48 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.

Let the collections at The Getty Center and Los Angeles County Museum of Art capture your imagination. Get some historical perspective at La Brea Tar Pits and Museum and Santa Monica Pier. Change things up with these side-trips from Los Angeles: San Clemente Pier (in San Clemente), San Juan Capistrano (Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano & Mission San Juan Capistrano) and Oceanside (Oceanside Pier, Dolphin & Whale Watching, & more). Have a day of magic on the 5th (Mon) at Disneyland Park. Pack the 8th (Thu) with family-friendly diversions at Universal Studios Hollywood. Next up on the itinerary: see the sky in a new way at Griffith Observatory, examine the collection at The Hollywood Museum, get in on the family fun at Disney California Adventure Park, and admire the masterpieces at Diorama-museum of Bhagavad-gita.

For where to stay, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Los Angeles trip planner .

If you are flying in from New Zealand, the closest major airports are Los Angeles International Airport, John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport, Ontario International Airport and San Bernardino International Airport. In August, plan for daily highs up to 34°C, and evening lows to 22°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 24th (Sat) early enough to travel to Monterey.

Monterey is a city in the U.S. Kick off your visit on the 25th (Sun): see majestic marine mammals with a dolphin and whale watching tour. On the next day, get to know the fascinating history of Pacific Grove Oceanview Boulevard, then admire the majestic nature at Point Lobos, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Carmel Mission, and finally admire the architecture and history at San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission.

To see maps, more things to do, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Monterey tour itinerary planner.

You can fly from Los Angeles to Monterey in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and shuttle; or drive. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Los Angeles in August: high temperatures in Monterey hover around 24°C and lows are around 16°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Mon) to allow time to drive 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 27th (Tue): head off the coast to Alcatraz Island, then look for all kinds of wild species at Drakes Estero, and then take in the views from Golden Gate Bridge. On the 28th (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: engage your brain at Exploratorium and then see what you can catch with a fishing tour.

To find ratings, reviews, and tourist information, read our San Francisco trip itinerary builder website .

Getting from Monterey to San Francisco by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: fly; or do a combination of bus and train. In August, plan for daily highs up to 26°C, and evening lows to 17°C. On the 29th (Thu), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.

The narrow city of Ketchikan clings to the bluffs that form Revillagigedo Island's southwestern shore.

Kick off your visit on the 30th (Fri): take a memorable tour with Tours, then take an in-depth tour of Tongass Historical Museum, and then get to know the fascinating history of Creek Street. On the next day, get a new perspective on nature at Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, take in the exciting artwork at Caribou Creek Company, contemplate the long history of Totem Heritage Center, then immerse yourself in nature at Totem Bight State Historical Park, and finally tour the pleasant surroundings at Potlatch Totem Park.

Inspirock's itinerary builder makes planning a Ketchikan trip simple and quick.

Traveling by combination of flight and ferry from San Francisco to Ketchikan takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of bus and ferry. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from San Francisco to Ketchikan. When traveling from San Francisco in August, plan for a bit cooler days in Ketchikan, with highs around 22°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 31st (Sat) to allow enough time to travel to Sitka.

The City and Borough of Sitka, formerly Novo-Arkhangelsk, or New Archangel under Russian rule, is a unified city-borough located on Baranof Island and the southern half of Chichagof Island in the Alexander Archipelago of the Pacific Ocean (part of the Alaska Panhandle), in the U.S. Kick off your visit on the 1st (Sun): identify plant and animal life at Alaska Raptor Center, see majestic marine mammals with a dolphin and whale watching tour, and then get to know the fascinating history of Sitka National Historic Park/Totem Park. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: step into the grandiose world of Baranof Castle State Historical Site, then cast your line with a fishing tour, and then get curious at Sitka Sound Science Center.

To see photos, other places to visit, more things to do, and other tourist information, use the Sitka online route planner .

Traveling by combination of ferry and flight from Ketchikan to Sitka takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can ride a ferry. In August, daytime highs in Sitka are 20°C, while nighttime lows are 14°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 2nd (Mon) to allow time to fly to Skagway.

The Municipality and Borough of Skagway is a first-class borough in Alaska on the Alaska Panhandle. Start off your visit on the 3rd (Tue): take an in-depth tour of Skagway Museum and Archives, then take an in-depth tour of Trail of '98 Museum, and then get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. On your second day here, contemplate the long history of State Sreet and Broadway Street, then shop like a local with BearHead Photography Gallery, then contemplate the long history of Arctic Brotherhood Camp No. 1, and finally whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks.

