19 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.

Kick off your visit on the 10th (Thu): steep yourself in history at Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House, examine the collection at USS Midway Museum, then admire the landmark architecture of Marston House Museum, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at St. Joseph Cathedral. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 11th (Fri): explore the different monuments and memorials at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, and then enjoy the sand and surf at La Jolla Cove.

For maps and tourist information, read San Diego trip planner.

New York City to San Diego is an approximately 8.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time to Pacific Standard Time, which is usually a -3 hour difference. When traveling from New York City in June, plan for slightly colder days in San Diego, with highs around 73°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 64°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 11th (Fri) early enough to go by car 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 12th (Sat), get engrossed in the history at Santa Barbara Historical Museum, then wander the streets of State Street Underpass, then get a new perspective on nature at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, and finally see some colorful creatures with Calboat Diving - Spectre Dive Boat. Here are some ideas for day two: steep yourself in history at Old Mission Santa Barbara and then indulge your taste buds at Food & Drink.

For more things to do, reviews, other places to visit, and tourist information, you can read our Santa Barbara travel itinerary planner.

Drive from San Diego to Santa Barbara in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and bus; or take a train. Plan for slightly colder nights when traveling from San Diego in June since evenings lows in Santa Barbara dip to 56°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Napa.

Located just 80 km (50 mi) north of San Francisco, Napa sits at the southern end of the scenic Napa Valley, one of the world's major wine regions.

On the 14th (Mon), awaken your taste buds at some of the top wineries in the area. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 15th (Tue): explore the historical opulence of Castello di Amorosa, then do a tasting at V. Sattui Winery, then indulge your taste buds at Mumm Napa, and finally enjoy unforgettable views with a balloon tour.

For maps, reviews, and other tourist information, read Napa trip planner.

Fly from Santa Barbara to Napa in 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or fly; or do a combination of bus and subway. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Santa Barbara in June: highs in Napa hover around 80°F, while lows dip to 52°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Tue) so you can go by car to San Francisco.

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

Get some historical perspective at Alcatraz Island and SS Jeremiah O'Brien. Appreciate the collections at Exploratorium and USS Pampanito. And it doesn't end there: take in the views from Golden Gate Bridge, admire the masterpieces at Asian Art Museum, take in the waterfront at Fisherman's Wharf, and examine the collection at Musee Mecanique.

To find other places to visit, ratings, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the San Francisco trip planner.

Getting from Napa to San Francisco by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus; or do a combination of bus and subway. Traveling from Napa in June, you will find days in San Francisco are a bit cooler (71°F), and nights are about the same (55°F). Cap off your sightseeing on the 18th (Fri) 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.

Visiting Glacier Point and Vernal Fall will get you outdoors. Next up on the itinerary: explore the striking landscape at Sentinel Dome, view the masterpieces at Ansel Adams Gallery, tour the pleasant surroundings at Panorama Trail, and hike along Four Mile Trail.

To see maps, reviews, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Yosemite National Park trip planner.

Do a combination of flight and bus from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park in 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. While traveling from San Francisco, expect somewhat warmer days and a bit cooler nights in Yosemite National Park, ranging from highs of 79°F to lows of 43°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 24th (Thu) early enough to travel to South Lake Tahoe.

High in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the shore of one of America’s most scenic lakes, South Lake Tahoe captures the spirit of the outdoors and serves as a hub for tourism activities surrounding the lake.

Kick off your visit on the 25th (Fri): steep yourself in history at Tallac Historic Site, admire the striking features of Vikingsholm, and then try to win big at Casino at Harrah's Lake Tahoe. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 26th (Sat): capture your vacation like a pro with Tahoe Photographic Tours and then try your luck at Harveys Casino.

For reviews, ratings, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our South Lake Tahoe online travel planner.

Traveling by bus from Yosemite National Park to South Lake Tahoe takes 7 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In June, daily temperatures in South Lake Tahoe can reach 77°F, while at night they dip to 41°F. You will have some time to spend on the 27th (Sun) before leaving for home.