29 days in California's Central Coast Itinerary

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Monterey: Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (in Moss Landing), Santa Cruz (Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, &more) and Manresa State Beach (in Aptos).

For ratings, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Monterey trip planner.

Cartagena, Colombia to Monterey is an approximately 16-hour combination of flight and car. The time zone difference moving from Colombia Standard Time (COT) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) is minus 3 hours. Plan for colder temperatures traveling from Cartagena in August, with highs in Monterey at 24°C and lows at 16°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Fri) so you can drive to Cambria.

Step out of Cambria with an excursion to Hearst Castle in San Simeon--about 50 minutes away.

To find photos, ratings, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Cambria trip planner.

You can drive from Monterey to Cambria in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus, train, and taxi. While traveling from Monterey, expect much warmer days and about the same nights in Cambria, ranging from highs of 40°C to lows of 15°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Wed) so you can go by car to Santa Maria.

Venture out of the city with trips to Lompoc (Sanford Winery & Vineyards & Montemar Wines), San Luis Obispo (Chamisal Vineyards, Central Coast Food and Wine Tours, &more) and Rusack Vineyards (in Solvang).

To see other places to visit, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, read Santa Maria day trip planning website.

Drive from Cambria to Santa Maria in 1.5 hours. Traveling from Cambria in August, expect nights in Santa Maria to be about the same, around 16°C, while days are slightly colder, around 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 3rd (Sun) early enough to drive to Santa Barbara.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Santa Barbara: Oxnard (Channel Islands Maritime Museum, Oxnard Beach Park, &more), Ojai (Horseback Riding Tours, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, &more) and U.S. Navy Seabee Museum (in Port Hueneme). There's much more to do: indulge your senses at some of the top wineries in the area, look for all kinds of wild species at Santa Barbara Safaris, admire nature's wide array of creatures at Santa Barbara Zoo, and admire the striking features of Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

To find more things to do, reviews, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Santa Barbara online trip itinerary builder.

You can drive from Santa Maria to Santa Barbara in 1.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 30°C in September, and nighttime lows around 17°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 16th (Sat) so you can travel back home.