16 days in California Itinerary

Surrounded by mountain ranges, forests, valleys, beaches, and deserts, the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is home to over 17 million people.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Los Angeles: Anaheim (Disneyland Park & Disney California Adventure Park). Pack the 1st (Sat) with family-friendly diversions at Universal Studios Hollywood.

For more things to do, photos, where to stay, and more tourist information, read our Los Angeles vacation planner.

If you are flying in from United Kingdom, the closest major aiports are Los Angeles International Airport, John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport, Ontario International Airport, San Bernardino International Airport and Edwards Air Force Base. In June, daily temperatures in Los Angeles can reach 30°C, while at night they dip to 19°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Sun) so you can go by car to Santa Barbara.

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara is a solid vacation destination with its wide beaches, renowned wineries, and some of California's finest shopping and dining options.

Kick off your visit on the 2nd (Sun): don't miss a visit to Old Mission Santa Barbara, then shop like a local with State Street Underpass, then learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Santa Barbara Zoo, and finally take in the waterfront at Stearns Wharf.

For reviews, photos, and other tourist information, you can read our Santa Barbara attractions planner.

Getting from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara by car takes about 2 hours. Other options: take a bus; or take a train. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Los Angeles in July: high temperatures in Santa Barbara hover around 28°C and lows are around 18°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Mon) so you can go by car to Pismo Beach.

Pismo Beach is a city in San Luis Obispo County, in the Central Coast area of California, United States. Kick off your visit on the 3rd (Mon): contemplate the long history of Price Anniversary House - Price Historical Park, then get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour, and then take a leisurely stroll along Pismo Pier.

For maps, photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, go to the Pismo Beach holiday planner.

You can drive from Santa Barbara to Pismo Beach in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. In July, daytime highs in Pismo Beach are 31°C, while nighttime lows are 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Tue) early enough to drive to Monterey.

Monterey is a city in the U.S. state of California, on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on California's Central Coast. Monterey is known for zoos & aquariums, scenic drive, and wildlife. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Monterey Bay Aquarium, get up close to creatures of the deep with a dolphin and whale watching tour, get engrossed in the history at Casa Serrano, Historic Adobe, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Pacific Grove Oceanview Boulevard.

To see ratings, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Monterey tour itinerary maker.

Getting from Pismo Beach to Monterey by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: fly; or take a bus. When traveling from Pismo Beach in July, plan for slightly colder days in Monterey, with highs around 24°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Thu) so you can drive to Carmel.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, often simply called Carmel, is a city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated on October 31, 1916. On the 6th (Thu), go for a walk through Carmel Beach Boardwalk and then look for gifts at Kurtz Culinary.

To find other places to visit, where to stay, more things to do, and other tourist information, read Carmel trip builder.

Carmel is just a stone's throw from Monterey. In July in Carmel, expect temperatures between 24°C during the day and 15°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Point Reyes National Seashore.

Start off your visit on the 7th (Fri): enjoy the sand and surf at Drakes Beach, then visit a coastal fixture at Point Reyes Lighthouse, and then see exotic creatures in open habitats at Point Reyes Safaris.

To find more things to do, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Point Reyes National Seashore itinerary tool.

You can drive from Carmel to Point Reyes National Seashore in 3.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of flight and bus; or do a combination of bus, train, and taxi. Traveling from Carmel in July, you will find days in Point Reyes National Seashore are a bit warmer (34°C), and nights are about the same (13°C). Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Jenner.

Jenner is a small coastal town and census-designated place (CDP) with a population of about 136 in Sonoma County, California, U.S. It is located on the Pacific coast near the mouth of the Russian River. Kick off your visit on the 8th (Sat): enjoy the sand and surf at Goat Rock Beach, explore the striking landscape at Bodega Head, then kick back and relax at Doran Beach, and finally look for gifts at Patrick's of Bodega Bay Salt Water Taffy.

For maps, other places to visit, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Jenner tour itinerary planning tool.

Traveling by car from Point Reyes National Seashore to Jenner takes 2 hours. July in Jenner sees daily highs of 34°C and lows of 13°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Sun) early enough to drive to Sonoma.

Set in the heart of one of the United States' most esteemed wine-producing regions, just 45 minutes from San Francisco, Sonoma boasts colonial Mexican architecture, including a mission.

Kick off your visit on the 9th (Sun): tour the pleasant surroundings at Sonoma Plaza, shop like a local with Lisa Kristine Gallery Sonoma, don't miss a visit to Riverfront Promenade, then enjoy unforgettable views with a balloon tour, and finally look for gifts at Oxbow Public Market.

For reviews, more things to do, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the Sonoma holiday maker tool.

Traveling by car from Jenner to Sonoma takes 1.5 hours. July in Sonoma sees daily highs of 32°C and lows of 13°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to San Francisco.

San Francisco is a top holiday destination featuring scenic beauty and great ethnic and cultural diversity.

Step out of San Francisco to go to Mill Valley and see Muir Woods National Monument, which is approximately 48 minutes away. And it doesn't end there: step off the mainland to explore Alcatraz Island, take in the views from Golden Gate Bridge, stroll around Golden Gate Park, and go for a walk through Lombard Street.

For more things to do, photos, where to stay, and tourist information, read San Francisco day trip site.

You can drive from Sonoma to San Francisco in 1.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of taxi and subway; or take a bus. Traveling from Sonoma in July, expect nights in San Francisco to be about the same, around 16°C, while days are little chillier, around 26°C.