32 days in California 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.

Step out of San Diego to go to Encinitas and see Self-Realization Fellowship Hermitage, which is approximately 32 minutes away. Pack the 6th (Thu) with family-friendly diversions at SeaWorld San Diego. There's still lots to do: meet the residents at San Diego Zoo, take in nature's colorful creations at Botanical Building and Lily Pond, admire the majestic nature at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, and let little ones run wild at Balboa Park.

To find traveler tips, where to stay, other places to visit, and other tourist information, use the San Diego journey planner .

Vancouver, Canada to San Diego is an approximately 6-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. When traveling from Vancouver in December, plan for much hotter days in San Diego, with highs around 22°C, while nights are a bit warmer with lows around 13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Fri) so you can drive 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.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Los Angeles: Anaheim (Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, & more). Pack the 8th (Sat) with family-friendly diversions at Universal Studios Hollywood. There's still lots to do: see the sky in a new way at Griffith Observatory, explore and take pictures at STAPLES Center, admire the majestic nature at Topanga State Park, and examine the collection at Getty Center The Publications.

To see traveler tips, reviews, maps, and more tourist information, read Los Angeles online travel route planner .

Traveling by car from San Diego to Los Angeles takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. In December, daytime highs in Los Angeles are 23°C, while nighttime lows are 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Sat) to allow time to travel to Carmel.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, often simply called Carmel, is a city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated on October 31, 1916. Kick off your visit on the 15th (Sat): look for all kinds of wild species at Point Lobos State Reserve and then look for gifts at The Cheese Shop. Keep things going the next day: stroll through Asilomar State Beach, admire nature's wide array of creatures at Monterey Bay Aquarium, and then pause for some serene contemplation at San Carlos Cathedral.

To find other places to visit, photos, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Carmel trip builder app .

Getting from Los Angeles to Carmel by combination of flight and taxi takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of train and bus. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Los Angeles in December: high temperatures in Carmel hover around 18°C and lows are around 7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 17th (Mon) to allow time for the car ride 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.

On the 19th (Wed), spend an exhilarating day on the slopes at Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area. And it doesn't end there: take in the dramatic natural features at Glacier Point, make a trip to Yosemite Village, get great views at Tunnel View, and hike along Panorama Trail.

For ratings, more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our Yosemite National Park trip builder .

Drive from Carmel to Yosemite National Park in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Traveling from Carmel in December, expect nights in Yosemite National Park to be much colder, around -11°C, while days are little chillier, around 7°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 24th (Mon) early enough to go by car to San Francisco.

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

San Francisco is known for nature, museums, parks, nightlife, and shopping. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: step off the mainland to explore Alcatraz Island, tour the pleasant surroundings at Twin Peaks, take a memorable ride with Cable Cars, and have fun and explore at Exploratorium.

To see reviews, traveler tips, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read San Francisco trip itinerary planner.

Drive from Yosemite National Park to San Francisco in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus; or do a combination of taxi, bus, flight, and subway. When traveling from Yosemite National Park in December, plan for somewhat warmer days in San Francisco, with highs around 17°C, while nights are warmer with lows around 8°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 1st (Tue) early enough to travel back home.