13 days in California's Central Coast Itinerary

Kids will enjoy Monterey Bay Aquarium and West Cliff Drive. Explore Santa Cruz's surroundings by going to The Shakespeare Society of America (in Moss Landing) and Monterey (Monterey Bay, Casa Serrano, Historic Adobe, &more). Next up on the itinerary: find something for the whole family at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, stop by Bookshop Santa Cruz, go for a stroll along the water at Santa Cruz Harbor, and admire the striking features of Boardwalk's Cocoanut Grove.

For other places to visit, more things to do, photos, and tourist information, use the Santa Cruz trip itinerary builder tool.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Santa Cruz is an approximately 23-hour combination of flight and car. The time zone changes from Brasilia Standard Time (BRT) to Pacific Standard Time (PST), which is usually a -5 hour difference. Traveling from Rio de Janeiro in July, expect Santa Cruz to be a bit cooler, temps between 26°C and 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sat) so you can drive to Cambria.

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Stepladder Ranch & Creamery and Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center. Change things up with a short trip to Hearst Castle in San Simeon (about 50 minutes away).

To see ratings, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read our Cambria road trip planning tool.

You can drive from Santa Cruz to Cambria in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus, train, and taxi; or take a bus. When traveling from Santa Cruz in July, plan for much warmer days and about the same nights in Cambria: temperatures range from 40°C by day to 15°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Santa Barbara.

Family-friendly places like Old Mission Santa Barbara and Stearns Wharf will thrill your kids. Next up on the itinerary: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Santa Barbara Zoo, cast your line with Santa Barbara Sportfishing Charter, take an in-depth tour of Santa Barbara Historical Museum, and take a stroll through State Street Underpass.

To find traveler tips, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, use the Santa Barbara day trip planning tool.

Getting from Cambria to Santa Barbara by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. Traveling from Cambria in July, expect nights in Santa Barbara to be about the same, around 18°C, while days are little chillier, around 28°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Sat) so you can fly back home.