After having time to reflect on my trip, I have put together a list of tips which I think you will find useful. So should you be going on a Trek America holiday or just embarking on your own adventure road trip, hopefully you will find these tips beneficial...
TIPS
Enjoy Every Moment - I can honestly say I didn't have a single low moment on this trip. Even the first night we camped in the Grand Canyon National Park, and it was -7 degrees, didn't phase me. Yes I couldn't feel my feet, and at 3am convinced myself I was definitely going to have my feet amputated (dramatic much?) but the next morning we laughed about how melodramatic we'd been and reminded ourselves it was 'all part of the experience'. Then there was the time we got over adventurous exploring the Grand Canyon and legit thought we were not going to make it back in time for our helicopter ride. Panic ensued and we thought the whole trip was ruined, we were definitely not making it onto the helicopter. In the end, after borrowing a strangers cell phone to call our tour leader, we weren't even late and it turned out the helicopter site was quite literally just over the road from the campsite - so no need to worry and we had our 'once in a lifetime' helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. It was moments like these that made the trip more memorable and gave us interesting stories to tell and reflect on. If you have a long drive day, just look forward to the stops you make along the way. Find some cool roadsigns at a gas station to photograph, buy some cool merch or chat to someone on the van - you've got to make the most of your trip and find the positive in every day! Afterall what do you expect? It's not a holiday, it's a 'travel adventure experience'.
Candid Pictures - Don't forget to take candid pics! Sure scenic pics are nice but some of my favourite images, which hold the most memories, are those taken around campsite and with my fellow trekkers - the tents, facilities, eating dinner, driving on the van, strolling through a new neighbourhood. Sure they might not be the most glamorous pictures but they show us living in the moment, enjoying every aspect of the trip and the excitement which came from seeing each new place.
Try Not To Care Too Much About What You Look Like (most of the time) - Did I sleep in the same clothes that I wore during the day...maybe I did...maybe I didn't. Did I '
forget' to wash my face some nights because it was dark and too cold to walk across the campsite to the shower rooms? But you know what? I didn't care and neither did my fellow trekkers. We live in a society that puts such a huge emphasis on what we look like, perfecting that selfie, making sure we have straightened our hair and have 'eyebrows on fleek' (whatever the heck that means!) but for the 18 days I was on my roadtrip I just didn't care. On one occasion I dried my hair sat on the floor underneath a hand dryer, that looked like it was from the 1980's. But did I care - no I didn't...because later that day I was going on a helicopter ride over the grand canyon which was going to be far more spectacular than the bird's nest type hair situation I had going on. I'm not one for having my picture taken, I usually run a mile if someone points a camera in my direction, but on this trip I lost all those insecurities and would happily pose for a picture. I think there's a lesson to be learned here.
You Don't Need To Spend Loads Of Money - I actually came back with about a quarter of my budgeted spending money. Of course there is so much to see and do on a trip of this scale, and whilst I did pay for some cool attractions (thrill rides at the Stratosphere in Vegas, whale watching boat trip, baseball game), people watching / exploring neighbourhoods on foot was equally as fun and memorable. Likewise, the days when we were hiking in the national parks were cost effective. Just walking around you see so many cool, and unexpected, things. I didn't partake in any typical retail therapy on my trip. Sure I bought a San Fran merch tee (because it was $3.99 in chinatown, and I love a bargain) but I didn't go to any malls or well known shops to buy clothes or makeup. It just didn't end up being that kind of holiday for me. Just remember, watching a beautiful sunset costs nothing.
Hat, Neck Scarf, Gloves - picked up in the mothership (aka Walmart) for a few dollars. The gloves are ideal to wear when setting up /taking down the campsite, to avoid getting your hands dirty (so to speak). The neck scarf however, proved pretty versatile. It kept my neck / chest from getting sunburnt, protected my face from campfire smoke and was worn pulled up over pretty much my entire face when we 'slept' (term used loosely) in -7degrees in the Grand Canyon...thankfully no photographic evidence exists of this strong look! Thank you Walmart for this $4 sartorial statement.
Food Kitty - As mine was a camping trip, we each gave $10 per day for our food kitty. This also included ingredients to make and prepare lunch. I would 100% recommend making the most of this. Prepping a sandwich/fruit/snacks on a morning, means you have more time to explore the places you are visiting because you don't need to stop to find a cafe or restaurant. There's also something rather nice about finding a rock to perch on, or picnic bench, and eating a slightly squashed sarnie out of your rucksack. Who knew wafer thin ham could be so appealing?
