15 days in California Itinerary

With mountain peaks reaching past 4,250 m (14,000 ft) and trees stretching to over 75 m (250 ft) high, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks present nature on a grand scale.

On the 17th (Tue), take in the dramatic scenery at Grizzly Falls.

To see traveler tips, maps, ratings, and tourist information, read Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park holiday app .

Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park is an approximately 5.5-hour car ride. You can also do a combination of flight, bus, and car. Traveling from Los Angeles in September, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be slightly colder in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, with lows of 17°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 19th (Thu) so you can catcht the bus 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.

Start off your visit on the 19th (Thu): admire the sheer force of Yosemite Falls, admire the sheer force of Vernal Fall, then identify plant and animal life at Nature Center at Happy Isles, and finally take in the dramatic natural features at Glacier Point. On your second day here, get great views at Tunnel View, then explore the striking landscape at Sentinel Dome, then get great views at Valley View, and finally get great views at Washburn Point.

To see photos, more things to do, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Yosemite National Park online vacation planner .

You can take a bus from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to Yosemite National Park in 7 hours. Expect slightly colder weather when traveling from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park in September: highs in Yosemite National Park hover around 27°C, while lows dip to 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Sat) early enough to drive to San Francisco.

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

Do some cultural sightseeing at Presidio of San Francisco and Alcatraz Island. Visiting Armstrong Redwood State Reserve and Lands End will get you outdoors. Get out of town with these interesting San Francisco side-trips: California State Railroad Museum (in Sacramento), Muir Woods National Monument (in Mill Valley) and VJB Cellars (in Kenwood). There's much more to do: make a trip to Golden Gate Bridge, take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Twin Peaks, immerse yourself in nature at Marin Headlands, and enjoy breathtaking views from Coit Tower.

To see other places to visit, ratings, maps, and tourist information, read San Francisco journey builder website .

Getting from Yosemite National Park to San Francisco by car takes about 4 hours. Other options: do a combination of car and flight; or do a combination of bus and flight. Expect somewhat warmer evenings in San Francisco when traveling from Yosemite National Park in September, with lows around 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Big Sur.

A sparsely populated area with stunning views, Big Sur attracts artists and tourists traveling California’s scenic Highway 1.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Thu): take in the views from Big Creek Bridge and then immerse yourself in nature at Limekiln State Park.

To find reviews, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Big Sur trip planner .

Traveling by car from San Francisco to Big Sur takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and taxi; or take a bus. In September, plan for daily highs up to 26°C, and evening lows to 15°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 26th (Thu) early enough to catcht the bus to Monterey.

Monterey is a city in the U.S. Start off your visit on the 26th (Thu): appreciate the history behind The Cannery Row Monument. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: pick up some local products at Pacific Grove Certified Farmers' Market, look for all kinds of wild species at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and then see majestic marine mammals with a dolphin and whale watching tour.

For photos, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, refer to the Monterey journey planning site .

You can take a bus from Big Sur to Monterey in an hour. Alternatively, you can drive. In September, plan for daily highs up to 26°C, and evening lows to 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Santa Barbara.

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara is a solid vacation destination with its wide beaches, renowned wineries, and some of California's finest shopping and dining options.

On the 29th (Sun), kick back and relax at Thousand Steps Beach, then look for all kinds of wild species at Douglas Family Preserve, then take a stroll through State Street Underpass, and finally admire the majestic nature at Carpinteria State Beach. On the next day, look for all kinds of wild species at Carpinteria Harbor Seal Preserve and Rookery and then take in the awesome beauty at Santa Monica Mountains.

For reviews, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, read Santa Barbara trip planning tool .

Getting from Monterey to Santa Barbara by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: fly; or do a combination of shuttle and flight. When traveling from Monterey in September, plan for somewhat warmer days and about the same nights in Santa Barbara: temperatures range from 30°C by day to 17°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 1st (Tue) to allow time for the car ride back home.