13 days in United States Itinerary

Nicknamed the "Entertainment Capital of the World," Las Vegas sits in the middle of a desert in the southern section of Nevada.

Las Vegas is known for nightlife, shopping, casinos, fun & games, and historic sites. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take in breathtaking views at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, have fun at Gun Garage, get a taste of the local shopping with The Strip, and admire the local landmark of Bellagio Fountains.

To find other places to visit, more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, go to the Las Vegas online itinerary creator.

Minneapolis to Las Vegas is an approximately 5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and shuttle. The time zone difference when traveling from Minneapolis to Las Vegas is minus 2 hours. In December, Las Vegas is much hotter than Minneapolis - with highs of 56°F and lows of 39°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 25th (Mon) early enough to 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.

On the 26th (Tue), admire the majestic nature at Santa Monica Beach, take in the waterfront at Santa Monica Pier, and then shop like a local with Third Street Promenade. On your second day here, get in on the family fun at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

For other places to visit, where to stay, maps, and tourist information, refer to the Santa Monica trip builder.

Traveling by combination of flight and bus from Las Vegas to Santa Monica takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Prepare for somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Las Vegas in December: high temperatures in Santa Monica hover around 65°F and lows are around 49°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 27th (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.

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Disneyland Park and Universal Studios Hollywood. Change things up with a short trip to Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim (about 40 minutes away).

For where to stay, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Los Angeles vacation builder.

Los Angeles is very close to Santa Monica. December in Los Angeles sees daily highs of 68°F and lows of 49°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 31st (Sun) to allow time 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.

Start off your visit on the 31st (Sun): see the interesting displays at San Diego Air & Space Museum and then admire nature's wide array of creatures at San Diego Zoo.

To see traveler tips, ratings, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our San Diego trip planner.

You can drive from Los Angeles to San Diego in 2.5 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a train. December in San Diego sees daily highs of 66°F and lows of 52°F at night. On the 1st (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can drive to Palm Springs.

Palm Springs is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Coachella Valley. Kick off your visit on the 1st (Mon): hunt for treasures at VillageFest.

To find more things to do, ratings, and more tourist information, you can read our Palm Springs travel itinerary creator.

You can drive from San Diego to Palm Springs in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of train and bus. Expect a daytime high around 70°F in January, and nighttime lows around 47°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Tue) so you can travel back home.