense, but if you’re in a taxi, bus, truck, camper or motorhome (and not driving), the rule does not apply.

Initially we thought we’d have maybe 3 rules to give you. But then we started digging and discovered a wealth of driving eccentricities and legal ambushes set up to catch the unwary visiting driver.

Some of these are not written rules, more like Californian habits that will make people a little cray cray if you don’t follow along.

Our top 10 tips for driving in California

1. Pedestrians are always right!
Drivers will go out of their way to give pedestrians the right of way. I was walking down the street once and a lady drove out of a driveway to get onto the road.

She saw me coming and hurried to reverse back into the driveway for me to cross. It was crazy. In Sydney, it’s the other way round!

Pedestrians should only cross at the corners of streets or at proper crossings. But if someone decides to walk out into the road, it’s their right of way and the driver’s problem. This is in the DMV book of road rules – just much wordier.

2. Street parking #1 – wheel positions
If you park on a hill along the curb, turn the wheels the right way.

Parking up hill? Turn your wheels away from the gutter so the car rolls into the curb.

Parking down hill? Turn your wheels the other way facing into the curb.

This is in case your brakes fail and your car doesn’t roll into traffic. Good idea. But aren’t most cars are automatic these days…

Anyway, you need to get your front tire touching the curb or you could get a parking ticket.

Also remember to park on the right side of the road (unless you’re in a one-way street) and you have to be within 18 inches of the curb.

3. Street parking #2 – look at the colours of the curbs
California has a system of colours to tell you if you can park there or not – and never park next to a fire hydrant!
White: loading or unloading passengers – no more than a couple of minutes’ parking.
Yellow: loading or unloading passenger or deliveries – maximum 5 mins.
Red: no stopping, standing or parking. Ever.
Blue: disabled permit holders only.
Other than that, you can park wherever you want!

4. Stop signs – the California Roll
Stop signs are everywhere in California. They’re more common that traffic lights. You’re supposed to come to a complete stop at stop signs, but most drivers just slow down until they’re pretty much stopped, then carry on.

People call this the California Roll. It’s not legal (or anything to do with sushi), but it’s what happens.

Pedestrians can cross at a stop sign because – in theory – you’re supposed to stop anyway. But then again, pedestrians can pretty much do what they want.

At crossroads, you might see an All Stop sign. This is a ‘four-way-stop and it means – if you’re the first person to the intersection, you have the right of way. If four cars all get to the intersection at the same time, it becomes a funny stand-off. Whoever takes the initiative goes first.

5. Don’t drive too slowly
In Cali, drivers don’t mind you cutting in front of them or even pulling out in front of them, but they hate being held up. Go the speed limit (at the very least) or woe betide you.

6. You can turn right even when the lights are red
If you’re at a red light and want to turn right, you can go! Just make sure there’s nothing coming before you turn.

Also keep an eye out for signs saying ‘No turn on red’. They crop up every now and then.

7. Beware the flashers
If someone flashes you, it means they’re not letting you in not the other way round!

8. Most cars don’t have yellow rear indicators – they’re red the same as the brake lights. Mrs Romance kept having trouble with this one. It looks like they’ve got an electrical fault or that they’re braking, but it’s not.

9. Turning left lane
If you’re on a multi-lane road and want to turn left, you’ll probably see an extra lane that no one really drives in. When you see your turning, indicate and get in that lane.

You can only be in the lane for 200 feet, so no overtaking in it or anything like that, and watch for people on the other side of the road turning left – they might be using the same lane!

10. Car pool lane tricks
When you’re on the freeway, you’ll see the far left lane sometimes has a diamond shape painted on the road. This is the carpool lane. Any vehicle with 2 or more people in it can use this lane and it’s awesome. It’s pretty much always much emptier and faster than the other lanes.

You have to get into and out of the carpool lane when there are broken lines. If it’s a solid line, you have to stay put. No weaving in and out!

In San Diego, the carpool lane is called the ‘HOV lane’ – High Occupancy Vehicle. In other words 2 or more people in the car. Hardly high occupancy but there you go.

Bonus tip: Getting gas – pay before you pump.
You have to pre-pay for your petrol – or swipe your card at the pump – to get the bowser to work. Problem is, you need to enter your postcode as well. This is to prevent credit card fraud.

Try typing 00000 or 99999 as the zip code, or 0 + your Australian postcode. Otherwise hand your credit card to the cashier, pump the petrol then go back in and pay.

You might have to sign for a nominal amount (say $50), pump the petrol and the actual amount will be charged to your card. If you want a receipt, go back to kiosk to sign for the actual amount pumped.

