Southern California: The Ultimate One Week Itinerary

Southern California: The Ultimate One Week Itinerary

The Ultimate One Week Itinerary: Southern California (with kids!)

Do you have dreams of visiting southern California?  It is one of the most iconic destinations in the United States, with golden sand beaches, waves beckoning surfers in the Pacific Ocean, colorful piers, amazing hikes, and so much more.  From bustling Los Angeles to vibrant Palm Springs to laid back Laguna Beach, this itinerary is a great way to experience some of southern California’s best!  We spent one awesome week exploring these areas and share our ultimate one week southern California itinerary, which is especially great with kids!

This Itinerary Includes:

  • Los Angeles (2 nights)
  • Palm Springs (4 nights) with Joshua Tree National Park
  • Laguna Beach (2 nights)

When we went

March 2025.  It was near perfect weather in all areas we visited at this time of year.  In Los Angeles, the weather was sunny and warm, which was fantastic weather for exploring.  Palm Springs was already quite warm with temperatures reaching into the 90s so we relished our time in the pool.  And in Laguna Beach, the weather was overcast and a lot cooler, but a welcomed change after the hot days in Palm Springs.  

This is a “what we did” itinerary, which makes it easy for you to follow along or tweak and adjust based on number of days you have or your specific interests.  For more in-depth information on each place, see the linked article.  These individual guides share lots of info, planning tips, and photos!

One Week Southern California Itinerary

DAY 1

On Today’s Agenda:

  • Breakfast:  Eggslut, Beverly Hills
  • Shopping at Beverly Center
  • Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame
  • Check out the TCL Chinese Theatre
  • Take in the views at the Mulholland Scenic Overlook
  • Lunch:  Sol Agave, Santa Monica
  • Spend the afternoon at Santa Monica Pier
  • Dinner:  Yardbird, Beverly Hills

Where we stayed

SLS Beverly Hills | Beverly Hills, California

Good morning, California!  This first day will be full and busy but also lots of fun.  For a quick and tasty breakfast, we recommend Eggslut, located at the Beverly Center.  We entered the Beverly Center on Beverly Boulevard and took the series of escalators up.  As we rode the escalators, we were rewarded with first views of the Los Angeles skyline and the Hollywood sign in the distance.  Welcome to LA!

The Beverly Center is a great shopping mall with typical mall stores as well as luxury brands.  After a little shopping, we had a tasty breakfast at Eggslut, located within the Beverly Center complex.  The name sure is attention-grabbing but it really is a great place to grab a quick breakfast.

Eggslut, a great breakfast spot in Beverly Hills

From here, we took an uber to West Hollywood, to take in the iconic “Hollywood Walk of Fame”.  There are currently 2,800 stars made from terrazzo and brass embedded in the sidewalks in a 15 block radius in Hollywood. 

The Hollywood Walk of Fame

These stars represent individual performers in the four genres of performing:  film, tv music, and theatre.  The stars are located along Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, and Vine Streets.  You can download the Walk of Fame Map to find specific stars you are interested in, or just do what we did and take them in as you walk.  It’s kind of fun to see who you come across!  

Continuing on, we walked along Hollywood Boulevard to the TCL Chinese Theatre (also known as Graumin’s Chinese Theatre), a movie palace that is a historic and cultural landmark in Hollywood.

The TCL/Graumin’s Chinese Theatre 

My nephew had a list of all the sites he wanted to see and this iconic Hollywood site was one of them!  Overall, visiting Hollywood was a pleasant experience.  We found it generally clean and easy to get around and people were friendly.  Our mid-week, mid-morning visit was great!

Hollywood

Next up is the Mulholland Scenic Overlook.  This was my nephew’s screensaver for years, so he was especially excited for this epic view of LA!

My nephews loved this view

A hazy downtown Los Angeles stands out from the landscape in the distance, while the never ending expressway snakes its way through the city. 

The Mulholland Scenic Overlook

Turning the other direction, you have a great view of the Hollywood sign.   Also in close view is the Hollywood Bowl.

View of the Hollywood Sign from the Mulholland Scenic Overlook

NOTE:  Initially we planned to take in the views from the Griffith Observatory, which offers similar views of both downtown LA and the Hollywood Sign.  We chose this location, however, as it was a lot closer to we were in Hollywood at the Walk of Fame.  We were very content with the views here so did not see the need to take the time to take in similar views from the Griffith Observatory, further away.

