California trip itinerary help

Question

My itinerary so far is:

San Diego Arrive LAX (8 AM), pick up car; Drive to San Diego; Settle in, explore Gaslamp Quarter/waterfront

San Diego Balboa Park (gardens, museums, no zoo); Gaslamp Quarter/Embarcadero

San Diego USS Midway Museum; Old Town San Diego; Coronado Island OR La Jolla Cove

Anaheim Drive San Diego to Anaheim; Settle in; Downtown Disney District

Anaheim Disneyland Full Day Adventure

Sequoia NP Drive Anaheim to Sequoia NP; Arrive afternoon, explore Giant Forest (General Sherman Tree, Tunnel Log)

Sequoia NP Full day Sequoia & Kings Canyon (Moro Rock, Grant Grove, scenic drives)

Yosemite Drive Sequoia NP to Yosemite Valley; Arrive afternoon, explore Valley (Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Valley Loop Trail)

Yosemite Full day Yosemite Valley (Mist Trail, Ansel Adams Gallery, El Capitan, Half Dome)

Yosemite Full day Yosemite (Tioga Road/Tuolumne Meadows OR Glacier Point OR other Valley trails)

San Francisco Drive Yosemite to San Francisco; Settle in; Union Square, Cable Car, North Beach, Chinatown!

San Francisco Alcatraz Island; Fisherman's Wharf (Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square); Lombard Street; Coit Tower

San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge (drive/walk, viewpoints); & Presidio, Japanese Tea Garden

San Francisco Golden Gate Park OR Haight-Ashbury. Ferry Building Marketplace. Sausalito? OR a full Day Napa Valley Day Trip

Montrey Drive San Francisco to Monterey; Monterey Bay Aquarium; Cannery Row; Fisherman's Wharf

Montrey 17-Mile Drive/Pebble Beach; Carmel-by-the-Sea; Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Morroe Bay/Cambria Drive Monterey to Cambria (via US-101 due to Hwy 1 closure); Elephant Seal Rookery; Optional Hearst Castle; Moonstone Beach; Downtown Cambria

LA Drive to LA. Stop on the way in Solvang and santa Barbara. (Camerio outlet?)

LA Beverly Hills (Rodeo Drive, sign); Griffith Observatory (sunset views); Shopping: The Grove/Americana, Westfield Century City or Melrose Ave; Optional: Getty Center/Petersen Museum

LA Universal Studios Hollywood Full Day; CityWalk

LA Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, star walk and Chinese Theater

LA Santa Monica fair (Pier, Beach, Promenade); Venice Beach Boardwalk

LA Choose: DTLA (Grand Central Market, Disney Concert Hall, The Broad) OR the Getty center OR Malibu? Peterson car museum?

I'd like to know if there are any thoughts here? something missing or too fast? we are family with 2 city teenage girls that like to take their time especially in the mornings :-)

more specifically the part after SF...

Answer

Your California itinerary after San Francisco is ambitious, especially with teenage daughters who like to take their mornings slow. There’s a lot packed into a short period, and the distances between some destinations are long, so pacing and realistic expectations are key. Here’s a detailed assessment and some suggestions.

Monterey & Carmel:

Your plan to visit Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, and Fisherman’s Wharf is solid, though consider that the aquarium alone can take 2–3 hours. Factor in extra time for lunch and wandering Cannery Row.
17-Mile Drive, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Point Lobos are beautiful but spread out. If your family enjoys scenic drives, it’s manageable, but you might need to prioritize one or two stops rather than trying to do all three thoroughly in a single day.

Morroe Bay / Cambria:

Driving Monterey to Cambria via US-101 due to Hwy 1 closure is fine, though it will take a bit longer. The Elephant Seal Rookery near San Simeon is a fun stop.
Hearst Castle is worth it if you arrive early, but it takes at least 2–3 hours including the tour, so plan accordingly.
Moonstone Beach and Downtown Cambria are casual stops and can be paired with short walks or lunch breaks.

Los Angeles:

Solvang and Santa Barbara on the way is a nice break from driving, but adding an outlet stop may stretch the day. Consider prioritizing Solvang and Santa Barbara for scenic stops if pressed for time.
Beverly Hills and Griffith Observatory are doable, but parking and traffic can be challenging; plan for extra time and possibly visit the observatory either in late afternoon or sunset for the best views.
Shopping options are many; choose 1–2 destinations to avoid feeling rushed. Teenagers may enjoy The Grove for a combined shopping and dining experience.
Universal Studios is a full day, so it’s correctly planned. CityWalk afterward works well for dinner.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour plus Hollywood sightseeing may feel rushed after Universal; if possible, consider shifting one of these to another day or shortening the Hollywood portion.
Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach Boardwalk, and optional DTLA or Getty are all interesting, but again, prioritize based on interest. Santa Monica and Venice can be combined easily in a morning/afternoon.

Suggestions:

Consider giving one buffer day or half-day to slow down, especially after long drives or theme parks. Your girls may appreciate a leisurely morning or beach day.
For Monterey/Cambria, decide on either scenic drives or specific attractions rather than trying to fit all stops in a day.
In LA, separate studio tours from shopping or beach days to avoid long, tiring days. Traffic can add a lot of extra time.
Check hours and book tickets for popular attractions in advance to save time, especially for Hearst Castle, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros. tours.
Factor in realistic driving times with traffic; California highways, especially near LA and SF, can add 30–60 minutes per trip compared to Google Maps estimates.

Overall, your itinerary is packed and hits most iconic spots, but you may want to trim some activities or combine stops strategically to allow for relaxed mornings and avoid burnout. Prioritize based on interest and timing, and leave flexibility for spontaneous detours or rest.

California trip itinerary help

More California (CA) Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions