# California coast and film · More time in the middle and at the far end

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/north-america/open-jaw/california-coast-and-film-z0731/>)

More time in the middle and at the far end

- Region: North America
- Trip format: Open jaw
- Nights: 12
- Interests: Food & Drink, Nature, Design, Film, Science

## Route and nights

- San Francisco · 3 night(s)
- Los Angeles · 4 night(s)
- San Diego · 5 night(s)

Tradeoff: The middle base gets time of its own. Book the last gateway separately and compare the total transport cost.

Compare: Rail or drive to compare

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · San Francisco

- 15:30 to 16:15 · Check in and drop your bags · Hyatt Regency San Francisco
- 16:35 to 17:35 · Take a short orientation walk near the hotel · Ferry Building, San Francisco. Skip this block if you arrive later.
- 17:50 to 19:15 · Have dinner near the hotel · Embarcadero, San Francisco
Overnight: [Hyatt Regency San Francisco](<https://www.hotels.com/ho106067/hyatt-regency-san-francisco-san-francisco-united-states-of-america/>) · San Francisco

### Day 2 · San Francisco

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast near the hotel · Embarcadero, San Francisco
- 09:45 to 11:00 · Browse Ferry Building vendors and any scheduled market · Ferry Building, San Francisco. Check market days and vendor opening hours separately.
- 11:15 to 12:35 · Pick lunch at the Ferry Building · Ferry Building, San Francisco
- 12:50 to 14:10 · Walk the waterfront toward Broadway · Embarcadero, San Francisco
- 14:25 to 16:20 · Explore North Beach public streets and bakeries · North Beach, San Francisco
- 17:45 to 19:15 · Dinner in North Beach · North Beach, San Francisco
Overnight: [Hyatt Regency San Francisco](<https://www.hotels.com/ho106067/hyatt-regency-san-francisco-san-francisco-united-states-of-america/>) · San Francisco

### Day 3 · San Francisco

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast near the hotel · Embarcadero, San Francisco
- 09:30 to 10:25 · Travel to Golden Gate Park · Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Choose a transit stop near the first garden.
- 10:35 to 12:25 · Explore the Music Concourse and one garden · Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park. Check hours and access for the San Francisco Botanical Garden or another garden.
- 12:40 to 13:45 · Lunch in the Inner Sunset · Inner Sunset, San Francisco
- 14:00 to 14:50 · Continue toward Ocean Beach · Ocean Beach, San Francisco
- 15:00 to 16:20 · Walk an open promenade section near Ocean Beach · Ocean Beach, San Francisco. Stay on the shore paths and follow beach and weather notices.
- 16:35 to 17:40 · Return downtown · Embarcadero, San Francisco
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near the hotel · Embarcadero, San Francisco
Overnight: [Hyatt Regency San Francisco](<https://www.hotels.com/ho106067/hyatt-regency-san-francisco-san-francisco-united-states-of-america/>) · San Francisco

### Day 4 · Los Angeles

- 06:40 to 07:25 · Have breakfast before checking out · Embarcadero, San Francisco
- 07:25 to 08:15 · Check out and allow time to reach your departure point · Hyatt Regency San Francisco
- 08:15 to 17:00 · Travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles · San Francisco, California. Choose the route based on road conditions and your booked transport. A coastal drive with multiple stops takes extra time and may need an additional night. Use the departure and arrival times from your booking.
- 17:10 to 18:00 · Check in after reaching the new base · The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles. Keep dinner flexible if the transfer runs late.
- 18:20 to 19:35 · Have dinner near your new hotel if time allows · Downtown Los Angeles
Overnight: [The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles](<https://www.hotels.com/ho105342/the-westin-bonaventure-hotel-and-suites-los-angeles-los-angeles-united-states-of-america/>) · Los Angeles

### Day 5 · Los Angeles

- 08:40 to 09:25 · Breakfast near the hotel · Downtown Los Angeles
- 09:40 to 11:05 · Walk Broadway's historic theater blocks · Broadway Theater District, Los Angeles. Use exteriors as the default and check separately for public tours.
- 11:20 to 12:15 · See the Eastern Columbia Building and nearby facades · Eastern Columbia Building, Los Angeles
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near Grand Central Market · Grand Central Market, Los Angeles
- 13:55 to 15:25 · Walk Grand Avenue and see Walt Disney Concert Hall · Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles. Check public access if you want an interior visit.
- 15:40 to 17:00 · Compare modern and older buildings around Bunker Hill · Bunker Hill, Los Angeles
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner downtown · Downtown Los Angeles
Overnight: [The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles](<https://www.hotels.com/ho105342/the-westin-bonaventure-hotel-and-suites-los-angeles-los-angeles-united-states-of-america/>) · Los Angeles

### Day 6 · Los Angeles

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast near the hotel · Downtown Los Angeles
- 09:25 to 10:45 · Travel to Los Feliz or Griffith Park · Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Check official park access, weather, and the current observatory bus or road route.
- 11:00 to 12:15 · Walk a short marked Griffith Park route · Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Choose a route that suits the day's heat and your walking distance.
- 12:30 to 13:30 · Lunch in Los Feliz or a packed meal · Los Feliz, Los Angeles
- 13:45 to 15:45 · See the observatory grounds and open exhibits · Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles. Confirm grounds and building hours separately, and allow time for the return ride.
- 16:00 to 17:20 · Return downtown · Downtown Los Angeles
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown Los Angeles
Overnight: [The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles](<https://www.hotels.com/ho105342/the-westin-bonaventure-hotel-and-suites-los-angeles-los-angeles-united-states-of-america/>) · Los Angeles

