Author's Note
Note
American evangelism
Highway Map
Distance by city
Travel time by city

● Western US travel theme

Representative city in the western United States
BEST of the BEST 01 Encountering Mother Nature
BEST of the BEST 02 Best Photo Points
BEST of the BEST 03 Beautiful Beach Embracing the Pacific Ocean
BEST of the BEST 04 Road Trip
BEST of the BEST 05 American Historic Sites Tour
BEST of the BEST 06 California Mission Pilgrimage
BEST of the BEST 07 Exciting Theme Parks
BEST of the BEST 08 Shopping Paradise, Outlet Mall
BEST of the BEST 09 A World of Unique Experiences
BEST of the BEST 10 World-Class Museums
BEST of the BEST 11 Healing Resorts
BEST of the BEST 12 Craft Beer Paradise
BEST of the BEST 13 Fragrant Coffee in a Bag
The aroma of the BEST of the BEST 14 California wines is a precious gift.

● Getting to know the western United States

Country Basic Information
rental car travel
Other means of transportation
American food
Shopping in America

● Travel Preparation

Travel Preparation
Departure
Entering the country
How to respond to an emergency

Budgeting
Recommended itinerary

Northern California

[San Francisco]
Special Page Enjoying the Hills of San Francisco
Special Page Things to Try When Visiting San Francisco
Special Page Enjoying High-End Coffee
Special Page Enjoying California Wine
Zoom In: Uncovering San Francisco's Iconic Cable Cars
Zoom In: A Brief History and Historic Sites of San Francisco at a Glance
Zoom In Ferry Building Marketplace Recommended Stores
Enjoy Zoom In Sports
How to Enjoy Cultural Life for Free with Zoom In
How to Enjoy Pier 39 Zoom In
Zoom In and Enjoy Alcatraz Island
Zoom In: Uncovering the Golden Gate Bridge
Zoom In: Representative Shopping Streets by Region
Zoom In: Choosing a San Francisco Accommodation
Sausalito
Berkeley
Stanford University
Muir Woods National Historic Site
Napa Valley
Yosemite National Park

[California Route 1]
Monterey
17 Mile Drive
Camel
Big Sur
San Simeon
Morro Bay
San Luis Obispo
Pismo Beach
Malibu
Laguna Beach
Dana Point

Southern California

Los Angeles
Special Page Finding the Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles' Best Symbol
Zoom In: Choosing a Los Angeles Accommodation
Zoom In Arts District Hotspots
Zoom In: The Arts District, the Heart of Los Angeles Coffee
Zoom In Korean Restaurants in Koreatown
Zoom In Outlets Near Los Angeles
Hollywood & Beverly Hills
Santa Monica & Venice
Long Beach & South LA
Pasadena

Theme Parks Around Los Angeles
Universal Studios
Disneyland
California Adventure
Six Flags Magic Mountain

Santa Barbara
Solvang
Palm Springs
Palm Desert / Desert Hot Springs / Cabazon
Joshua Tree National Park
San Diego
San Diego Zoo
Sea World
Safari Park
Coronado / La Jolla / Carlsbad
Travel Plus Tijuana

● Southwest

Las Vegas
Special Page Casino
Special Page Show
Special Page Buffet
Special Page Pool
Travel Plus Hoover Dam
Grand Canyon
Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon
Sedona
Four Corners
Monument Valley
Arches National Park
Antelope Canyon
Mesa Verde National Park
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Santa Fe
Travel Plus New Mexico
Taos
White Sands National Park
Roswell
Carlsbad Caverns National Park

● Northwest and Rockies

[Seattle]
Zoom In: Spend a Day at Pike Place Market
Travel Plus Vancouver
Travel Plus Victoria
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Devil's Tower
Mount Rushmore
Crazy Horse
Rocky Mountain National Park
Travel Plus Aspen
Travel Plus Vail
Travel Plus Glenwood Springs
Salt Lake City

Index

1.
The most up-to-date travel information for the Western United States for 2025-2026!

As a country that leads global trends, the United States also changes its travel destinations very quickly.
Accordingly, "Friends Western USA 25-26" has updated the most up-to-date information collected up to March 2025, including not only the representative attractions, restaurants, and shopping information of each region, but also newly introduced spots and changed transportation information.
In particular, in this revised edition, for accommodation information that fluctuates frequently, instead of introducing specific accommodations, we will introduce the characteristics of each accommodation location to provide practical assistance in making accommodation reservations.

