22 days in United States Itinerary

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

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Wed): find something for the whole family at Disneyland Park.

To find other places to visit, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Los Angeles trip planner .

If you are flying in from Italy, the closest major airports are Los Angeles International Airport, John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport and Ontario International Airport. In December, plan for daily highs up to 24°C, and evening lows to 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Wed) early enough 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.

Kick off your visit on the 27th (Thu): awaken your taste buds at some of the top wineries in the area. Here are some ideas for day two: wander the streets of State Street and then do a tasting at Jaffurs Wine Cellars.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, use the Santa Barbara route maker .

You can drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. Plan for a bit cooler nights when traveling from Los Angeles in December since evenings lows in Santa Barbara dip to 5°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 28th (Fri) to allow time for the car ride 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 29th (Sat): enjoy the sand and surf at Pfeiffer State Beach, admire the majestic nature at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and then admire the sheer force of McWay Falls. On the 30th (Sun), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: get up close to creatures of the deep with a dolphin and whale watching tour, don't miss a visit to S.S. Palo Alto Concrete Ship, and then admire the majestic nature at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

To see traveler tips, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Big Sur trip itinerary maker tool .

Traveling by car from Santa Barbara to Big Sur takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus, flight, and taxi; or do a combination of flight and taxi. Expect little chillier weather when traveling from Santa Barbara in December: highs in Big Sur hover around 19°C, while lows dip to 7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 31st (Mon) to allow time for the car ride to San Francisco.

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

On the 31st (Mon), take a memorable ride with Cable Cars. Keep things going the next day: kick back and relax at Fort Funston National Park and then immerse yourself in nature at Marin Headlands.

To find where to stay, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the San Francisco trip itinerary builder tool .

Getting from Big Sur to San Francisco by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: do a combination of taxi and flight; or do a combination of taxi and train. In December, daytime highs in San Francisco are 17°C, while nighttime lows are 8°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 2nd (Wed) to allow time for the car ride to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.

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 3rd (Thu), explore the striking landscape at Moro Rock, delve into the lush surroundings at Giant Forest, and then cruise along Generals Hwy. On your second day here, take in breathtaking views at Kings Canyon National Park.

To see where to stay, more things to do, photos, and tourist information, read our Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park attractions site .

Drive from San Francisco to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight, bus, shuttle, and car; or do a combination of train, bus, and car. Traveling from San Francisco in January, expect a bit cooler with lows of 3°C in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 4th (Fri) to allow time for the car ride to Las Vegas.

Nicknamed the "Entertainment Capital of the World," Las Vegas sits in the middle of a desert in the southern section of Nevada.

Kick off your visit on the 5th (Sat): push the limits with an extreme tour and then take in breathtaking views at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. On the 6th (Sun), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: look for all kinds of wild species at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, then get to know the fascinating history of The Strip, and then add some entertainment to your itinerary with Bellagio Fountains.

To see more things to do, reviews, photos, and other tourist information, refer to the Las Vegas trip builder app .

Drive from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to Las Vegas in 8 hours. January in Las Vegas sees daily highs of 17°C and lows of 5°C at night. On the 7th (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Grand Canyon National Park.

The size, shape, and color of Grand Canyon National Park combine to leave an impression on visitors as deep as the canyon itself.

Kick off your visit on the 8th (Tue): get great views at Mather Point, hike along South Kaibab Trail, and then explore the stunning scenery at Grand Canyon South Rim. Keep things going the next day: get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour.

To find where to stay, reviews, and other tourist information, use the Grand Canyon National Park trip itinerary tool .

Traveling by combination of car and flight from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon National Park takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a shuttle. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon National Park due to the time zone difference. When traveling from Las Vegas in January, plan for a bit cooler days and colder nights in Grand Canyon National Park: temperatures range from 7°C by day to -11°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Wed) to allow time to travel 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.

Kick off your visit on the 10th (Thu): kick back and relax at Children's Pool and then admire nature's wide array of creatures at San Diego Zoo. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 11th (Fri): identify plant and animal life at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and then take in breathtaking views at Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve.

To find other places to visit, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, read our San Diego online vacation planner .

Traveling by combination of bus and flight from Grand Canyon National Park to San Diego takes 8 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus, taxi, and flight. The time zone difference moving from Mountain Standard Time (MST) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) is minus 1 hour. Traveling from Grand Canyon National Park in January, things will get much hotter in San Diego: highs are around 22°C and lows about 12°C. On the 12th (Sat), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can drive to Los Angeles.

Kick off your visit on the 12th (Sat): see the interesting displays at Petersen Automotive Museum. Keep things going the next day: get curious at California Science Center, then explore the world behind art at Norton Simon Museum, and then identify plant and animal life at Wildlife Areas.

For reviews, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, read our Los Angeles trip planner .

Getting from San Diego to Los Angeles by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a bus; or fly. On the 15th (Tue), you'll travel back home.