17 days in Southern California Itinerary

Surrounded by mountain ranges, forests, valleys, beaches, and deserts, the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is home to over 17 million people.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Griffith Observatory and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. You'll enjoy a bit of beach vacationing at Venice Beach and Boardwalk and Will Rogers State Beach. Pack the 4th (Fri) with family-friendly diversions at Universal Studios Hollywood. There's lots more to do: examine the collection at The Getty Center, have fun at California Science Center, get engrossed in the history at Museum of Tolerance, and stop by El Pueblo de Los Angeles.

For reviews, other places to visit, maps, and tourist information, refer to the Los Angeles tour planning app.

Genoa, Italy to Los Angeles is an approximately 16-hour flight. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time to Pacific Standard Time, which is usually a -9 hour difference. Traveling from Genoa in August, expect slightly colder with lows of 22°C in Los Angeles. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Tue) so you can go by car 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.

Get some cultural insight at USS Midway Museum and Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Visit La Jolla Cove and Children's Pool for some beach relaxation. There's much more to do: get to know the resident critters at San Diego Zoo, take in nature's colorful creations at Botanical Building and Lily Pond, get up close to creatures of the deep with a dolphin and whale watching tour, and get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

To see other places to visit, maps, ratings, and tourist information, go to the San Diego trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Los Angeles to San Diego takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a bus. Expect a bit cooler weather when traveling from Los Angeles in August: highs in San Diego hover around 30°C, while lows dip to 23°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Sun) early enough to fly 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.

Get a sense of the local culture at Wine Tours & Tastings and Santa Barbara Historical Museum. There's still lots to do: contemplate the long history of Old Mission Santa Barbara, see the top attractions with Santa Barbara Sportfishing Charter, identify plant and animal life at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, and see exotic creatures in open habitats at Santa Barbara Safaris.

To find where to stay, more things to do, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Santa Barbara trip planning app.

Traveling by flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Traveling from San Diego in August, Santa Barbara is little chillier at night with lows of 18°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Fri) early enough to travel back home.