To find photos, ratings, and other tourist information, read our Skagway trip itinerary maker .

You can fly from Sitka to Skagway in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and ferry; or ride a ferry. Expect a daytime high around 17°C in September, and nighttime lows around 10°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) to allow enough time to travel to Seward.

For most visitors to this part of the world, the wild part of Alaska starts at Seward, a small port city that takes advantage of the region's natural beauty.

Start off your visit on the 5th (Thu): pause for some serene contemplation at Resurrection Lutheran Church, take an in-depth tour of Seward Community Library & Museum, then get up close to creatures of the deep with a dolphin and whale watching tour, and finally see the world from above with a helicopter tour. On your second day here, get interesting insight from Tours.

To find maps, where to stay, more things to do, and more tourist information, use the Seward day trip planning app .

You can do a combination of flight and bus from Skagway to Seward in 7.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of ferry, flight, and bus; or drive. September in Seward sees daily highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Fri) early enough to travel to Homer.

Homer is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. Start off your visit on the 7th (Sat): learn more about the world around you at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, then pause for some serene contemplation at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, and then cast your line with a fishing tour. On the next day, look for all kinds of wild species at Wildlife Areas, then get a taste of the local shopping with Ptarmigan Arts, then explore the world behind art at Bunnell Street Arts Center, and finally explore the landscape on two wheels at Homer Spit.

For traveler tips, more things to do, ratings, and tourist information, use the Homer trip planner .

Do a combination of taxi and bus from Seward to Homer in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and flight. September in Homer sees daily highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Sun) early enough to travel to Anchorage.

Home to nearly half of Alaska's population, the port city of Anchorage covers a staggering area of over 4,900 sq km (1,900 sq mi) surrounded by mountains.

Start off your visit on the 9th (Mon): contemplate the long history of Stewart's Photo Shop, then examine the collection at Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, and then look for all kinds of wild species at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Keep things going the next day: take in the dramatic natural features at Beluga Point, look for all kinds of wild species at Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary, then appreciate the extensive heritage of Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, and finally examine the collection at Alaska Jewish Museum.

To plan Anchorage vacation without wasting time, ask Inspirock to design an itinerary.

Do a combination of flight and car from Homer to Anchorage in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and car. September in Anchorage sees daily highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Tue) so you can travel to Denali National Park and Preserve.

The 2.43 million hectares (6 million acres) of Denali National Park include low taiga forest, high-alpine tundra, and snowcapped mountains, all of which lead up to Mt.

Kick off your visit on the 11th (Wed): take in the exciting artwork at Wild about Denali, trek along Mt. Healy Overlook Trail, and then identify plant and animal life at Husky Homestead. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: identify plant and animal life at Kantishna Wilderness Trails.

For ratings, photos, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Denali National Park and Preserve online driving holiday planner .

Getting from Anchorage to Denali National Park and Preserve by combination of car and train takes about 7.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of car and bus. Expect a daytime high around 15°C in September, and nighttime lows around 5°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Thu) so you can travel to Fairbanks.

With its strip malls and fast-food restaurants, Fairbanks appears a bit functional on first glance.

Start off your visit on the 13th (Fri): admire all the interesting features of Wedgewood Wildlife Sanctuary, then see the interesting displays at Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, then examine the collection at Gold Daughters Alaska, and finally steep yourself in history at Alaskan Pipeline. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 14th (Sat): get in on the family fun at Pioneer Park and then get a new perspective on nature at University of Alaska Museum of the North.

To see reviews, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, refer to the Fairbanks road trip planner.

Traveling by combination of flight and bus from Denali National Park and Preserve to Fairbanks takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and train; or take a bus. In September, plan for daily highs up to 13°C, and evening lows to 2°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sun) 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.

Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 16th (Mon): stroll the grounds of Lake View Cemetery, then explore the different monuments and memorials at Bruce Lee Grave Site, and then admire the natural beauty at Bloedel Reserve.

To see reviews, maps, more things to do, and more tourist information, you can read our Seattle online day trip planner .

Traveling by flight from Fairbanks to Seattle takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and ferry. Traveling from Fairbanks to Seattle, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Fairbanks in September, things will get a bit warmer in Seattle: highs are around 26°C and lows about 15°C. On the 18th (Wed), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.