24 days in United States Itinerary

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

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Hiller Aviation Museum and St. Ignatius Church. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Oakland California Temple and Cliff House. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around San Francisco: Computer History Museum (in Mountain View) and Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph (in San Jose). Next up on the itinerary: steep yourself in history at Sutro Baths, take in nature's colorful creations at Conservatory of Flowers, take in the spiritual surroundings of Grace Cathedral, and explore the different monuments and memorials at Mountain View Cemetery.

To see where to stay, other places to visit, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our San Francisco journey maker site.

Sydney, Australia to San Francisco is an approximately 16.5-hour flight. The time zone difference when traveling from Sydney to San Francisco is minus 18 hours. Prepare for colder weather when traveling from Sydney in December: high temperatures in San Francisco hover around 17°C and lows are around 8°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 30th (Fri) so you can 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.

Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Pioneer Yosemite History Center and McGurk Meadow. Popular historic sites such as Yosemite Cemetery and Wawona Hotel, National Historic Landmark are in your itinerary. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Yosemite National Park: Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum (in Groveland), Columbia Candy Kitchen (in Columbia) and Old Timers Museum (in Murphys). There's much more to do: identify plant and animal life at Cathedral Beach Picnic Area, get engrossed in the history at California State Mining and Mineral Museum, see the interesting displays at Mariposa Museum and History Center, and explore the striking landscape at Glacier Point.

For more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, read our Yosemite National Park attractions planner.

Explore your travel options from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park with the Route module. Expect little chillier weather when traveling from San Francisco in December: highs in Yosemite National Park hover around 9°C, while lows dip to -11°C. On the 2nd (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Santa Fe.

Santa Fe continuously ranks among the world's top holiday destinations, attracting visitors with its unusual combination of scenic beauty, rich history, cultural diversity, and high concentration of performing arts venues, fine restaurants, and interesting attractions.

On the 3rd (Tue), explore the different monuments and memorials at Santa Fe National Cemetery, learn about all things military at New Mexico National Guard Museum, view the masterpieces at Luca decor, then get a taste of the local shopping with Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery, then take in the exciting artwork at Dinosaurs and More, and finally examine the collection at The Harrell House Bug Museum.

To find reviews, maps, more things to do, and tourist information, use the Santa Fe online travel route planner.

Explore your travel options from Yosemite National Park to Santa Fe with the Route module. Traveling from Yosemite National Park to Santa Fe, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Yosemite National Park in January, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be somewhat warmer in Santa Fe, with lows of -7°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) so you can fly to New Orleans.

Known for its Creole cuisine, rich musical tradition, and nearby swamps and plantations, New Orleans is one of the nation's oldest cities.

Appreciate the collections at Laura: Louisiana's Creole Heritage Site and Whitney Plantation. Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World and New Orleans Pharmacy Museum are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around New Orleans: Baton Rouge (Louisiana's Old State Capitol, USS Kidd, &more). The adventure continues: explore the world behind art at The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA, stroll the grounds of Lake Lawn Metairie, surround yourself with nature on Ultimate Swamp Adventures, and examine the collection at Memorial Hall Confederate Civil War Museum.

To find photos, reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, read our New Orleans attractions planner.

You can fly from Santa Fe to New Orleans in 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus, shuttle, and car. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Santa Fe to New Orleans due to the time zone difference. When traveling from Santa Fe in January, plan for a bit warmer days and warmer nights in New Orleans: temperatures range from 17°C by day to 12°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Sun) early enough to catch the flight to Key West.

Located just 140 km (90 mi) from Cuba, Key West is an island only about 6.4 km (4 mi) long and 1.6 km (1 mi) wide.

On the 9th (Mon), pause for some serene contemplation at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, get your bearings at Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce, view the masterpieces at 7 Artists & Friends Key West, then brush up on your knowledge of spirits at Papa’s Pilar Rum Distillery, Hemingway Rum Company, then look for all kinds of wild species at Key West Wildlife Center, and finally take in the exciting artwork at Alan S. Maltz Gallery.

To find maps, ratings, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Key West road trip planner.

Traveling by flight from New Orleans to Key West takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference when traveling from New Orleans to Key West is 1 hour. In January, Key West is somewhat warmer than New Orleans - with highs of 28°C and lows of 22°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 10th (Tue) so you can catch the flight to New York City.

Writer Pearl Buck once called New York City “a place apart,” and this giant urban center remains unlike any other in the world.

Museum-lovers will get to explore Ground Zero Museum Workshop and SPYSCAPE. Step off the beaten path and head to Dumbo and St. Thomas Church. There's lots more to do: browse the collection at The Morgan Library & Museum, appreciate the extensive heritage of Park Avenue, see the interesting displays at Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, and walk around World Trade Center's Liberty Park.

For where to stay, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, read our New York City trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Key West to New York City takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Plan for cooler temperatures traveling from Key West in January, with highs in New York City at 5°C and lows at -5°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Fri) so you can fly to Seattle.

Nicknamed the "Emerald City" because of its abundant evergreen trees, Seattle is the cultural and business center of the Pacific Northwest, as well as a popular holiday destination.

Jimi Hendrix Grave Site and Saint James Cathedral will appeal to history buffs. You'll explore and learn at Hands On Children's Museum and Living Computers: Museum + Labs. Change things up with these side-trips from Seattle: Tumwater Falls Park (in Tumwater), Imagine Children's Museum (in Everett) and Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (in Bainbridge Island). Next up on the itinerary: stop by Theo Chocolate, take a stroll through Queen Anne Hill, walk around Myrtle Edwards Park, and explore the different monuments and memorials at Bruce Lee Grave Site.

To see ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Seattle online holiday planner.

Getting from New York City to Seattle by flight takes about 7.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 3 hours traveling from New York City to Seattle. Traveling from New York City in January, expect Seattle to be a bit warmer, temps between 10°C and 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Tue) early enough to fly back home.