27 days in United States 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.

Give yourself a bit of retail therapy at Seaport Village and Carlsbad Premium Outlets. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Oceanside Pier and Point Loma. The adventure continues: admire the majestic nature at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, visit a coastal fixture at Old Point Loma Lighthouse, explore the different monuments and memorials at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery, and pause for some photo ops at Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial.

To see ratings, more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, read our San Diego travel planner.

Sydney, Australia to San Diego is an approximately 19.5-hour flight. Traveling from Sydney to San Diego, you'll gain 18 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Sydney in September, things will get a bit warmer in San Diego: highs are around 31°C and lows about 24°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 18th (Mon) so you can go by car to Los Angeles.

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

Take a break from the city and head to Venice Beach and Boardwalk and Santa Monica Beach. Museum-lovers will appreciate Getty Center The Publications and Mission San Juan Capistrano. Step out of Los Angeles to go to Camarillo and see Camarillo Premium Outlets, which is approximately 1h 25 min away. Next up on the itinerary: make a trip to Santa Monica Pier and appreciate the extensive heritage of Hollywood Walk of Fame.

To see maps, where to stay, reviews, and more tourist information, go to the Los Angeles itinerary builder.

Traveling by car from San Diego to Los Angeles takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. When traveling from San Diego in September, plan for a bit warmer days and about the same nights in Los Angeles: temperatures range from 35°C by day to 22°C at night. On the 21st (Thu), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Boulder.

Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a busy college town known for its progressive values and natural resource conservation.

You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Trail Ridge Road and Horseback Riding Tours. Museum-lovers will get to explore Frisco Historic Park and Museum and Barney Ford House Museum. Venture out of the city with trips to Ameristar Casino Resort Spa (in Black Hawk), St Mary's Glacier (in Idaho Springs) and Rocky Mountain National Park (Lily Lake, Emerald Lake Trail, & more). There's lots more to do: admire all the interesting features of Guanella Pass, take a memorable tour with Tours, take in the dramatic natural features at Roxborough State Park, and capture your vacation like a pro with an inspiring photography tour.

For more things to do, other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, go to the Boulder trip itinerary planner.

Getting from Los Angeles to Boulder by combination of train, flight, and bus takes about 5.5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Los Angeles to Boulder due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Los Angeles in September, expect Boulder to be slightly colder, temps between 28°C and 13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 1st (Sun) to allow enough time to travel to Flagstaff.

Sitting at an elevation of 2,135 m (7,000 ft) and just a short trip from the Grand Canyon and other natural wonders, the city of Flagstaff attracts outdoor enthusiasts from around the world.

On the 2nd (Mon), tour the pleasant surroundings at Fay Canyon Trail, then get a taste of the local shopping with A Spa For You Sedona Day Spa, and then take in the exciting artwork at Son-Silver-West Galleries Inc. Keep things going the next day: examine the collection at Museum of Northern Arizona, admire the majestic nature at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, and then get a taste of the local shopping with Oak Creek Vista Point.

To find traveler tips, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Flagstaff trip planner.

You can do a combination of bus and flight from Boulder to Flagstaff in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and train. Traveling from Boulder in October, plan for a bit cooler nights in Flagstaff, with lows around 0°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 4th (Wed) early enough to 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 4th (Wed): get great views at Twin Peaks, tour the pleasant surroundings at China Beach, and then browse the different shops at Ferry Building Marketplace. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 5th (Thu): kick back and relax at San Gregorio State Beach and then look for all kinds of wild species at Fitzgerald J V Marine Reserve.

For ratings, where to stay, more things to do, and other tourist information, go to the San Francisco travel itinerary creator.

Getting from Flagstaff to San Francisco by combination of flight and subway takes about 5.5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of train and bus. The time zone difference moving from Mountain Standard Time (MST) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) is minus 1 hour. While traveling from Flagstaff, expect a bit warmer days and much warmer nights in San Francisco, ranging from highs of 26°C to lows of 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Thu) to allow time to drive 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.

Kick off your visit on the 6th (Fri): explore the striking landscape at El Capitan, don't miss a visit to Valley View, and then hunt for treasures at El Portal Market. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: trek along May Lake Trailhead and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Tuolumne Meadows.

To see photos, maps, ratings, and more tourist information, you can read our Yosemite National Park vacation planner.

Getting from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and taxi; or do a combination of subway, flight, bus, and taxi. While traveling from San Francisco, expect little chillier days and colder nights in Yosemite National Park, ranging from highs of 21°C to lows of -1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Sun) early enough to drive to Monterey.

Monterey is a city in the U.S. On the 8th (Sun), appreciate the extensive heritage of Pacific Grove Oceanview Boulevard, then stop by The Cheese Shop, and then play a few rounds at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

To find maps, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Monterey holiday planner.

Getting from Yosemite National Park to Monterey by car takes about 5 hours. Other options: do a combination of taxi and bus. Traveling from Yosemite National Park in October, Monterey is warmer at night with lows of 13°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Sun) early enough to 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.

On the 9th (Mon), kick back and relax at Pfeiffer State Beach, then stroll through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and then enjoy the sea views from Point Sur State Historic Park.

To see photos, more things to do, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the Big Sur trip itinerary builder.

You can drive from Monterey to Big Sur in an hour. Another option is to take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 23°C in October, and nighttime lows around 12°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Mon) so you can travel back home.