14 days in California Itinerary

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

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Alcatraz Island and Golden Gate Bridge. Explore hidden gems such as Exploratorium and Armstrong Redwood State Reserve. It doesn't end there: take in the waterfront at Fisherman's Wharf.

To see ratings, where to stay, maps, and other tourist information, read our San Francisco trip site.

Washington DC to San Francisco is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of train and subway. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) is minus 3 hours. Traveling from Washington DC in July, things will get slightly colder in San Francisco: highs are around 73°F and lows about 57°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 17th (Wed) so you can go by car to San Jose.

The metropolitan center of Silicon Valley, San Jose considers itself a global city.

Your day by day itinerary now includes Computer History Museum as well as Castle Air Museum.

To find where to stay, other places to visit, maps, and more tourist information, go to the San Jose trip itinerary planner.

Drive from San Francisco to San Jose in an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a subway. Traveling from San Francisco in July, you will find days in San Jose are somewhat warmer (81°F), and nights are about the same (59°F). Cap off your sightseeing on the 19th (Fri) early enough to travel to Mount Hamilton.

Mount Hamilton is a mountain in California's Diablo Range, in Santa Clara County, California. You've now added Lick Observatory to your itinerary. Start off your visit on the 19th (Fri): look and learn at Lick Observatory.

For other places to visit, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Mount Hamilton tour site.

Traveling by car from San Jose to Mount Hamilton takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. July in Mount Hamilton sees daily highs of 86°F and lows of 61°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 19th (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to Monterey.

Monterey is a city in the U.S. To find traveler tips, more things to do, reviews, and tourist information, you can read our Monterey online visit planner.

You can drive from Mount Hamilton to Monterey in 2 hours. In July, Monterey is slightly colder than Mount Hamilton - with highs of 69°F and lows of 55°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 21st (Sun) early enough to go by car 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.

Start off your visit on the 21st (Sun): step into the grandiose world of Hearst Castle and then stroll through Piedras Blancas.

To see reviews, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, go to the San Simeon day trip planner.

You can drive from Monterey to San Simeon in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus, train, and taxi; or do a combination of bus and car. Expect much hotter weather when traveling from Monterey in July: highs in San Simeon hover around 94°F, while lows dip to 56°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 22nd (Mon) to allow time for the car ride 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.

For photos, other places to visit, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read our Los Angeles day trip planning tool.

Getting from San Simeon to Los Angeles by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: fly; or do a combination of taxi and train. Traveling from San Simeon in July, you will find days in Los Angeles are a bit cooler (83°F), and nights are a bit warmer (66°F). Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Wed) 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.

Discover out-of-the-way places like Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and San Diego Mormon Temple. Get some cultural insight at USS Midway Museum and Point Loma. The adventure continues: enjoy the sand and surf at La Jolla Shores Park and see where the action happens at Petco Park.

To find ratings, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the San Diego trip planner.

Traveling by car from Los Angeles to San Diego takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or fly. When traveling from Los Angeles in July, plan for little chillier days and about the same nights in San Diego: temperatures range from 77°F by day to 68°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Fri) early enough to travel back home.