10 days in San Francisco & Santa Barbara Itinerary

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

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Wine Tours & Tastings and Walt Disney Family Museum. Discover out-of-the-way places like Legion of Honor and Asian Art Museum. Get out of town with these interesting San Francisco side-trips: Calistoga (Castello di Amorosa & Von Strasser Family of Wines) and Tudal Winery (in St. Helena). And it doesn't end there: snap pictures at Golden Gate Bridge, take in the local highlights with Walking tours, and step off the mainland to explore Alcatraz Island.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, other places to visit, and other tourist information, use the San Francisco vacation planning website.

Washington DC to San Francisco is an approximately 7-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of subway and train. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 3 hours traveling from Washington DC to San Francisco. Traveling from Washington DC in November, plan for somewhat warmer nights in San Francisco, with lows around 51°F. You'll set off for Santa Barbara on the 2nd (Wed).

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara is a solid vacation destination with its wide beaches, renowned wineries, and some of California's finest shopping and dining options.

Step off the beaten path and head to Wine Tours & Tastings and Monarch Butterfly Grove. Do some cultural sightseeing at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum and Santa Barbara County Courthouse. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Santa Barbara: Rutiz Family Farms (in Arroyo Grande), Chamisal Vineyards (in San Luis Obispo) and Camarillo (Camarillo Premium Outlets & Cantara Cellars). The adventure continues: contemplate the long history of Old Mission Santa Barbara, do a tasting at Summerland Winery, learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Santa Barbara Zoo, and stop by Chocolate Maya.

To see other places to visit, reviews, photos, and tourist information, refer to the Santa Barbara journey planner.

Traveling by flight from San Francisco to Santa Barbara takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from San Francisco in December, expect nights in Santa Barbara to be about the same, around 41°F, while days are a bit warmer, around 67°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Mon) to allow enough time to fly back home.