From the Mulholland Scenic Overlook we took an Uber to the Santa Monica Pier.  Before exploring the pier, however, we walked about five minutes to Sol Agave, where we had an amazing lunch.  The guacamole was fresh and flavorful while our entrees were well-presented and delicious.  

Fully satiated, we walked back to the Santa Monica Pier, first making our way through Muscle Beach. 

Muscle Beach and the Santa Monica Pier

Muscle Beach’s claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of the fitness boom in the United States.  The beach features playgrounds for kids as well as outdoor gym equipment for folks wanting an oceanfront workout.  From here you can access the Santa Monica Pier by the stairs.

On the Santa Monica Pier, my nephews enjoyed rides and games and we all relished the views.  

The Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier also serves as the official end of Route 66 with the beginning located in Chicago, Illinois about 2,000 miles away. 

The end of Route 66

Back in the day when Route 66 served as the main thoroughfare for taking vacations out west, the end of the trail marked the beginning of vacation!

After a couple hours spent on the Santa Monica Pier, it was time to call it a day and head back to our hotel in Beverly Hills.  Our Uber ride was very long, taking over an hour to go 10 miles!  This is important to note when planning your day in the Los Angeles area.  Traffic is almost always congested so building in extra time for it is imperative!

Dinner this evening was back at the Beverly Center where we had a great dinner at Yardbird.  

DAY 2

On Today’s Agenda:

  • Rodeo Drive
  • Brunch:  The Henry
  • Drive to Palm Springs
  • Check in to AirBnb
  • Relax!

The next morning, we checked out of our hotel but had one more place to visit in Beverly Hills:  Rodeo Drive!  We began at the Golden Triangle, located at 9800 Wilshire Blvd. 

The Golden Triangle of Rodeo Drive

The Golden Triangle is a very aesthetic area to photograph, as it is said to look like a quaint Italian street.  This area is gorgeous, lined with high-end luxury stores, cozy coffee shops, and the famous Erewhon grocery store just around the corner. 

After a little shopping, we had one last stop in Beverly Hills, brunch at The Henry.  I cannot resist my favorite coffee drink to date, the “Go North”, at The Henry.  It’s a heavenly concoction of espresso and cream.  Brunch at The Henry was a great way to end our time in LA.

The Henry

The traffic getting out of Los Angeles was not surprisingly heavy.  We didn’t have an agenda for the rest of the day, other than to get to our Airbnb and relax!  All in the all, the drive from Los Angeles took us about 3 hours, covering 110 miles.  Make sure to give yourself extra time if doing this drive, as Los Angeles’ notorious traffic can definitely slow you down.

When we arrived at our Airbnb, we took the afternoon to settle in, get groceries, grill dinner, and enjoy the pool.  Down time is always important when traveling as it helps to recharge for more adventures ahead!

For our two day Los Angeles itinerary:  Two Days in Los Angeles (with kids!) 

DAY 3

On Today’s Agenda:

  • Joshua Tree National Park

Where we stayed

Airbnb | Palm Springs, California

Joshua Tree National Park is a fabulous national park to visit, especially with kids.  My nephews had a great time exploring this park.  After all what is not to like when you can climb Skull Rock, hike over and under rocks and boulders, and trek along the Hall of Horrors!

Joshua Tree National Park is a fun park to explore

We drove from Palm Springs to the visitor’s center in the town of Joshua Tree, right at the entrance of the park.  My recommendation is to actually continue along CA62 (aka 29 Palms Highway) to the Twentynine Palms Visitor’s Center.  This visitor’s center is a larger facility with more parking than the one in the town of Joshua Tree.

After stopping at the visitor’s center to check out some of the exhibits and plan out our hikes for the day, we made our way into the park.

We entered Joshua Tree National Park just after reaching the town of Twentynine Palms, about 14 miles east of Joshua Tree along CA-62.  We opted to head to this far corner of the park and make our way through the park in a clockwise direction.  The main reason for this was because we wanted to go against the crowds, as most enter at Joshua Tree.  By continuing on to Twentynine Palms and entering the park from there, we were going against the grain.

Here are the stops we made, in order:

  • Visitor’s Center in Joshua Tree
  • Entered Joshua Tree National Park at Twentynine Palms
  • Skull Rock & Discovery Trail
  • Hall of Horrors
  • Cap Rock
  • Keys View
  • Exited Joshua Tree National Park at the town of Joshua Tree

Overall, we completed some great, short hikes, took in the unique scenery, and enjoyed climbing on top of rocks and traipsing under boulders.  A picnic lunch followed by fabulous views at Keys View made for a well-rounded day.

