15 days in California Itinerary

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 5th (Sat): get a taste of the local shopping with Gaslamp Quarter.

To see other places to visit and more tourist information, read our San Diego journey maker tool.

Toronto, Canada to San Diego is an approximately 9-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of train and car. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 3 hours traveling from Toronto to San Diego. Plan for somewhat warmer temperatures traveling from Toronto in October, with highs in San Diego at 30°C and lows at 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Sun) so you can 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.

Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Venice Beach and Boardwalk and Will Rogers State Beach. Do your shopping at Two Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica Farmers Market. Next up on the itinerary: shop like a local with Montana Avenue, take a stroll through El Pueblo de Los Angeles, take in the exciting artwork at Revolver Gallery, and make a trip to Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

To find reviews, other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Los Angeles journey tool.

Getting from San Diego to Los Angeles by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a bus; or fly. In October in Los Angeles, expect temperatures between 32°C during the day and 19°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 9th (Wed) early enough to travel 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.

Yosemite National Park is known for nature, trails, and scenic drive. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take a memorable drive along Tioga Pass, take in the dramatic natural features at Glacier Point, trek along Four Mile Trail, and look for all kinds of wild species at Cathedral Beach Picnic Area.

For where to stay, ratings, photos, and other tourist information, you can read our Yosemite National Park tour itinerary planner.

Drive from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and car. Expect little chillier weather when traveling from Los Angeles in October: highs in Yosemite National Park hover around 22°C, while lows dip to -2°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel 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. Start off your visit on the 13th (Sun): stroll through Asilomar State Beach, get to know the fascinating history of Pacific Grove Oceanview Boulevard, and then immerse yourself in nature at Point Lobos.

To find ratings, maps, reviews, and tourist information, read our Carmel day trip planning site.

Drive from Yosemite National Park to Carmel in 5 hours. Traveling from Yosemite National Park in October, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be warmer in Carmel, with lows of 13°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Healdsburg.

The quaint city of Healdsburg is one of northern California's wine capitals, serving as the meeting point for three of Sonoma's most important wine-producing regions.

On the 14th (Mon), learn about winemaking at Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards, then learn about winemaking at B Cellars Vineyards and Winery, then learn about winemaking at Inglenook, and finally look for gifts at Dean & DeLuca. On the 15th (Tue), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: learn about winemaking at Jordan Vineyard & Winery, then do a tasting at Gracianna Winery, and then awaken your taste buds at some of the top wineries in the area.

To find ratings, where to stay, more things to do, and other tourist information, read our Healdsburg trip maker tool.

Getting from Carmel to Healdsburg by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of shuttle and flight; or take a bus. When traveling from Carmel in October, plan for a bit warmer days in Healdsburg, with highs around 30°C, while nights are little chillier with lows around 9°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to San Francisco.

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

Head to Ferry Building Marketplace and Union Squarefor plenty of shopping. Visit Golden Gate Bridge and SS Jeremiah O'Brien for their historical value. There's still lots to do: step off the mainland to explore Alcatraz Island, take a leisurely stroll along Fisherman's Wharf, hunt for treasures at Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, and stop by The Castro.

To find photos, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, use the San Francisco holiday builder.

You can drive from Healdsburg to San Francisco in 1.5 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or do a combination of train, bus, and subway. Traveling from Healdsburg in October, you will find days in San Francisco are a bit cooler (26°C), and nights are a bit warmer (15°C). You'll have a few hours on the 19th (Sat) to wrap things up before traveling home.