12 days in California Itinerary

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

Give yourself a bit of retail therapy at Ferry Building Marketplace and City Lights Booksellers. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Fisherman's Wharf and SoMa. The adventure continues: step off the mainland to explore Alcatraz Island, take a stroll through Union Square, snap pictures at Golden Gate Bridge, and hunt for treasures at Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

To see photos, traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, read San Francisco journey planning app .

Miami to San Francisco is an approximately 7.5-hour combination of tram and flight. You can also do a combination of bus and flight; or drive. Traveling from Miami to San Francisco, you'll gain 3 hours due to the time zone difference. In December, San Francisco is much colder than Miami - with highs of 59°F and lows of 45°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Sat) to allow time to drive to St. Helena.

The city of St.

Start off your visit on the 30th (Sun): do a tasting at Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards, do a tasting at Schramsberg Vineyards, then do a tasting at Pride Mountain Vineyards, then look for gifts at Dean & DeLuca, and finally learn about winemaking at V. Sattui Winery.

For traveler tips, maps, and other tourist information, you can read our St. Helena driving holiday planning app .

Traveling by car from San Francisco to St. Helena takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and taxi; or do a combination of subway and bus. Traveling from San Francisco in December, expect slightly colder with lows of 36°F in St. Helena. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Sun) so you can travel to Santa Monica.

A famed resort town since the early 20th century, Santa Monica sits on the picturesque Santa Monica Bay, bordered on three sides by the city of Los Angeles.

Get in touch with nature at Venice Beach and Boardwalk and El Pueblo de Los Angeles. Shop till you drop at Santa Monica Farmers Market and Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Go for a jaunt from Santa Monica to Los Angeles to see Angelino Heights Historic Area about 34 minutes away. Next up on the itinerary: admire the majestic nature at Santa Monica State Beach, admire the striking features of Walt Disney Concert Hall, look for gifts at Bergamot Station, and browse the different shops at The Grove.

To see maps, photos, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the Santa Monica trip planner.

You can do a combination of taxi, flight, and bus from St. Helena to Santa Monica in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus, subway, and flight. Traveling from St. Helena in December, things will get a bit warmer in Santa Monica: highs are around 67°F and lows about 50°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 2nd (Wed) early enough to drive 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.

On the 3rd (Thu), kick back and relax at Children's Pool and then kick back and relax at La Jolla Cove. On the next day, pause for some photo ops at Cabrillo National Monument and then kick back and relax at Mission Beach Park.

To find more things to do, photos, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read our San Diego trip app .

Traveling by car from Santa Monica to San Diego takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of tram and train; or do a combination of bus and flight. Expect a daytime high around 67°F in January, and nighttime lows around 51°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 5th (Sat) to allow time for travel back home.