For an in depth guide on visiting Joshua Tree National Park, check out the link below:

Joshua Tree National Park Guide:  One Great Day in Joshua Tree National Park

DAY 4

On Today’s Agenda:

  • Check out the Mid-Century Modern Architecture
  • Shop along Palm Canyon Drive
  • Walk among stars along the Palm Springs Walk of Fame
  • Visit the Marilyn Monroe statue at Downtown Park

Palm Springs gets hot early, so we headed out around 8:00 am to go for a walk in the Indian Canyons neighborhood.  Here is where some of the best representations of mid-century modern architecture that Palm Springs is known for is located.

Just a few of the beautiful homes with colorful doors in Palm Springs

Colorful doors adorn mid-century modern homes with perfectly landscaped yards.  It was lovely to walk throughout these neighborhoods while getting in a little exercise along the way!

Palm Springs has no shortage of art galleries, shops, and restaurants.  We enjoyed perusing the shops along Palm Canyon Drive and checking out Palm Spring’s version of the “Walk of Fame”.  A quick stop at Downtown Park to see the Marilyn Monroe statue capped off the day before heading back to our Airbnb for evening relaxation by the pool.

Palm Springs and Downtown Park, featuring the Marilyn Monroe statue

DAY 5

On Today’s Agenda:

  • Brunch:  Norma’s at the Parker Hotel
  • Visit the Palm Springs Air Museum and/or the Palm Springs Art Museum
  • Ride the Aerial tramway
  • Sip some cocktails in Uptown

Today began at Norma’s, a great little restaurant within the Parker Hotel. 

Brunch at Norma’s, with a mid-century modern vibe

With its seemingly hidden street entrance and bright orange front doors, the Parker Hotel features great representation of mid-century decor throughout its grounds.  We dined here for brunch and had a fabulous meal!

Inside the Parker Hotel

Next, an indoor activity will get you out of the heat for a bit.  For a town known for its homes with colorful doors, it is no surprise Palm Springs has its own art museum.   The Palm Springs Art Museum is actually comprised of three campuses, two in downtown Palm Springs and a sculpture garden located in Palm Desert.   With thousands of art from a variety of media on display, this is a great option to get out of the hot sun for a bit and experience some fantastic art displays.

Or, check out the Palm Springs Air Museum, located on the outskirts of town.  It is highly rated and worth a visit for any air enthusiast.  The museum features five different hangars, a flight simulator, and interactive displays.

The Aerial Tramway is one of the most popular things to do in Palm Springs so you need to book this in advance.  Get a birds-eye view of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley while riding in the world’s largest rotating tramway.

After another full day in Palm Springs, what better way to end the day than with sipping some cocktails in a vibrant setting?!  Uptown in Palm Springs is the perfect place to do so.  

We hit up two places, starting out at the dark and brooding Truss & Twine.  This establishment features cocktails from the Golden Age to the Modern Age, so it is a fun menu to explore.  I especially loved my Duck and Cover cocktail while Mike found his classic Old Fashioned to be quite tasty.  We enjoyed our time here with the master mixologist mixing up drinks and a tasty cheese board to go along with our cocktails.

A delicious cheese board to go with our creative cocktails at Truss & Twine

After Truss & Twine, we walked across the street to the vibrant Eight4Nine.  Here we had small bites paired with delightful cocktails.  The setting is bright and colorful, a great contrast to Truss & Twine.

Eight4Nine, a great place for a colorful cocktail

My cocktail, Eight4Nine, was a delectable concoction of vodka, prosecco, and muddled strawberries.  I highly recommend this fruity cocktail on a visit to Eight4Nine.

My delicious cocktail at Eight4Nine

We have a great list of the top things to do in Palm Springs:, linked below

Palm Springs Guide:  12 Great Things to do in Palm Springs

DAY 6

On Today’s Agenda:

  • Drive to Laguna Beach
  • Check in to hotel
  • Relax at Aliso Beach
  • Dinner:  Harvest

Where we stayed

The Ranch | Laguna Beach, California

It is time to leave Palm Springs behind and drive west to Laguna Beach.  The drive was very scenic with the desert giving way to rolling hills and then the Pacific Ocean coming into view as we moved closer to the coast. 

