Copyright © 2004-2005 Paul Kyriazi
Author of "Live the James Bond Lifestyle"
http://www.bondlife.com/
Here's a trip that James Bond wouldn't have the time for. But
if you do, your Bond girl will never forget it. "She'll be
catching her breath for six months."
Start in Orlando for a few days at DisneyWorld and get a hotel
near "Downtown Disney" or at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Then
take AmTrak from there overnight to Philadelphia.
>From the Philadelphia train station rent a car (with a
navigational system) and drive to Atlantic City to sea the
boardwalk, the Atlantic and gamble a little. There's not too
much else to do besides gamble and eat, so after 3 hours head
off to Lancaster county to see the Amish locations via a tour
that leaves the visitor's center.
Next drive southwest passing through the Gettysburg civil war
battle field and monuments. Drive through Tennessee ending up
in Memphis. Stay at "Heartbreak Hotel" (small, but convenient)
and tour Elvis' Graceland. Go down to Dallas and visit the
book depository museum were JFK was shot and "JFK" was filmed.
Stay at the North Dallas Hilton next to the Galaria Mall.
Next, head to Albuquerque and stay at the Sheraton Old Town
Hotel. Shop and eat at old town. Don't miss the "Rattlesnake
Museum". Small, but creepy
Then it's up to Monument Valley where the only place to stay is
Gouldings Lodge. Drive to the visitor's center where you can
hire a Native American to take you by jeep to see the sights.
But I prefer to use my own car and enjoy the sights on my own.
Next drive down to the Grand Canyon and stay at one of the rim
hotels as mentioned before. Then down to Flagstaff and back
track 30 miles to see the Meteor Crater. Yes, it's just a big
whole, but it also has an interesting museum and there's a
Subway sandwich shop there for a quick bite.
Next it's on to Las Vegas by driving over the Hoover Dam, where
you can take a 20 minute interior dam tour and ride the paddle
boat on the very blue Lake Mead for some "Planet of the Apes"
type scenery. It looks similar to the Lake Powell location
where Heston crash landed his spaceship.
>From Vegas, stop over a few minutes at the California stateline
and see the "Bonnie and Clyde Car" at the Primm Casino Mall.
Be forewarned, it's not the movie car. It's the real thing, as
is Clyde's death shirt. There's a Fashion Outlet mall there,
for your girl to shop and you can ride "The Desperado", which
premiered in 1994 as the worlds tallest, steepest and longest
steel coaster.
Next, hit the Los Angeles attractions. Stay at the Disney Pier
Hotel. See Disney's two parks, Knott's Berry Farm, and the
Movieland Wax Museum. Then stay a night at the Universal
Hilton and visit the studio attractions.
After surviving the Jurasic Park dinosaurs, drive North toward
San Francisco, stopping at the small Scandinavian town of
Solvang for some quick eating, shopping, and gambling (at the
Chumash Indian Casino).
Next stop is Monterey where you can sleep at the Doubletree
Hotel next to Fisherman's Warph and go whale watching the next
morning. Just 15 minutes from there is Carmel. Park and walk
down Ocean Ave to see the shops and end up at the beach. Then
back up to your car and on to Santa Cruz to ride the Giant
Dipper at the Beach Boardwalk. Find the Bazookas that shoot
baseballs at targets and blast a few.
>From there it's 90 minutes to San Francisco. Stay at the
Fisherman's Warph Hilton for a few days. Don't miss the 45
minute bay cruise, the cliff house, and Chinatown. The
"motorized cable car" tours near the pier have great 90 minute
and 3 hour tours. After that turn in your rental car at the
airport and fly home, knowing you surpassed any trip James Bond
has been on.
You can do this trip in sections or in one long glorious
adventure. If you need more detailed suggestions, email me
via my web site.
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Paul Kyriazi - "Live the James Bond Lifestyle"
http://www.BondLife.com