27 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.

Museum-lovers will appreciate The Getty Center and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Get some historical perspective at El Pueblo de Los Angeles and Santa Monica Pier. Take a break from Los Angeles with a short trip to Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, about 36 minutes away. The adventure continues: take a stroll through Abbot Kinney Boulevard, examine the collection at The Grammy Museum, look and learn at Griffith Observatory, and admire the masterpieces at Norton Simon Museum.

For traveler tips, photos, and other tourist information, you can read our Los Angeles trip planner.

Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles is an approximately 17.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train; or do a combination of flight and bus. You'll gain 18 hours traveling from Melbourne to Los Angeles due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Melbourne in December, expect Los Angeles to be a bit cooler, temps between 24°C and 11°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sat) so you can travel 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.

The Strip and Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum are good opportunities to explore the local culture. You'll explore and learn at The Mob Museum and Clark County Heritage Museum. When in Las Vegas, make a side trip to see Valley of Fire State Park in Overton, approximately 1h 10 min away. There's much more to do: see the interesting displays at The Neon Museum, browse the different shops at The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, make a trip to Fountains of Bellagio, and try to win big at New York New York Casino.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Las Vegas trip itinerary tool .

Traveling by flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and flight. Expect a bit cooler temperatures when traveling from Los Angeles in December; daily highs in Las Vegas reach 16°C and lows reach 4°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 18th (Wed) so you can travel 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.

Shop till you drop at Royal Street and Faulkner House Books. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Garden District and French Quarter. The adventure continues: brush up on your military savvy at The National WWII Museum, see the interesting displays at Cabildo, contemplate the long history of Beauregard-Keyes House, and admire the landmark architecture of St. Louis Cathedral.

To see where to stay, other places to visit, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the New Orleans travel route planning tool .

You can fly from Las Vegas to New Orleans in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and bus; or drive. The time zone changes from Pacific Standard Time to Central Standard Time, which is usually a 2 hour difference. Expect a bit warmer evenings in New Orleans when traveling from Las Vegas in December, with lows around 16°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 21st (Sat) so you can travel 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.

For shopping fun, head to Alan S. Maltz Gallery or 7 Artists & Friends. Get a sense of the local culture at The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum and Truman Little White House. And it doesn't end there: contemplate the long history of Curry Mansion, stroll the grounds of Key West Cemetery, examine the collection at Oldest House & Garden Museum, and browse the exhibits of Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, maps, and tourist information, read our Key West trip maker app .

You can fly from New Orleans to Key West in 6.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of flight and shuttle; or drive. Traveling from New Orleans to Key West, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Expect warmer weather when traveling from New Orleans in December: highs in Key West hover around 30°C, while lows dip to 25°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Tue) to allow enough time to travel to Washington DC.

The capital of the United States, the District of Columbia contains the lion's share of the country's most treasured monuments, memorials, and public museums.

On the 25th (Wed), admire the masterpieces at National Gallery of Art, then examine the collection at National Air and Space Museum, and then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Washington National Cathedral. Keep things going the next day: take an in-depth tour of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, learn more about the world around you at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, then examine the collection at The National Archives Museum, and finally get engrossed in the history at National Portrait Gallery.

To find photos, ratings, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read Washington DC tour itinerary builder website .

Getting from Key West to Washington DC by flight takes about 5 hours. Other options: do a combination of flight and train; or drive. Traveling from Key West in December, things will get colder in Washington DC: highs are around 12°C and lows about 3°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 26th (Thu) early enough to travel 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 appreciate The Metropolitan Museum of Art and 9/11 Memorial. Get some historical perspective at St. Patrick's Cathedral and St. Paul's Chapel. Next up on the itinerary: take a stroll through Times Square, shop like a local with Fifth Avenue, see the interesting displays at New York Public Library, and take in the pleasant sights at Central Park.

To find maps, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our New York City online road trip planner .

Fly from Washington DC to New York City in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. December in New York City sees daily highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel to Chicago.

A huge and vibrant city, Chicago is home to top-notch theaters, shops, museums, galleries, and restaurants.

On the 30th (Mon), appreciate the extensive heritage of Millennium Park, explore the world behind art at The Art Institute of Chicago, then wander the streets of The Magnificent Mile, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of Fourth Presbyterian Church.

Plan my day in Chicago using traveler tips and tourist information provided by Inspirock.

You can do a combination of bus and flight from New York City to Chicago in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from New York City to Chicago due to the time zone difference. Expect slightly colder temperatures when traveling from New York City in December; daily highs in Chicago reach 3°C and lows reach -3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 30th (Mon) so you can travel 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.

On the 31st (Tue), see the interesting displays at The Museum of Flight, view the masterpieces at Chihuly Garden and Glass, then get a taste of the local shopping with Pike Place Market, and finally look for gifts at Elliott Bay Book Company.

To find where to stay, more things to do, and more tourist information, use the Seattle road trip planning website .

Fly from Chicago to Seattle in 7 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of subway, bus, and flight; or drive. Traveling from Chicago to Seattle, you'll gain 2 hours due to the time zone difference. In December, Seattle is somewhat warmer than Chicago - with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 31st (Tue) to allow time to travel to San Francisco.

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

Your inner history buff will appreciate Golden Gate Bridge and Grace Cathedral. Get some cultural insight at Alcatraz Island and Twin Peaks. The adventure continues: take a leisurely stroll along Fisherman's Wharf, get a taste of the local shopping with Union Square, get curious at Exploratorium, and don't miss a visit to Ferry Building Marketplace.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, read our San Francisco trip builder site .

You can fly from Seattle to San Francisco in 4.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of flight and train; or drive. Traveling from Seattle in December, things will get a bit warmer in San Francisco: highs are around 17°C and lows about 8°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 3rd (Fri) 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 4th (Sat): explore the world behind art at Yosemite Museum Gallery, make a trip to Washburn Point, then take in the dramatic natural features at Taft Point, and finally get to know the fascinating history of Big Trees Lodge, National Historic Landmark. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 5th (Sun): take in the architecture and atmosphere at Yosemite Valley Chapel, stroll through Cathedral Beach Picnic Area, take in the dramatic natural features at Glacier Point, then trek along Panorama Trail, and finally don't miss a visit to Olmsted Point.

To see reviews, traveler tips, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Yosemite National Park trip itinerary maker app .

You can drive from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park in 4 hours. Other options are to do a combination of flight and car; or do a combination of flight and bus. When traveling from San Francisco in January, plan for little chillier days in Yosemite National Park, with highs around 7°C, while nights are colder with lows around -12°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Sun) to allow time to travel back home.