This is a travel story I first published on my previous site, now presented with my own photos and a new layout. Travelling as a group means sharing views, laughter and small mishaps too: often those become the stories we tell when we return.
Departure and the forgotten suitcase
Our trip began with a little drama: my daughter had left her suitcase at home. For a moment we wondered whether to go back or buy what she needed on arrival. My husband fought Milan traffic, returned home and made it back to the airport in time. Then, at last, we were off, with another story to remember.
San Francisco, film and the bay
We started in San Francisco: Alcatraz, Pier 39, Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge and the bends of Lombard Street. We also made time for the Mrs. Doubtfire house, an essential stop for film lovers. The wind on the bridge and the view towards the ocean stayed with me more vividly than any checklist of sights.
Our route also took in Silicon Valley and the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. Then came a change of scale: walking among enormous trees in Sequoia National Park put everything into perspective.
The unexpected passes. The time we spend together stays with us.
Las Vegas, and why I love it
We reached the Luxor in the middle of the night, yet the city seemed wide awake. Las Vegas divides opinion; I enjoy its exuberant energy. We explored hotels and shops along the Strip, watched the Bellagio fountains and took in the lights from above. One evening we saw it from a helicopter, a memory I will not forget.
Between a buffet, a visit to the outlets and a walk along Fremont Street, we learned to leave room for things we had not planned.
The Grand Canyon and then Los Angeles
At the Grand Canyon, the colours of the rock shift with the light and the vastness asks you to be quiet. It is a place to pause without chasing the perfect photo. Los Angeles brought us back to city energy: Hollywood, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Malibu and the view from Griffith Observatory. I have a soft spot for Venice Beach, its colours and contrasts.
What I would bring to a new itinerary
In the United States, distances matter as much as destinations. This trip reminded me that even a packed route needs time to eat, stop and enjoy the days with the people around you. It is the first thing I consider now when designing a tailor-made trip through the West.