Snacks/Candy - whilst I didn't snack on candy too much, curiosity did sometimes get the better of me and my eyes (*mainly my belly) were lured in by all the never seen before sweets. But your brain totally deserves to know what all the American candy tastes like right? So I say: eat that giant bar of Hershey's chocolate, the rainbow coloured cotton candy ice-cream from a gas station, the Moon Pie (still unsure quite what exactly this was), that family size bag of crisps and the novelty rabbit shaped marshmallows! You'll burn off the calories hiking in Yosemite anyway...so it's totally fine and justified. Also, have an In-n-Out burger - because literally every person who has ever been to the West Coast will tell you it's the best fast food burger (I would agree) and if you don't have one you may as well just hang your head in shame and wallow in self pity that you didn't get to try the 'double-double'.
Time Of Year You Travel - I do not cope well in super hot temperatures, 30degrees is around my limit, so the weather played a huge part in why I decided to travel when I did. My trip departed on the 28th March, concluding on the 10th April (I stayed in LA an extra 3 days and flew home on the 13th). I believe the max temperature we reached was around 30degrees (in Vegas and Salvation Mountain) and for me this was ideal. I know that during the peak of summer the temp in Las Vegas can be over 40degrees and around 50degrees in Death Valley (some treks actually skip Death Valley during the summer if it is too hot). I know these sweltering temperatures would have made the trip less enjoyable for me. So if you, like me, are not a fan of super hot temperatures then I would advise travelling earlier in the year. You'll still get glorious sun, but without the humidity and you won't be melting on the floor.
Take A Hard Suitcase - I took the largest suitcase I own (one of those soft fabric ones that claim to be the lightest suitcases in the world). Whilst it was the perfect size, for an 18 day trip, the outer fabric did rip (fluro green duck tape to the rescue). I'd forgotten about the fact that these suitcases are going to be in and out of the trailer / tent most days, packed next to heavy cool boxes and camping equipment, so damage might occur. On a couple of occasions the ground was also damp overnight and even with a ground sheet in the tent, the suitcase still managed to get a little wet. So take a hard suitcase, and if you don't have one borrow from a friend or family member.
Hand Sanitiser Is Your New Best Friend - Whilst hand san is provided by your trek leader (mainly before food prep and eating), it's great to carry a little bottle with you at all times. Especially given the amount of times you'll be in and out of gas stations and on public transport. Also worth noting that various points in the national parks do not have running water...meaning no sinks in the restrooms to wash your hands. This is mainly the case when you are hiking, so hand san is a lifesaver. A little bottle cost only around £1 / $1. I also advise taking a small hand lotion with you. After hiking, setting up camp, cooking and washing up you're hands could do with some TLC.
Take A Reusable Water Bottle - All of the national parks, and most cities, had drinking fountains from which you could refill your water bottle. This is a very active trip, so you'll want to stay hydrated. Some gas stations and shops were charging up to $4 for a standard size bottle of water. If you keep repurchasing it will soon add up, so grab yourself a reusable water bottle. I brought mine from the UK, but you can always purchase one from Walmart on the first day of the trip . I also ensured my rucksack had a side pocket for a water bottle. Made it super convenient.
Sunscreen - Don't forget to wear sunscreen... especially when on a 3 hour whale watching boat trip. "Let's stand at the front of the boat", "we'll get the best view", "it'll be just like being on the Titanic"...yes but you will inevitably put your hand on the side of that boat and it will get sunburnt, and it will swell up and look like you have a sausage McMuffin for a hand, and then you will have to wear gloves so your hand doesn't scare everyone away, and you will spend the entire trip applying aloe vera! Now I can't confirm, nor deny, that I am referencing myself here in this scenario but basically just wear sunscreen!
Nice Outfits - In Vegas, San Fran and LA (the latter not included in the trek, but I extended the trip myself) I made sure to wear some
marginally nicer outfits. The majority of the time I was wearing my activewear/ trainers/hoodie, so when in the cities I made a bit more of an effort to wear something more along the lines of what I would typically wear back at home in England. For me this meant a pair of snakeskin ankle boots, Debbie Harry t-shirt and an LBD (worn in Vegas). Still practical, but for a short space of time just nice to be wearing something a little bit nicer than Walmart trousers with an elasticated waist!
The ultimate road trip playlist to follow...
Phillippa x
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