If this is all a bit too much to digest, here’s our free downloadable cheat sheet for driving in the USA.

Driving in America is great fun – there’s just so much to do and see. And the road systems are excellent. We can’t wait for the next opportunity to get back Stateside and out on the open road – we’d love to follow this itinerary Travel Meets Happy has done across the Pacific Northwest. What an amazing drive that would be.

If you ever get the opportunity to drive in the States, take it. It’s something you’ll never forget. The only problem could be you’ll be aching to get back out on the open road as soon as you’re home again.

Have you ever driven in the States? What did you think? Where did you go? Where’s your favourite place to take a roadtrip? Tell us in the comments!

The post Plan your USA road trip – 10 tips for driving in California appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Click here for your free cheat sheet on how much to tip in the USA (opens in new window).

When I first visited the USA, I really didn’t get the tipping culture. Although I was aware of it, every time I went to the bar or got a restaurant bill, I’d break out in a panic sweat.

In Australia, New Zealand and the UK when you tip, it’s because you’re really happy with the service or the product. It’s a thank-you.

In the States, you’ve got to see it more as an informal yet essential tax.

1. Why tip?

Remember, minimum wage in the US is still considerably lower than Aus or the UK. The service and hospitality industry is often poorly paid and people rely on tips just to get by.

Tips are not just a way of you showing your appreciation for the level of service. Think of them more as just part of the price.

2. Who gets what?

The system for dividing the tips is complicated.

Every time you walk into a restaurant, you’re greeted by one person, then you’re seated by another. Water is poured by another. Menus and service is by another person. Your drinks are made by another. Your plates cleared by someone else…

Your tip is split about 6 different ways, so the money is quite thinly sliced by the end. And that’s just in a restaurant.

3. How much do you tip in the States?

Hotels.

Porter: $1 per piece of luggage you have.
Valet: $1 per piece of luggage – $2 min.
Reception and concierge: no need to tip.

Bars.

At the bar: $1-$2 per drink but more on the 1st round if you want awesome service later. Alternatively, if it’s that kind of bar and that time at night, offering to have a drink with the bar person by suggesting a shot of Fernet, you’ll have a new best friend.

Fernet Branca is an acquired taste – very bitter and medicinal – but to the seasoned career bar tender it’s like catnip!

Bar tab: add 10% to the total. Cash is better even if you’re paying by credit card for the rest of the bill.

Table service in a bar: 10% of bill (on before tax amount) is the bare minimum 15% is fine. 20% means you’re stoked w/service.

Restaurant bar: if you’re having a drink at the bar while you’re waiting for your table, make sure you settle the bar tab before you’re seated.

Combining the bar tab with your dinner bill is poor form and it’ll piss the bar tender off. This may result in slow or poorly made drinks throughout your meal. Tip $1-$2 per drink – more if the restaurant’s really busy.

Restaurants.

15% tip of the pre-tax amount is fine. In California, sales tax is 7.5%, so just double the tax amount. 20% is a good tip.

NYC is often more just because it’s a special case – though especially noticeable with table service – 20% is the norm, 25% if you’re thrilled with wait staff, more if you want to show off or look like a tourist!

Taxis.

$1 or $2 is fine. If you’re using Uber, you only need to tip if you’re really happy with the driver.

Tour guides.

As a general rule/’industry standard’, you tip about 20% of the tour price. You tip at the end of the tour.

Sometimes you don’t need to tip but it’s best to bring enough cash with you for this anyway. It’s quite embarrassing and you feel like a swindler when you can’t tip while everyone else is handing the guide bills.

There’s no need to tip at supermarkets, stores or fast food venues.

To make things a bit clearer, here’s a free cheat sheet of what we’ve gone through:

How much should you tip in the States – your free cheat sheet!

4. Working out percentages

If you’re as bad at maths as I am, doing percentages can be… frustrating. There are plenty of phone apps that help you do this. Alternatively, work out the 10% figure and go from there.

10% is easy to do. Just move the decimal place over one. So for a $95.00 bill, 10% is $9.50.

Double this and you’ve got 20%. Half of $9.50 ($4.75) is 5%. Add that to $9.50 and you’ve got 15%.

Sorry if this seems like I’m taking the piss, but it’s the only way I can do it, and I know there are others out there who feel as disengaged with numbers as I do. Hope this helps!

How much do you usually tip? Have you ever been to the States? What do you think of the tipping culture over there? Tell us in the comments!

The post How much do you tip in the USA? appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.