13 days in California Itinerary

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

Kick off your visit on the 7th (Sun): go for a walk through Fisherman's Wharf and then step off the mainland to explore Alcatraz Island.

For where to stay, traveler tips, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our San Francisco online itinerary planner .

Charleston to San Francisco is an approximately 9.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of taxi and flight; or drive. Traveling from Charleston to San Francisco, you'll gain 3 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Charleston in April, expect a bit warmer with lows of 51°F in San Francisco. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Sun) early enough to drive 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.

Kick off your visit on the 8th (Mon): explore the striking landscape of Swinging Bridge Picnic Area Yosemite National Park CA, then take in the dramatic scenery at Vernal Fall, then get great views at Valley View, and finally hike along Lower Yosemite Fall Trail. On the 9th (Tue), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: take in the dramatic natural features at Glacier Point, then take in the awesome beauty at Cathedral Beach Picnic Area, then view the masterpieces at Ansel Adams Gallery, and finally admire the sheer force of Yosemite Falls.

To find maps, ratings, and more tourist information, you can read our Yosemite National Park itinerary planner .

Getting from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park by car takes about 4 hours. Other options: do a combination of flight and car; or do a combination of subway, flight, bus, and taxi. Expect little chillier weather when traveling from San Francisco in April: highs in Yosemite National Park hover around 59°F, while lows dip to 28°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Tue) 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. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Ocean Avenue and San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission. Visiting Point Lobos and Pebble Beach Golf Links will get you outdoors. Change things up with these side-trips from Carmel: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (in Big Sur) and Natural Bridges State Beach (in Santa Cruz). There's more to do: make a trip to Pacific Grove Oceanview Boulevard and explore the landscape on two wheels at Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail.

To plan Carmel vacation without wasting time, ask Inspirock to design an itinerary.

You can drive from Yosemite National Park to Carmel in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car, flight, and bus; or do a combination of car, flight, shuttle, and bus. Traveling from Yosemite National Park in April, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be a bit warmer in Carmel, with lows of 48°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Fri) early enough to drive to San Simeon.

When you arrive in tiny San Simeon, which lies halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, you can see why William Randolph Hearst chose this coastal locale for his famous hilltop castle.

On the 13th (Sat), kick back and relax at Moonstone Beach, then take in nature's colorful creations at Cambria Nursery & Florist, then do a tasting at Hearst Ranch Winery, and finally enjoy the sand and surf at Piedras Blancas.

To see where to stay, maps, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the San Simeon day trip website .

Getting from Carmel to San Simeon by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and car. While traveling from Carmel, expect a bit warmer days and slightly colder nights in San Simeon, ranging from highs of 78°F to lows of 43°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Sat) early enough to 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.

Start off your visit on the 14th (Sun): see the interesting displays at The Getty Center, then wander the streets of Montana Avenue, then admire the masterpieces at Hammer Museum, and finally get to know the fascinating history of Hollywood Walk of Fame.

For maps, other places to visit, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Los Angeles trip website .

You can drive from San Simeon to Los Angeles in 4.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of bus and flight; or do a combination of bus and train. Traveling from San Simeon in April, expect a bit warmer with lows of 56°F in Los Angeles. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 15th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel back home.