23 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.

Kick off your visit on the 12th (Fri): admire the striking features of Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, get engrossed in the history at Autry Museum of the American West, then stroll the grounds of Hollywood Forever Cemetery, then explore the different monuments and memorials at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park, and finally deepen your understanding at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

For reviews, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, read Los Angeles trip planner.

Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles is an approximately 17.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train; or do a combination of flight and bus. The time zone changes from Australian Eastern Standard Time (Victoria) (AEST) to Pacific Standard Time (PST), which is usually a -18 hour difference. Traveling from Melbourne in June, you will find days in Los Angeles are much hotter (30°C), and nights are a bit warmer (19°C). Cap off your sightseeing on the 13th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park takes its name from the Joshua tree, a twisted, spiky tree with bayonet-shaped leaves at the top that's one of the few plant species hardy enough to thrive in the extreme climate of the Mojave Desert.

Get in touch with nature at 49 Palms Canyon Trail and Split Rock. Discover out-of-the-way places like Geology Tour Road and Boy Scout Trail. And it doesn't end there: go deep underground at Lost Horse Mine, steep yourself in history at Keys Ranch, explore the striking landscape at Wonderland of Rocks, and appreciate the views at Lost Horse Valley.

To find traveler tips, photos, and more tourist information, go to the Joshua Tree National Park online day trip planner .

Traveling by car from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi; or do a combination of bus and car. When traveling from Los Angeles in June, plan for much hotter days in Joshua Tree National Park, with highs around 45°C, while nights are somewhat warmer with lows around 26°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 15th (Mon) early enough to go by car to Cambria.

Cambria is a seaside village in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles along California State Route 1 (Highway 1). On the 16th (Tue), take in nature's colorful creations at Cambria Nursery and Florist, trek along Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, do a tasting at Hearst Ranch Winery, then steep yourself in history at Nitt Witt Ridge, then learn about winemaking at Moonstone Cellars, and finally indulge your thirst for a good beer at 927 Beer Company.

To find reviews, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, use the Cambria online trip itinerary maker .

You can drive from Joshua Tree National Park to Cambria in 7.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of car, flight, and bus; or do a combination of taxi, bus, and train. When traveling from Joshua Tree National Park in June, plan for little chillier days in Cambria, with highs around 39°C, while nights are cooler with lows around 13°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 16th (Tue) so you can go by car to Big Sur.

A sparsely populated area with stunning views, Big Sur attracts artists and tourists traveling California’s scenic Highway 1.

Start off your visit on the 17th (Wed): kick back and relax at China Cove and Gibson Beach, then make a trip to Rocky Creek Bridge, and then admire the majestic nature at Point Sur State Historic Park. Keep things going the next day: immerse yourself in nature at Limekiln State Park, then hike along Partington Cove, and then admire the majestic nature at Andrew Molera State Park.

To find where to stay, photos, and other tourist information, read our Big Sur trip planner .

You can drive from Cambria to Big Sur in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and train; or take a bus. While traveling from Cambria, expect much colder days and about the same nights in Big Sur, ranging from highs of 23°C to lows of 13°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 19th (Fri) 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.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Modus Operandi Cellars and Gracianna Winery. Explore hidden gems such as Stephen & Walker Winery and Pride Mountain Vineyards. Change things up with these side-trips from San Francisco: Rutherford (Frog's Leap Winery & Grgich Hills Estate), Schweiger Vineyards (in St. Helena) and Dutton Goldfield Winery (in Sebastopol). There's still lots to do: do a tasting at Sapphire Hill Winery, see the interesting displays at Madame Tussauds San Francisco, take in the awesome beauty at Mount Tamalpais State Park, and kick back and relax at Stinson Beach.

For ratings, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our San Francisco trip maker tool .

Traveling by car from Big Sur to San Francisco takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and flight; or take a bus. In June, plan for daily highs up to 25°C, and evening lows to 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Wed) so you can travel to New York City.

Writer Pearl Buck once called New York City “a place apart,” and this giant urban center remains unlike any other in the world.

Get outdoors at Speed Boats Tours and Dingmans Falls. Get a sense of the local culture at Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum and The Morgan Library & Museum. Change things up with these side-trips from New York City: Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt (in Hyde Park), Raymondskill Falls (in Milford) and Belmar Beach (in Belmar). There's much more to do: take a stroll through Dumbo, get curious at Gulliver's Gate, walk around World Trade Center's Liberty Park, and enjoy the sand and surf at Jones Beach State Park.

For reviews, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the New York City road trip website .

Traveling by combination of flight and bus from San Francisco to New York City takes 9 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive. Traveling from San Francisco to New York City, you'll lose 3 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from San Francisco in June, things will get a bit warmer in New York City: highs are around 31°C and lows about 21°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Wed) early enough to travel back home.