Discover the Best of California Cities in 9 Days

1. Day 1: Exploring Santa Monica Beach
   10 minutes (1.3 miles) from Downtown Santa Monica

   Stroll along the iconic Santa Monica Pier or rent bicycles and ride along the 26-mile beachfront bike path.

2. Day 2: Hollywood Glam
   20 minutes (9.3 miles) from Santa Monica Beach

   Visit the historic TCL Chinese Theatre and take a guided tour of the Dolby Theatre, the home of the Oscars. Take a selfie with your favorite star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame before catching a movie at the El Capitan Theatre.

3. Day 3: Artsy LA
   25 minutes (9.1 miles) from Hollywood

   Visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), known for its extensive contemporary art collection. Continue the art tour with a visit to the Getty Center for architecture, gardens, and more art.

4. Day 4: Downtown LA Sights
   15 minutes (6.4 miles) from LACMA

   Visit the iconic Watts Towers before heading to Grand Central Market for lunch. Take a stroll around The Broad and MOCA, two of LA's best art museums, before topping off the day with a visit to the Disney Concert Hall or the Staples Center depending on the schedule.

5. Day 5: San Diego Beach Day
   2 hours (124 miles) from Los Angeles

   Hit up the famous La Jolla Cove beach in the morning, watch seals, and then head to Coronado beach for lunch followed by seeing some museums of art and science in Balboa Park.

6. Day 6: San Diego Attractions
   25 minutes (10 miles) from La Jolla Cove

   Visit the USS Midway Museum, then watch the sea creatures at the San Diego Zoo before ending the day at Old Town, sampling local Mexican cuisine and drinks while listening to live music.

7. Day 7: Silicon Valley
   2 hours 30 minutes (365 miles) from San Diego

   Visit the Computer History Museum where you can learn about the rise and evolution of Silicon Valley. Have lunch in downtown Palo Alto, then go to the Intel Museum and the NASA Ames Research Center.

8. Day 8: San Francisco Adventures
   35 minutes (18 miles) from Palo Alto

   Start the day walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, then take a sea lion tour to the Aquarium of the Bay with spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay, followed by a visit to the Exploratorium Museum where you’ll experience a variety of hands-on exhibits.

9. Day 9: Culture and Food in San Francisco
   10 minutes (2 miles) from Exploratorium Museum

   Visit the famous Fisherman's Wharf and try clam chowder bowls from the local restaurants, then walk to the historic Ferry Building Marketplace to taste local artisan products and sample wine from Napa Valley before catching the sunset.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Santa Monica Pier (2-4 hours, free)
• Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre tour ($25-35, 45 minutes)
• LACMA ($25, 2-3 hours)
• Grand Central Market (1 hour, $10-20)
• USS Midway Museum ($26, 3-4 hours)
• Golden Gate Bridge walk (1-2 hours, free)
• Fisherman's Wharf and Ferry Building Marketplace ($15-20, 2 hours)
Total Estimated Costs: $125-150

Useful Tips

For an extended trip, spend a day at Universal Studios or Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles, or check out the Muir Woods National Monument and the Point Reyes National Seashore in the Bay Area. If you have more time, take a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur or down to San Diego and explore the local breweries or the San Diego Safari Park.