18 days in California Itinerary

High in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the shore of one of America’s most scenic lakes, South Lake Tahoe captures the spirit of the outdoors and serves as a hub for tourism activities surrounding the lake.

Start off your visit on the 10th (Fri): examine the collection at Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum.

For maps, photos, more things to do, and tourist information, read South Lake Tahoe planner.

Phoenix to South Lake Tahoe is an approximately 3.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and train. Traveling from Phoenix to South Lake Tahoe, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Expect cooler temperatures when traveling from Phoenix in February; daily highs in South Lake Tahoe reach 47°F and lows reach 22°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel to Yosemite National Park.

Massive granite mountains, towering waterfalls, groves of Giant Sequoia trees, and wilderness as far as the eye can see distinguish the landscape of Yosemite National Park.

Family-friendly places like Badger Pass Ski Area and Cathedral Beach Picnic Area will thrill your kids. And it doesn't end there: take in the dramatic natural features at Half Dome, explore the landscape on two wheels at Yosemite Valley Biking, explore the striking landscape of Swinging Bridge Picnic Area Yosemite National Park CA, and take in the dramatic scenery at Bridalveil Fall.

For traveler tips, photos, ratings, and tourist information, read our Yosemite National Park day trip planning tool.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from South Lake Tahoe to Yosemite National Park. Expect a daytime high around 48°F in February, and nighttime lows around 18°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Wed) early enough to travel to San Francisco.

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

Family-friendly places like Alcatraz Island and Golden Gate Park will thrill your kids. There's still lots to do: take in the views from Golden Gate Bridge, admire the natural beauty at Japanese Tea Garden, examine the collection at de Young Museum, and engage your brain at Exploratorium.

For where to stay and other tourist information, use the San Francisco trip builder.

Explore your travel options from Yosemite National Park to San Francisco with the Route module. While traveling from Yosemite National Park, expect somewhat warmer days and warmer nights in San Francisco, ranging from highs of 62°F to lows of 48°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 19th (Sun) early enough to catch the flight to Los Angeles.

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

Family-friendly places like Griffith Observatory and Santa Monica Bay will thrill your kids. Pack the 20th (Mon) with family-friendly diversions at Universal Studios Hollywood. The adventure continues: examine the collection at The Getty Center, appreciate the extensive heritage of Hollywood Walk of Fame, take a leisurely stroll along Santa Monica Pier, and get curious at California Science Center.

To find other places to visit and more tourist information, you can read our Los Angeles driving holiday planning tool.

You can fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from San Francisco in February, expect nights in Los Angeles to be about the same, around 51°F, while days are somewhat warmer, around 71°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 22nd (Wed) early enough to go by car to Anaheim.

Anaheim's major attractions are its world-famous Disney entertainment complex, sports teams, and convention center.

Kick off your visit on the 23rd (Thu): get in on the family fun at Disneyland Park. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 24th (Fri): discover the magic at Disney California Adventure Park.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Anaheim trip planning site.

You can drive from Los Angeles to Anaheim in an hour. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a train. In February, daily temperatures in Anaheim can reach 72°F, while at night they dip to 50°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 24th (Fri) early enough to go by car to Carlsbad.

Stretching along 11 km (7 mi) of Pacific coastline, the city of Carlsbad attracts visitors with its Mediterranean climate and natural beauty.

Ask Klarna Trips to suggest an itinerary and make planning a trip to Carlsbad fast, fun, and easy.

Traveling by car from Anaheim to Carlsbad takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. Plan for a bit cooler nights when traveling from Anaheim in February since evenings lows in Carlsbad dip to 44°F. You'll set off for San Diego on the 24th (Fri).

Divided into neighborhoods with distinct characters and cultural heritages, San Diego sits just north of the Mexican border and offers visitors a blend of tourist attractions, including a lively nightlife, diverse cuisine, and a thriving musical scene.

Start off your visit on the 25th (Sat): get to know the resident critters at San Diego Zoo and then test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms. On your second day here, see the interesting displays at USS Midway Museum and then let little ones run wild at Balboa Park.

To find ratings, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, you can read our San Diego trip itinerary planning site.

Traveling by car from Carlsbad to San Diego takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. Expect a bit warmer evenings in San Diego when traveling from Carlsbad in February, with lows around 53°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 26th (Sun) so you can catch the flight back home.