How a Business Trip Became My Gateway to the US West Coast
In the year following the end of pandemic restrictions, I found myself travelling abroad on business seven times. Among those trips, the United States was the one I was most excited to finally ‘unlock.’ My American journey began with a touchdown in Los Angeles, where a professional obligation quickly evolved into an unforgettable road trip.
In practice, we didn’t linger in Los Angeles. We made a quick pass through Santa Monica Pier and Griffith Observatory, then drove out early the next morning for Las Vegas — the main event of this trip: CES, the Consumer Electronics Show.
The exhibition hall was enormous, the pace relentless, the information density overwhelming. The scale was nothing like the consumer electronics shows in Hong Kong. Everything felt amplified.
We had crossed half the planet to get here, so we also crammed in some evening activities: dinner at Hell’s Kitchen, an outlet shopping run, and Cirque du Soleil’s O show. I fell asleep partway through the performance. Never underestimate jetlag.
When the Conference Ended, Nature Took Over
After the exhibition we drove through Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Yosemite.
The natural scale here is unlike anything in Asia. There are no pre-arranged viewing angles; you are simply dropped into it.
Standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon, my mind went completely blank for a moment. My first instinct was not to take a photo or say anything — only a clear, physical awareness of how small a person is against all of this.
That kind of feeling cannot be recreated in Taiwan.
Antelope Canyon: Learning to Respect What You Cannot Control
The night before visiting Antelope Canyon, we were driving on a road with no internet and no street lights. The GPS signal kept cutting out; the car window showed only darkness. We navigated by the line on the dashboard display and arrived at the guesthouse well past midnight.
All of it was to see the next morning’s Windows desktop wallpaper in person.
Antelope Canyon requires a certified Navajo guide to enter, so we booked a package tour online and joined a group with travellers from different countries.
The moment we stepped inside, it was worth everything.
The light and air changed immediately. The rock formations were impossibly close. Sunlight poured through a narrow crack in the stone, and the shadows it created couldn’t be fully captured in a photograph.
The passage was narrow — some sections too tight to walk side by side. You follow the person in front of you, step by step.
America Isn’t Convenient — But It’s Honest
This trip combining work and travel was not easy overall.
Long distances, jetlag, food — every element tested your stamina.
But that’s just how America is: the cities are vast, the natural sites are far, the distances are real and they don’t get shorter because you’re inconvenienced by them.
A First US Trip That Left a Pure, Unshakeable Impression
Looking back at this trip to America — it wasn’t the most enjoyable one I’ve taken, but it was the most profound.
Between work obligations, I was struck by the scale of nature in a way I had never experienced in my entire life.
America isn’t a place for spontaneous travel. Distance and physical stamina are real constraints.
But if you get a chance to visit the West, the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon are absolutely worth putting on the list. Go there once and you’ll understand why so many people say it’s something you have to see before you die.
Read more: More articles about the USA
FAQ
Taiwanese passport holders can apply for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) and enter the US visa-free for up to 90 days.
ESTA must be applied for online before departure. The fee has been adjusted to USD 40; approval usually takes a few minutes to a few hours, but it’s best to apply at least a few days before your trip rather than leaving it to the last day.
Once approved, ESTA is valid for two years with multiple entries.
The Grand Canyon South Rim is accessible by car — you drive in, park, and walk to the viewpoints. No guide required.
Antelope Canyon is different: you must be accompanied by a certified Navajo guide to enter. It cannot be visited independently. Buying a ticket automatically includes the guided tour.
If you want to cover both, a package tour is the most efficient way to do it without the stress of navigating remote roads on your own.
Yes, but it will be a very long day.
From Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon South Rim is roughly four hours each way. Add Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend into the same loop and you’re typically leaving before dawn and returning to Las Vegas late at night.
The physical toll is higher than expected. It’s worth keeping at least one day before and after as buffer — don’t pile more activities on top of your most exhausted day.
A Taiwanese driver’s licence plus an international driving permit is sufficient to rent a car in the US legally.
Practical things to keep in mind: US highway speed limits are in miles (1 mile ≈ 1.6 km); traffic moves on the right; right turns on red are usually permitted after checking; petrol is self-service; parking lots almost always charge a fee.
The stretch of road toward Antelope Canyon is remote with no street lighting at night. If you’re driving that section for the first time after dark, be mentally prepared.
CES is a B2B trade show open to industry professionals. General consumers cannot purchase tickets directly; registration requires a media, industry, or corporate credential.
If you work in a relevant field or can register through your company, it is possible to obtain entry.
The exhibition floor is enormous — plan which halls you want to prioritise beforehand, otherwise just walking through everything can exhaust you before you’ve seen anything.
