Best Weekend Getaways, Road Trips from Los Angeles
While L.A. is always bustling from the influx of tourists, celebrities, and party-goers, as the best weekend getaways from Los Angeles underscore, there are a many cities and towns outside of the metropolitan area that are worth visiting. If you’re specifically in the market for a weekend quick trip out of town to relieve some stress, this is the list you should be reading. From San Diego to Rosarito Beach, we’ve got the rundown on where to stay outside of the city and what to see, do, and eat in each of these hotspots. None of them are farther than a few hours’ drive, so you don’t have to account for a long trip or stay – pop in to any of the following destinations, among the best weekend getaways from Los Angeles, and you’ll be glad that you did!
Catalina makes a good first choice for a weekend trip outside of L.A. The little strip of land is accessible from a ferry off Long Beach or San Pedro and offers all you could need for a relaxing vacation. The area is laid back like a beach town, but also full of history and features plenty of outdoorsy activities to take in too. On one side of town, you’ll find Avalon, where you can walk along the Green Pleasure Pier which is the cultural hub of Catalina. You can rent scuba gear or shop at Catalina Divers Supply, and then eat some of the freshest fish and chips at Eric’s on The Pier. There’s a pretty good selection of bars to visit as well, like Luau Larry’s, which offers stiff Long Island Iced Teas, or Marlin Club, where you can catch some live music.
Palm Springs is ideal for a fun weekend, relaxing golf outing, or a bachelor or bachelorette party. In the summer, temperatures can easily reach triple digits, but luckily hotels like INNdulge or The Saguaro frequently host pool parties that are the talk-of-the-town. If you still want to be close to nature, the Tahquitz Canyon should be your first stop, because a 50-foot waterfall in the middle of the desert is something that you need to see to believe. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has a notable mid-sized collection of both American and Native American art, if you’re in the mood for a cultural activity before you check out the scene for some fine dining. Restaurants like 4 Saints are worth checking out.
Ojai is a cozy town that’s close enough to L.A. to be convenient, but still provides completely new terrain to explore during a weekend trip. The climate here is what makes it so appealing – and aside from being comfortably balmy, all the produce here is fresh, from olives to grapes and citrus fruits, which are sourced from here to all over California. That means the wine is also made locally, so a trip to the Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room or Majestic Oak Wine Tasting is absolutely obligatory. Since this spot is more homey than commercial, consider staying in a bed and breakfast like the Lavender Inn and Spa to be treated like a local. Either way, most accommodations are located near the downtown strip, where you’ll find great restaurants like Nocciola, and bars like Jimmy’s Pub or Tipple and Ramble.
This national park always finds its way onto the list of great weekend getaways for nature lovers. Joshua Tree is less than 3 hours away from L.A, but still maintains a sort of whimsical and natural charm that you would expect from a place that seems untouched by humanity. The best time to visit is in the spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom throughout the park and the air still has a crispness to it. If you really want to spend some time in the outdoors though, consider camping out here overnight. You’ll probably hear some coyotes howling while you try to stargaze. If not, the adjacent town of Joshua Tree offers comfy accommodations and places to grab a quick bite to eat.
If you like skiing, Mammoth Lakes is known for being one of the best resorts in the entire country. Even when it’s not snowing, the destination is still a great spot to hit for any type of outside activity like hiking (e.g. along the John Muir Trail) or mountain biking. Rainbow Falls is the pinnacle of Mammoth’s natural beauty, and the Devils Postpile National Monument is also something people flock to see for its unusual appearance. The Village Lodge Mammoth is a popular choice in terms of lodging options because it offers a pool and is also located nearby restaurants like Toomey’s. If you’re willing to travel a little farther out, close to Mammoth Lakes, you’ll also find the Manzanar National Historic Site, which was a Japanese internment camp during WWII.
A trip to Ventura, which is less than an hour north of L.A, will lead you to a pristine and uncrowded beach with an old-school vibe. Even the downtown area is relatively quaint and retains architecture preserved from the early 20th century, and the long stretch of pier open on both sides will give you an idea about how rich the heritage of this town is. It was a stop along the Camino Real, which was built by the Spanish government in the 18th century and highlighted the San Buenaventura Mission and its adjacent church. Local catches, like oysters, will taste even better at Lure Fish House and prepare you for drinks at Bombay Bar and Grill, which features live music and two huge dance floors for you to let loose. Along the harbor, you can hop a boat to Channels Island National Park and enjoy a guided environmental tour of an uninhabited island.
Solvang is a small and quirky city just north of Santa Barbara that is dedicated to Danish history. Even the architecture is reminiscent of Denmark, and visitors seldom pass up the chance to snap a picture in front of one of the many colorful windmills or similar European designs. If you like Nordic art, you’ll find both the Hans Christian Andersen Museum and the Elverhoj Museum of Danish History interesting and informing daytime activities that highlight Danish influence in the area. Afterwards, prepare your stomach for Solvang Restaurant, which serves authentic Danish food like pancake balls and ebelskivers, a delicious jam-filled donut. Nearby bars, like Solvang’s Viking Garden Cellars, are ideal to try out international beers at.
Even though Rosarito Beach is in Mexico, it is located only 3 hours away from L.A., making it a perfectly reasonable weekend trip if you’re willing to cross the border. If driving, it’s customary to park your car on the U.S side of the border and then walk or take a taxi over to the beach. If you want a classic luxury experience, book your stay at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, which offers scenic views of the beach and is conveniently situted in the center of town. Aside from lounging in the sun, your first priority here should be to eat: El Nido and La Cazuela del Mole will both serve you authentic Mexican cuisine that triumph over any of the tacos or guacamole you had in L.A. If you love seafood, then Mariscos Popotla Jr. is the only place you should be grabbing fresh ceviche de pescado at, and it’s near Oceana Plaza, a shopping center with a spa and stores like Don Pisto, where you’ll find great prices on bottles of tequila to take back home.
Santa Barbara has an old-world aesthetic, which, combined with upscale dining and beautiful beaches, makes it a very desirable weekend destination. Historic hotels like the Bacara Resort and Spa or the Canary Hotel are worth the splurge and put you closer to State Street and the downtown strip, where you’ll find bars like The Good Lion or Sandbar waiting to be enjoyed. There’s also a decent selection of boutiques along the strip like Diani Boutique to shop for women’s clothes at, as well as Maison K for furniture or Lovebird Boutique and Jewelry Bar. You’ll be tempted to spend money wherever you go, but you can also distract yourself with a visit to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, which showcases both Asian and American artists.
San Diego is definitely one of the most popular options when it comes to a weekend trip that isn’t a small beach-town. Though the beaches here are stunning, you’ll also find a slew of other things to do, like visit the legendary Zoo and SeaWorld, which are perfect for entertaining kids, or the Ocean Beach Pier, which offers free parking. The downtown area, especially the Gaslamp District, is home to top-rated restaurants like Osteria Panevino for hearty Italian dishes or The Oceanaire Seafood Room for lobster or salmon. For breathtaking views, make sure to end any night at Sunset Cliffs, or take a hike to Black’s Beach, because this city offers the ideal convergence between a natural oasis and a bustling metropolis – perfect if you need a weekend escape from all the hubbub of Los Angeles.
CHEAT SHEET
For more of the best weekend getaways from LA and short trips from Los Angeles, also see:
· Thrillist – 10 Weekend Getaways Within 5 Hours of LA
· PlanetWare - 14 Top-Rated Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles