8 days in California Itinerary

Surrounded by mountain ranges, forests, valleys, beaches, and deserts, the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is home to over 17 million people.

To find more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, read Los Angeles trip builder site .

Seattle to Los Angeles is an approximately 5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. In August, daytime highs in Los Angeles are 84°F, while nighttime lows are 66°F. On the 4th (Sun), you'll travel to Ventura.

Ventura, officially the City of San Buenaventura, is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States. Kick off your visit on the 5th (Mon): hike along Arroyo Verde Park and then explore the landscape on two wheels at Ventura to Ojai Paved Bike Path.

To see maps, reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read Ventura online tour itinerary planner .

Drive from Los Angeles to Ventura in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Traveling from Los Angeles in August, expect Ventura to be a bit cooler, temps between 73°F and 61°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Mon) to allow time to drive to Pismo Beach.

Pismo Beach is a city in San Luis Obispo County, in the Central Coast area of California, United States. To see reviews, ratings, photos, and tourist information, read our Pismo Beach trip itinerary website .

Traveling by car from Ventura to Pismo Beach takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Ventura in August: highs in Pismo Beach hover around 79°F, while lows dip to 58°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Tue) 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. For photos, other places to visit, ratings, and other tourist information, read our Carmel journey builder site .

Traveling by car from Pismo Beach to Carmel takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of flight and shuttle. Expect a bit cooler weather when traveling from Pismo Beach in August: highs in Carmel hover around 70°F, while lows dip to 57°F. You will leave for Santa Cruz on the 7th (Wed).

Santa Cruz remains synonymous with surfing, but this counterculture bastion offers plenty even if you don't plan to catch any waves.

On the 7th (Wed), get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports, then go for a walk through Shark Fin Cove, and then kick back and relax at Natural Bridges State Beach.

To find maps, more things to do, reviews, and tourist information, go to the Santa Cruz travel itinerary planner.

You can drive from Carmel to Santa Cruz in an hour. Another option is to take a bus. In August in Santa Cruz, expect temperatures between 74°F during the day and 57°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Thu) so you can go by car to Santa Rosa.

Located less than an hour's drive north of San Francisco, Santa Rosa serves as a convenient hub for travelers on their way to the world-famous Napa Valley wine country.

On the 8th (Thu), look for all kinds of wild species at Safari West, then see the interesting displays at Charles M. Schulz Museum, and then do a tasting at V. Sattui Winery. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 9th (Fri): take in the dramatic natural features at Bodega Head and then immerse yourself in nature at Armstrong Redwood State Reserve.

For reviews, photos, maps, and tourist information, read our Santa Rosa trip planner .

Traveling by car from Santa Cruz to Santa Rosa takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of shuttle and flight. Traveling from Santa Cruz in August, you will find days in Santa Rosa are a bit warmer (82°F), and nights are about the same (54°F). Finish up your sightseeing early on the 9th (Fri) so you can go by car to Mendocino.

Mendocino is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California, United States. Kick off your visit on the 10th (Sat): take in nature's colorful creations at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, then stop by Mendocino Jams & Preserves, and then take a memorable drive along Mendocino Coast.

To find reviews, ratings, more things to do, and more tourist information, you can read our Mendocino online driving holiday planner .

Drive from Santa Rosa to Mendocino in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. When traveling from Santa Rosa in August, plan for somewhat warmer days in Mendocino, with highs around 93°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 56°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sat) so you can travel to Ferndale.

Ferndale is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. To see more things to do, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Ferndale driving holiday planning website .

Traveling by car from Mendocino to Ferndale takes 3 hours. When traveling from Mendocino in August, plan for cooler days in Ferndale, with highs around 68°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 52°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Sun) to allow time to travel back home.