While both San Diego and Los Angeles are in Southern California, you can easily spend an entire weekend exploring both cities. In San Diego go to Balboa Park where there are many different museums to explore and Coronado Island. This is a small "island" community with white sand beaches. Then head up the I-5 freeway to Los Angeles. Here you can visit the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach Boardwalk, and see all the sights in Hollywood.
Explore Los Angeles from the beaches to Hollywood to Downtown, then get on the 101 freeway and drive north. You will pass quaint coastal towns and eventually get to Santa Barbara. This city is rich with history and things to do. Wineries are in this part of California so spend the day or afternoon wine tasting and then eating dinner seaside. Explore the Santa Barbara mission and the downtown area.
San Francisco, the city by the bay, is home to Hippie Hill and the Golden Gate Bridge. Take a day and explore everything this city has to offer. Start by Telegraph Hill and make your way to Fisherman's Wharf where you can enjoy some clam chowder seaside. Then head out to Gold Country. This is where the gold rush happened, in the center of the state. In Sacramento, also the state's capitol, you can see museums such as the railroad museum. Then head out to Placerville and take a ride on the American River.
Go out and explore the desert regions of California. Palm Springs and Palm Desert have everything to offer visitors from hiking to shopping to eating gourmet food to gambling at casinos. You can drive further into the desert and experience Joshua Tree National Park. The California desert is vast and can not be completely explored in a weekend, but these are good places to start.
The north coast of California is home to some of the biggest trees in the world: the Redwoods. You can easily spend the weekend exploring these national parks, but if you want to see a bit more in your weekend, keep traveling up to Mt. Shasta. During the summer, indulge in water sports; during the winter, go skiing.
