Epic 10-Day Western USA Road Tri

I just returned from an unforgettable 10-day road trip around the American West during the National Day holiday (with 8 full days of actual exploration). This was hands down the best group trip I've taken this year—every single day brought a new and incredible surprise! Here is my day-by-day itinerary and highlight reel to inspire your own adventure. ✈️ Day 0: Hong Kong → Los Angeles The journey begins! A long-haul flight to get you to the starting line. Day 1: First Impressions of LA Itinerary:​ Hollywood Walk of Fame → Beverly Hills → Getty Center Highlight:​ The Getty Center​ is an absolute must. It's a stunning art museum perched on a hilltop, offering breathtaking views of the city. The architecture and gardens are works of art in themselves. Best of all, admission is free, but you MUST book a timed entry ticket in advance! Day 2: Salt Lake City & The Journey North Itinerary:​ Salt Lake City → Lunch in Chinatown → World's First KFC → Jackson Hole, Wyoming Highlight:​ Salt Lake City's Chinatown​ was a lifesaver! We stocked up on instant noodles and self-heating hot pots at the fantastic Asian supermarket, preparing our survival kit for the wilds of Yellowstone. 🍜 🏔️ Day 3: The Breathtaking Grand Teton National Park Itinerary:​ Sunrise viewing → Jenny Lake Hike → String Lake → Oxbow Bend → Jackson Lake Overlook Highlight:​ We woke up at 5:00 AM​ to catch the sunrise, and it was worth every second of lost sleep. Seeing the Teton Range turn pink with the first light (Alpenglow)​ was a truly spiritual experience. The hike around Jenny Lake was serene, and Oxbow Bend in the golden autumn light was picture-perfect. 🏞️ 🌋 Day 4: Yellowstone's Upper Loop Adventure Itinerary:​ Fishing Bridge → Mud Volcano → Hayden Valley → Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone → Mammoth Hot Springs Highlight:​ This day was a parade of iconic Yellowstone scenery. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone​ with its powerful waterfalls is the image you see on postcards. It's raw, powerful, and utterly magnificent. 🌈 Day 5: Yellowstone's Lower Loop & Colorful Wonders Itinerary:​ Grand Prismatic Spring → West Thumb Geyser Basin → Morning Glory Pool → Old Faithful Eruption Highlight:​ The variety of colorful hot springs is simply mind-boggling! We took a shortcut from Black Sand Basin to Morning Glory Pool​ and were rewarded with a surprise eruption from Daisy Geyser. Of course, watching the Old Faithful geyser​ erupt around 4:00 PM was the perfect, predictable grand finale. 🌋 🎰 Day 6: Transition to Glitter & Glam in Las Vegas 📍 Itinerary:​ Return rental car in Salt Lake City → Fly to Las Vegas → David Copperfield Magic Show ✨ Highlight:​ Our 6:00 AM departure was rewarded with another spectacular sunrise over the mountains. In Vegas, we dove into the nightlife with David Copperfield's legendary magic show at the MGM Grand. It's a classic Vegas experience that never gets old. 🎩 🏜️ Day 7: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Day Trip Itinerary:​ Horseshoe Bend → Lower Antelope Canyon → Gas Station Cave Highlight:​ The light beams inside Lower Antelope Canyon​ are pure magic—it feels like walking through a living painting crafted by Mother Nature. 🎨 A hidden gem was the free cave located next to a gas station; it was empty, stunning, and incredibly photogenic! 🎪 Day 8: Las Vegas Strip Chill Day Itinerary:​ Tacos El Gordo → Wynn Skybridge → Flamingo Wildlife Habitat → Bellagio Fountains → M&M's World Highlight:​ We indulged in delicious and affordable tacos at Tacos El Gordo. The rest of the day was spent leisurely exploring the Strip: taking photos of the Sphere from the Wynn skybridge, watching the flamingos at the Flamingo, admiring the Bellagio fountains, and getting our sugar fix at M&M's World. It was the perfect, relaxed end to an action-packed trip. 🌮 This 10-day journey took us from the urban glamour of LA to the pristine wilderness of the national parks and finally to the neon-lit spectacle of Vegas. It was a perfect blend of nature, culture, and pure fun. Happy travels! ✨ #US #Nevada #Las Vegas