7 days in California Itinerary

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

Kick off your visit on the 20th (Thu): take in the awesome beauty at Twin Peaks, then examine the collection at Cable Car Museum, and then shop like a local with Ferry Building Marketplace.

For other places to visit, reviews, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our San Francisco trip site .

Los Angeles to San Francisco is an approximately 4.5-hour combination of train and flight. You can also do a combination of train, flight, and subway; or drive. Traveling from Los Angeles in December, you will find days in San Francisco are little chillier (17°C), and nights are about the same (8°C). Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Fri) early enough to drive 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. Start off your visit on the 22nd (Sat): contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Carmel Mission, admire the landmark architecture of San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission, then admire the majestic nature at Point Lobos, and finally stop by The Cheese Shop.

To find reviews, other places to visit, ratings, and other tourist information, read Carmel trip maker site .

Traveling by car from San Francisco to Carmel takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and bus; or take a bus. December in Carmel sees daily highs of 19°C and lows of 7°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to San Simeon.

When you arrive in tiny San Simeon, which lies halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, you can see why William Randolph Hearst chose this coastal locale for his famous hilltop castle.

Start off your visit on the 23rd (Sun): enjoy the sand and surf at Piedras Blancas and then identify plant and animal life at Elephant Seal Rookery. Here are some ideas for day two: admire the natural beauty at Cambria Nursery & Florist, look for gifts at Sebastian General Store, enjoy the sand and surf at Moonstone Beach, then get a taste of the local shopping with Fiona Bleu Gallery, and finally look for gifts at The Shell Shop.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, go to the San Simeon visit planning tool .

Drive from Carmel to San Simeon in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and car. Expect slightly colder evenings in San Simeon when traveling from Carmel in December, with lows around 0°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Bridgeport.

Bridgeport is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Mono County, California, United States. Start off your visit on the 25th (Tue): immerse yourself in nature at Bodie State Historic Park and then see a world frozen in time at Bodie.

To see other places to visit, more things to do, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Bridgeport holiday maker tool .

Traveling by car from San Simeon to Bridgeport takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly. Traveling from San Simeon in December, things will get a bit cooler in Bridgeport: highs are around 7°C and lows about -10°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 25th (Tue) so you can travel to Death Valley National Park.

Extreme heat and dryness create extreme landscapes in Death Valley National Park.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Wed): take in breathtaking views at Mosaic Canyon, then steep yourself in history at Harmony Borax Works, and then take an in-depth tour of The Ranch at Furnace Creek.

To see other places to visit, more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, read our Death Valley National Park trip itinerary maker app .

Getting from Bridgeport to Death Valley National Park by car takes about 4 hours. In December, Death Valley National Park is a bit warmer than Bridgeport - with highs of 15°C and lows of 0°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 26th (Wed) so you can go by car back home.