La la land: a city characterised by its blissful lack of touch with reality. And the perfect place to sack off your everyday routine and catapult into a two-week Californian adventure. First: meet your Topdeck fam. Then: we'll get our bearings around this ginormous city on a driving tour.
Get ready for LA big guns: Santa Monica and Venice Beach. Spot roller skaters gliding along Santa Monica boardwalk – their skills? Next level. Witness allll the palm trees. You're bouta see that Venice Beach pic for real. No filter required. Tonight, it's time get to know the gang a little better with an included group dinner. (D)
Sun-kissed. Creative. Ruggedly good looking. LA is your ideal Tinder date – minus the swiping and awkward small talk. This morning we'll take to the Hollywood Hills with our Trip Leader – expect the inside scoop on the movie biz and some BIG white letters (if you're looking for a sign, this is it).
Afterwards, rest your legs and keep those eyes peeled. We're gonna see star-studded scenes on another driving tour. Spot your fav celebs at Hollywood's Walk of Fame. There's more than *drumroll please* 2700 concrete stars. For real. Then: turn up the boujee volume, we're heading to Beverly Hills. Swoon in shopping heaven along Rodeo Drive. Ogle super luxurious cribs with big name owners. Think: Hayley Bieber, Queen Bey, Taylor Swift. You never know who you're gonna rub shoulders with in the 90210 zip code. Hint: the bigger the sunnies, the bigger the star.
There's time for one last dip in the Pacific Ocean before we roll onto Arizona today. This state is made for road trips. Stretches of endless sky. Expanses of red desert. Centuries-old history. And some pretty famous rock formations. Next: straighten your neckerchief and shine up that sheriff badge.
When we pull up in Prescott, the saloons of Whiskey Row await. During the Cali Gold Rush this place was heaving with cowboys and miners searching for a shot (or a shoot). After going down in a blaze of flames in 1900, it was rebuilt to its heyday glory. Ready for a real wild (west) experience? Get out there, partner! (B)
Shake the confetti from your hair, hop on the coach and belt out the trip song (in perfect harmony, obvs) – we're outta here. Next stop? The Sierra Nevada Mountains. This place is Disneyland for outdoor enthusiasts. Where sheer-faced granite walls reign supreme, giant sequoia trees loom over dense forest floors and the sound of thundering waterfalls fill the air.
Keen to show off your spider-monkey-worthy swinging skills? There's an optional aerial adventure course on the cards. Over dinner tonight, make a plan of attack for your free day tomorrow – your expert Trip Leader has plenty of suggestions. (D)
There aren't enough adjectives to describe this place – so we're not going to try. You've got a full day to experience the magic of Yosemite (yo-sem-it-ee) for yourself. Don't waste a second. Start with the Mist Trail for incredible views that compensate for the burning calves. Follow the trail to the top of Vernal Falls and be rewarded with a refreshing dip in Emerald Pool.
Want more of a challenge? Follow ‘nature's staircase' to the top of Navada Falls. DW if walking isn't your thing – there's a free shuttle to get around. Keep your eyes peeled for deer, bears and golden eagles. David Attenborough wannabes eat your heart out. Worked up an appetite? Dinner's on us tonight – time to swap stories with the fam. (B/L/D)
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