### Day 7 · Los Angeles

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown Los Angeles
- 09:25 to 10:20 · Travel to the Academy Museum · Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles. Use a current transit or road estimate and allow for traffic.
- 10:30 to 13:00 · Choose two film history exhibits at the Academy Museum · Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles. Check opening hours and reserve a timed visit if required.
- 13:15 to 14:15 · Lunch on the Miracle Mile · Miracle Mile, Los Angeles
- 14:30 to 16:15 · Walk Museum Row or attend a scheduled screening · Miracle Mile, Los Angeles. Use a confirmed screening time or the public blocks and museum grounds.
- 16:30 to 17:40 · Return downtown · Downtown Los Angeles
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown Los Angeles
Overnight: [The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles](<https://www.hotels.com/ho105342/the-westin-bonaventure-hotel-and-suites-los-angeles-los-angeles-united-states-of-america/>) · Los Angeles

### Day 8 · San Diego

- 07:50 to 08:35 · Have breakfast before checking out · Downtown Los Angeles
- 08:35 to 09:25 · Check out and allow time to reach your departure point · The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles
- 09:25 to 13:45 · Travel from Los Angeles to San Diego · Los Angeles Union Station. Check the Pacific Surfliner timetable and any service disruptions. Use the arrival station closest to your hotel. Use the departure and arrival times from your booking.
- 13:55 to 14:55 · Have lunch near your new base · Columbia District, San Diego
- 15:05 to 16:00 · Drop bags and check in when the room is ready · The Westin San Diego Bayview
- 16:15 to 17:05 · Take a short orientation walk if time allows · Embarcadero, San Diego
- 17:45 to 19:00 · Have dinner near your new hotel if time allows · Columbia District, San Diego
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 9 · San Diego

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 09:45 to 10:20 · Travel to Balboa Park · Balboa Park, San Diego
- 10:25 to 12:15 · Walk El Prado and compare the park's facades · El Prado, Balboa Park. Use public paths around the California Tower and Plaza de Panama.
- 12:25 to 13:25 · Lunch near the park · Balboa Park, San Diego
- 13:40 to 15:10 · Walk the Botanical Building area and nearby gardens · Botanical Building, Balboa Park. Check building hours and choose open garden paths.
- 15:25 to 16:45 · See the public spaces around the Spreckels Organ Pavilion · Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. Treat any performance as optional and check the schedule.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown San Diego
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 10 · La Jolla

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 09:25 to 10:25 · Travel to La Jolla Village · La Jolla Village, San Diego. Check the current bus or road route and reserve extra time for the return.
- 10:35 to 12:15 · Walk near La Jolla Cove and Ellen Browning Scripps Park · La Jolla Cove, San Diego. Follow posted closures and wildlife viewing rules, and give animals space.
- 12:25 to 13:35 · Lunch in La Jolla Village · La Jolla Village, San Diego
- 13:50 to 15:25 · Choose a short Coast Boulevard walk or an indoor stop · Coast Boulevard, La Jolla. Check weather, access, and opening days for any museum alternative.
- 15:45 to 17:00 · Return downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown San Diego
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 11 · San Diego

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 09:45 to 10:20 · Travel to Balboa Park · Balboa Park, San Diego
- 10:30 to 12:55 · Choose the Fleet Science Center or San Diego Natural History Museum · Balboa Park, San Diego. Check opening days and pick one museum. Verify any separate film or exhibition times.
- 13:05 to 14:05 · Lunch in or near the park · Balboa Park, San Diego
- 14:20 to 15:45 · Walk El Prado and see the outdoor plazas · El Prado, Balboa Park
- 16:00 to 16:55 · Return downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown San Diego
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 12 · San Diego

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown San Diego
- 09:45 to 10:30 · Travel to Liberty Station · Liberty Station, San Diego
- 10:40 to 12:10 · Explore Liberty Station's public courtyards · Liberty Station, San Diego. Choose a short gallery or park stop if its hours fit.
- 12:15 to 13:30 · Pick lunch at Liberty Public Market · Liberty Public Market, San Diego. Check vendor hours and leave room for an evening taco stop.
- 13:45 to 15:15 · Walk the waterfront paths around Spanish Landing · Spanish Landing Park, San Diego. Use current signed public access and shorten the walk if needed.
- 15:35 to 16:55 · Return downtown for a break · Downtown San Diego
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Choose a fish taco dinner · San Diego, California. Pick a route-friendly shop and verify its current hours.
Overnight: [The Westin San Diego Bayview](<https://www.hotels.com/ho126381/the-westin-san-diego-downtown-san-diego-united-states-of-america/>) · San Diego

### Day 13 · San Diego

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Have breakfast near the hotel · Columbia District, San Diego
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Take an optional last walk · Embarcadero, San Diego. Skip the walk if you have an early departure.
- 10:00 to 10:30 · Check out and collect luggage · The Westin San Diego Bayview
- 10:30 to 11:30 · Allow time for onward travel · Columbia District, San Diego. Use the confirmed departure and pickup times from your booking.