46 days in California Itinerary

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.

Change things up with these side-trips from San Diego: Carlsbad Food Tours (in Carlsbad) and Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens (in Encinitas). The adventure continues: get to know the resident critters at San Diego Zoo, stroll around Ellen Browning Scripps Park, admire the masterpieces at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and examine the collection at USS Midway Museum.

Before you visit San Diego, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

New York City to San Diego is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) is minus 3 hours. Prepare for somewhat warmer weather when traveling from New York City in October: high temperatures in San Diego hover around 78°F and lows are around 64°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 9th (Mon) so you can go by car to Julian.

Julian is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California, in the United States. Start off your visit on the 10th (Tue): look for all kinds of wild species at Lions, Tigers & Bears and then explore the activities along Lake Cuyamaca. On the 11th (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: get outside with California Overland Desert Excursions, then learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at California Wolf Center, and then go deep underground at Eagle and High Peak Mine.

For where to stay, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, use the Julian tour itinerary planner.

You can drive from San Diego to Julian in 1.5 hours. Traveling from San Diego in October, expect a bit cooler with lows of 50°F in Julian. Cap off your sightseeing on the 11th (Wed) early enough to go by car 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.

Get out of town with these interesting Los Angeles side-trips: Disneyland Park (in Anaheim) and Santa Monica (Santa Monica Farmers Market, 26-Mile Bike Path, &more). Pack the 12th (Thu) with family-friendly diversions at Universal Studios Hollywood. There's much more to do: get to know the fascinating history of Santa Monica Pier, look and learn at Griffith Observatory, watch a film at California Science Center, and browse the different shops at Two Rodeo Drive.

To find reviews, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Los Angeles vacation tool.

Drive from Julian to Los Angeles in 2.5 hours. Traveling from Julian in October, Los Angeles is somewhat warmer at night with lows of 62°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Tue) so you can fly to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.

With mountain peaks reaching past 4,250 m (14,000 ft) and trees stretching to over 75 m (250 ft) high, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks present nature on a grand scale.

Change things up with a short trip to The Senate in Three Rivers (about 48 minutes away). And it doesn't end there: get a dose of the wild on Sequoia Sightseeing Tours, steep yourself in history at General Sherman Tree, hike along Congress Trail, and tour the pleasant surroundings at Panoramic Point.

To find traveler tips, reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, read Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park road trip planning tool.

Getting from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park by flight takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Los Angeles in October, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park is a bit cooler at night with lows of 51°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 22nd (Sun) to allow 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.

On the 25th (Wed), hike the day away at Panorama Trail. There's still lots to do: take in the dramatic natural features at Glacier Point, contemplate the waterfront views at Tenaya Lake, cruise along Tioga Pass, and don't miss a visit to Pothole Dome.

For photos, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, go to the Yosemite National Park trip itinerary planning website.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to Yosemite National Park. While traveling from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, expect a bit cooler days and cooler nights in Yosemite National Park, ranging from highs of 66°F to lows of 28°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Sun) so you can travel to Napa.

Located just 80 km (50 mi) north of San Francisco, Napa sits at the southern end of the scenic Napa Valley, one of the world's major wine regions.

Change things up with these side-trips from Napa: St. Helena (Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards, Modus Operandi Cellars, &more). Dedicate the 30th (Mon) to wine at some of the top wineries in the area. There's lots more to do: learn about winemaking at Robert Biale Vineyards, look for gifts at Oxbow Public Market, wander the wide-open spaces of Long Meadow Ranch - Rutherford Estate, and explore the world behind art at Hess Persson Estates.

To find other places to visit, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Napa road trip planner.

Explore your travel options from Yosemite National Park to Napa with the Route module. Traveling from Yosemite National Park in October, expect Napa to be somewhat warmer, temps between 77°F and 45°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 3rd (Fri) early enough to go by car to Healdsburg.

The quaint city of Healdsburg is one of northern California's wine capitals, serving as the meeting point for three of Sonoma's most important wine-producing regions.

Explore Healdsburg's surroundings by going to Vincent Arroyo Winery (in Calistoga) and Armstrong Redwood State Reserve (in Guerneville). There's more to do: sample some tasty brews at Ace It Bike Tours and do a tasting at Alexander Valley Vineyards.

For maps, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, read our Healdsburg trip itinerary builder.

Getting from Napa to Healdsburg by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. In November, plan for daily highs up to 67°F, and evening lows to 41°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Wed) 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.

Dedicate the 12th (Sun) to wine at some of the top wineries in the area. There's much more to do: take in the views from Golden Gate Bridge, take in the waterfront at Fisherman's Wharf, visit SoMa, and head off the coast to Alcatraz Island.

Find out how to plan San Francisco trip without stress by asking Klarna Trips to help create an itinerary.

Traveling by car from Healdsburg to San Francisco takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Healdsburg in November, San Francisco is a bit warmer at night with lows of 51°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Wed) so you can go by car 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. Kick off your visit on the 16th (Thu): admire the majestic nature at Point Lobos and then learn the secrets of beer at Monterey Bay Food Tours. On the next day, get outside with Outdoor Activities, then grab your bike and head to Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail, and then admire all the interesting features of 17-Mile Drive.

To see traveler tips, photos, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Carmel attractions tool.

You can drive from San Francisco to Carmel in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a bus. In November, daily temperatures in Carmel can reach 65°F, while at night they dip to 47°F. You'll set off for home on the 18th (Sat).