16 days in Dallas, California & Houston Itinerary

One of the country's most popular shopping destinations, Dallas and its sprawling suburbs include more shopping centers per capita than any other urban center in America.

Discover out-of-the-way places like Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center and Bishop Arts District. When in Dallas, make a side trip to see Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, approximately Durant away. There's still lots to do: relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, stop by Dallas Arts District, don't miss a visit to Grassy Knoll, and take a stroll through NorthPark Center.

To find maps, reviews, photos, and more tourist information, use the Dallas online itinerary planner.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Dallas is an approximately 23-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Arabian Standard Time (AST) to Central Standard Time (CST) is minus 9 hours. Plan for slightly colder temperatures traveling from Riyadh in September, with highs in Dallas at 39°C and lows at 26°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 1st (Tue) so you can travel to San Francisco.

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

Kick off your visit on the 2nd (Wed): see the interesting displays at Cable Car Museum and then indulge your taste buds at Food & Drink. Keep things going the next day: look for all kinds of wild species at Marin Headlands and then take in the views from Golden Gate Bridge.

To see more things to do, ratings, photos, and tourist information, read San Francisco online travel planner.

Do a combination of flight and train from Dallas to San Francisco in 7 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference when traveling from Dallas to San Francisco is minus 2 hours. Prepare for slightly colder weather when traveling from Dallas in October: high temperatures in San Francisco hover around 26°C and lows are around 15°C. On the 4th (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Houston.

Although urban sprawl remains synonymous with Houston, most of the city's tourist attractions lie within the relatively small downtown area, surrounded by diverse neighborhoods housing the nation's biggest African-American, Asian-American, and Latino communities.

Kick off your visit on the 5th (Sat): get curious at Cockrell Butterfly Center, then identify plant and animal life at Armand Bayou Nature Center, and then explore the different monuments and memorials at Old City Cemetery. Here are some ideas for day two: look for gifts at Murdochs and then take a stroll through East End Historic District.

To find traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the Houston trip itinerary planner.

You can do a combination of train and flight from San Francisco to Houston in 8 hours. Other options are to fly; or drive; or take a bus. The time zone changes from Pacific Standard Time (PST) to Central Standard Time (CST), which is usually a 2 hour difference. In October, Houston is somewhat warmer than San Francisco - with highs of 34°C and lows of 22°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 6th (Sun) so you can travel to Death Valley National Park.

Extreme heat and dryness create extreme landscapes in Death Valley National Park.

On the 7th (Mon), take an in-depth tour of The Ranch at Furnace Creek, explore the striking landscape at Zabriskie Point, and then explore the stunning scenery at Mosaic Canyon. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: discover the riches below the earth's surface at Eureka Mine and then take in the awesome beauty at Panamint Range.

To see more things to do, other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read our Death Valley National Park driving holiday planner.

You can do a combination of flight and bus from Houston to Death Valley National Park in 10.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. You'll gain 2 hours traveling from Houston to Death Valley National Park due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Houston in October, things will get a bit cooler in Death Valley National Park: highs are around 30°C and lows about 13°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Tue) 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.

On the 9th (Wed), step into the grandiose world of Hearst Castle, identify plant and animal life at Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center and Gift Shop, and then learn about winemaking at Hearst Ranch Winery.

For photos, maps, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the San Simeon itinerary planning website.

Drive from Death Valley National Park to San Simeon in 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and flight; or do a combination of car, bus, and train. Traveling from Death Valley National Park in October, San Simeon is slightly colder at night with lows of 9°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 9th (Wed) so you can go by car to Big Sur.

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

Start off your visit on the 10th (Thu): tour the pleasant surroundings at China Cove and Gibson Beach, get great views at Rocky Creek Bridge, then kick back and relax at Pfeiffer State Beach, and finally view the masterpieces at Coast Gallery Big Sur.

For reviews, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Big Sur trip itinerary maker.

You can drive from San Simeon to Big Sur in 2 hours. Traveling from San Simeon in October, expect nights in Big Sur to be somewhat warmer, around 13°C, while days are slightly colder, around 24°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Thu) early enough to travel back home.