2.
Complete conquest of key cities and small towns in the western United States!

When you think of the 'Western United States', the first cities that come to mind are Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle, as well as smaller cities like Santa Fe, Santa Barbara, and Salt Lake City.
For each city, we've carefully compiled useful information to know before your trip, including transportation information, sightseeing, restaurants, and shopping spots.

3.
Prepare and plan your trip with Friends: Western America!

If you're unsure where to start and how to prepare for your trip to the American West, the answer is "Friends: The American West."
This section, "Travel Preparation," is designed for first-time travelers who are unsure of what to do and enjoy during their first visit to the United States, as well as business travelers who don't have much time to prepare for their trip.
This section contains various information and recommended itineraries about the United States, as well as information on festivals and events by season, as well as information on representative American chain restaurants and famous stores by item, so that you can enjoy a practical trip to the American West without any prior preparation.

4.
A scale beyond imagination, a comprehensive overview of 20 national parks and historic sites in the western United States!

Another highlight of any trip to the United States: national parks and historic sites! Many of America's national parks, a treasure trove of magnificent nature, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, attracting countless travelers from around the world each year.
In “Friends American West 25-26,” 11 national parks and famous historic sites representing the American West were selected from among the 60 or so national parks across the United States boasting outstanding natural scenery and introduced in detail.
It tells you everything about the famous national parks such as Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Yellowstone National Park, as well as the large and small historical sites in the western region that have preserved the mysterious nature of nature, such as Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, and White Sands.

5.
Introducing a themed tour that will double the fun of your trip!

The United States, a multi-ethnic and multicultural nation boasting diverse natural environments in each region, is a destination with endless charm, offering a variety of themed trips.
In “Friends American West 25-26,” we introduce 14 themed travel methods that will make your trip even more enjoyable, such as facing the great outdoors, best photo spots, beautiful beaches embracing the Pacific Ocean, road trips, travel to American historic sites, pilgrimage to California missions, exciting theme parks, outlet malls that are a shopping paradise, a world of unique experiences, world-class museums, healing resorts, heaven of craft beer, fragrant coffee brought in your bag, and the scent of California wine as a precious gift.
If you are a traveler who is tired of the same old things and wants to explore something more in-depth, try a themed tour.

6.
Includes customized recommended itineraries by date and city!

This book introduces recommended routes for each travel period, from a 5-night, 7-day itinerary that tours the key cities of the western United States, to an 8-night, 10-day itinerary that includes visits to small and medium-sized cities and national parks, and a 12-night, 14-day itinerary that crosses the west coast.
In particular, by referring to the 'Special Page', 'Zoom In', and 'Travel Plus' pages for each major city, you can enjoy the representative attractions of each region without missing a thing.
It's packed with information that will enrich your trip to the western United States, including how to enjoy the hills of San Francisco, how to enjoy California wine, how to find the Hollywood sign, and the dazzling shows and casinos of Las Vegas. Be sure to make good use of it.

7.
Rental car travel information for car travelers!

Given the vastness of the United States, the most convenient means of transportation is by car.
This book is packed with information for rental car travel.
We have carefully included practical information for rental car travelers, including highway maps, city distance charts, traffic sign photos, and speed limits, to ensure a hassle-free car trip.
Additionally, we have increased practicality by providing information that rental car travelers may be curious about, such as how to deal with traffic accidents, how to refuel, and things to be careful of when driving in the city.