60 days in California Itinerary

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

Step out of the city life by going to Alcatraz Island and Muir Woods National Monument. Kids will appreciate attractions like Golden Gate Bridge and Exploratorium. And it doesn't end there: take in the waterfront at Fisherman's Wharf, admire the masterpieces at Legion of Honor, admire the natural beauty at Japanese Tea Garden, and examine the collection at Musee Mecanique.

For other places to visit, where to stay, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read our San Francisco trip site.

Barcelona, Spain to San Francisco is an approximately 14-hour flight. Traveling from Barcelona to San Francisco, you'll gain 9 hours due to the time zone difference. Prepare for slightly colder weather when traveling from Barcelona in June: high temperatures in San Francisco hover around 25°C and lows are around 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Sat) to allow time to 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. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Pacific Grove Oceanview Boulevard and Hearst Castle. Kids will appreciate attractions like Point Lobos and 17-Mile Drive. Venture out of the city with trips to Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center (in San Simeon), Marina State Beach (in Marina) and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (in Felton). There's lots more to do: surround yourself with nature on Elkhorn Slough Safari, grab your bike and head to Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail, hike along Scenic Road Walkway, and kick back and relax at Seacliff State Beach, California.

To see reviews, traveler tips, photos, and more tourist information, refer to the Carmel trip itinerary builder app.

Traveling by car from San Francisco to Carmel takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a bus. In June, plan for daily highs up to 23°C, and evening lows to 13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Fri) to allow enough time to fly to San Diego.

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.

Kids will enjoy San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego. Get some cultural insight at Cabrillo National Monument and Maritime Museum of San Diego. Go for a jaunt from San Diego to Poway to see Maderas Golf Club about 46 minutes away. There's much more to do: examine the collection at USS Midway Museum, explore the striking landscape at Cabrillo Tide Pools, get all the equipment you need at San Diego Fly Rides, and enjoy the sand and surf at Mission Beach Park.

To see other places to visit, reviews, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our San Diego attractions planner.

You can fly from Carmel to San Diego in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Carmel in June, expect somewhat warmer with lows of 20°C in San Diego. Cap off your sightseeing on the 21st (Fri) early enough to catch the flight 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.

Escape the urban bustle at Calboat Diving - Spectre Dive Boat and State Street Underpass. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Old Mission Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Venture out of the city with trips to Avila Beach (Point San Luis Lighthouse & Bob Jones City to Sea Bike Trail), U.S. Navy Seabee Museum (in Port Hueneme) and Ventura to Ojai Paved Bike Path (in Ventura). There's lots more to do: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Santa Barbara Zoo, take in the waterfront at Stearns Wharf, trek along Cabrillo Bike Path, and admire the verdant scenery at Ojai Valley Land Conservancy.

To find more things to do, reviews, photos, and other tourist information, use the Santa Barbara trip maker.

Traveling by flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Expect little chillier evenings in Santa Barbara when traveling from San Diego in June, with lows around 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Fri) so you can drive 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.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Santa Monica Pier and Griffith Observatory. Popular historic sites such as Ocean Avenue and Venice Canals Walkway are in your itinerary. Change things up with these side-trips from Los Angeles: Anaheim (Disneyland Park & Disney California Adventure Park). Pack the 1st (Mon) with family-friendly diversions at Universal Studios Hollywood. And it doesn't end there: see the interesting displays at The Getty Center, deepen your understanding at Paley Center for Media, explore the activities along Santa Monica Bay, and admire the masterpieces at Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

To find photos, maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Los Angeles driving holiday planning app.

You can drive from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles in 2 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a train. Traveling from Santa Barbara in June, things will get a bit warmer in Los Angeles: highs are around 30°C and lows about 19°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Sat) early enough to 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.

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Giant Forest and Congress Trail. Get some historical perspective at General Sherman Tree and The Presidente tree. When in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, make a side trip to see Sequoia National Park in Visalia, approximately Visalia away. There's lots more to do: surround yourself with nature on Sequoia Sightseeing Tours, tour the pleasant surroundings at General Grant Tree Trail, delve into the lush surroundings at Grant Grove, and cruise along Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.

For more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, read our Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park route planner.

Traveling by flight from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and bus. When traveling from Los Angeles in July, plan for somewhat warmer days and about the same nights in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park: temperatures range from 43°C by day to 22°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Sun) early enough to drive to Independence.

Independence is a census-designated place in Inyo County, California. Start off your visit on the 15th (Mon): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Manzanar National Historic Site.

For more things to do, maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Independence online day trip planner.

Traveling by car from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to Independence takes 5.5 hours. Traveling from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park in July, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be little chillier in Independence, with lows of 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Mon) so you can 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.

Do some cultural sightseeing at Wawona Hotel, National Historic Landmark and Ansel Adams Gallery. Family-friendly places like Sentinel Dome and Panorama Trail will thrill your kids. The adventure continues: take in the dramatic scenery at Wapama Falls, trek along Cooks Meadow Loop, explore the striking landscape at Glacier Point, and see human ingenuity at work at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

Quickly create a custom-made itinerary for Yosemite National Park using our trip planner.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Independence to Yosemite National Park. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Independence in July, with highs in Yosemite National Park at 33°C and lows at 9°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Wed) to allow enough time to travel to Olympic Valley.

Kick off your visit on the 25th (Thu): admire the majestic nature at Skylandia Park, grab your bike and head to Tahoe City - South/North Trailheads, and then take a tour by water with Matt Heron Fly Fishing. On your second day here, explore the landscape on two wheels at Truckee River Bike Trail, then take an in-depth tour of Gatekeeper's Museum, and then contemplate the waterfront views at Emerald Bay State Park.

For traveler tips, more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, use the Olympic Valley holiday builder website.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Yosemite National Park to Olympic Valley. Traveling from Yosemite National Park in July, Olympic Valley is a bit cooler at night with lows of 5°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Orick.

Orick is a census-designated place situated on the banks of the Redwood Creek in Humboldt County, California. Family-friendly places like Redwood National Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park will thrill your kids. Escape the urban bustle at Tall Trees Grove and Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy. Change things up with a short trip to California Coastal Trail in Redwood National Park (about 32 minutes away). It doesn't end there: hike along Lady Bird Johnson Grove and stroll through Trillium Falls Hike.

To find photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read Orick itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Olympic Valley to Orick takes 7 hours. Traveling from Olympic Valley in July, expect nights in Orick to be a bit warmer, around 13°C, while days are little chillier, around 20°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 29th (Mon) so you can travel back home.