We drove through the cute surf town of Laguna Beach and checked in to our hotel for the next couple nights, The Ranch at Laguna Beach.  The hotel is set among a golf course down in a canyon, surrounded by massive cliffs.  Across the street is Aliso Beach where we enjoyed an afternoon drink while watching the waves crash on the shore. 

Aliso Beach, Laguna Beach

Dinner was at the on-site restaurant, Harvest, which is excellent!  The service and the quality of the meal was 10/10.  The ambiance is cozy yet refined and the views cannot be beat.

DAY 7

On Today’s Agenda:

  • Hike to Aliso Peak for grand views of Laguna Beach
  • Shop and visit art galleries in downtown Laguna Beach
  • Visit the “Pirate Tower” at Victoria Beach

Our morning started with a hike high into the canyons up Aliso Peak.  Aliso Peak is easy to access from The Ranch as it connects the resort with the trail.  We trekked through a neighborhood to the trailhead and began the climb up, among the morning fog.

The neighborhood we walked through to reach the trailhead of Aliso Peak

Unfortunately for us, the fog didn’t lift except for a brief moment while at the top. 

A foggy hike

Up here one gets incredibly vast views of the homes, canyons, and ocean below, which on a clear day must be epic!  We enjoyed what we could and at least felt accomplished from the morning hike!

Our foggy views

The rest of the day was spent without an agenda, just wandering the shops and galleries of Laguna Beach. 

Downtown Laguna Beach

This old surf town has such a cozy and welcoming vibe that we really enjoyed our leisurely stroll through town.  

There is a landmark that is worth a stop, in my opinion, although it takes a little bit of effort to get to.  The “Pirate Tower” at Victoria Beach is such a unique thing to see and makes for fabulous photos that a trek here is worth it!  I’ll share exactly how we visited below.

Visiting the Pirate Tower at Victoria Beach

The most important thing to note is that access to the Pirate Tower is through a neighborhood of private residences.  Being quiet and respectful while walking through the neighborhood is of utmost importance!

To access Victoria Beach, there is a staircase located in between two homes on a road called Sunset Terrace.  Take this set of stairs down to Victoria Beach.

Victoria Beach

To the right are large rocks…climb up them and keep going to the right.  It is just a short climb over these rocks to get to the Pirate Tower.

And this is the Pirate Tower!  Definitely worth the trek over the rocks to see it up close.

The “Pirate Tower” of Laguna Beach

NOTE:  This may be inaccessible at high tide.  We visited in the late afternoon/early evening and had no trouble accessing it.  The waves do come up onto the rocks so always be mindful of your step.  It is not too difficult at all to reach and really is just a short walk along the rocks.  

How to Get Here:  Parking is not allowed near the stairs, so a ride share, such as Uber, might be your best bet in terms of arriving here.  You can also park somewhere along Pacific Coast Highway and walk the rest of the way here.  During our visit, we walked here from downtown Laguna Beach, which was a bit of a trek, although it worked out great following our day of shopping.  When we were done with our visit, we caught an Uber to return to our hotel.

DAY 8

On Today’s Agenda:

  • Visit Treasure Island Beach
  • Head home!

We had one last stop on our way out of Laguna Beach and it’s actually my favorite beach in Laguna:  Treasure Island!

Treasure Island Beach, Laguna Beach

Treasure Island is a beautiful expanse of golden sand marked by cliffs on either end of the beach.  The walkway above is great for walking or jogging and taking in the vast views.  While we were here we saw a pod of whales go by!

The paths are great for walking or jogging at Treasure Island Beach, Laguna Beach

How to Get Here:  There is a parking garage on site, Parking Garage 8.  There are a limited number of spots, however we easily found one (and there always seemed to be a couple open during our visit).  Parking Garage 8 is an easy in/easy out off Pacific Coast Highway.  

Visiting Treasure Island was the perfect end to our southern California trip!  From here we drove to LAX, returned our rental vehicle, and flew home.

One great week in southern California has come to an end.  It is time to head home or consider connecting this southern California itinerary with a visit to central California!  San Francisco, Monterey, and Napa Valley make for another well-rounded California vacation destination.  Below are more in-depth articles on this area of California:

Read More!

For more in-depth articles on southern California, including Palm Springs, Los Angeles, and Joshua Tree National Park:

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