Desert, seashore, or nationwide park? Take your choose.
share this text
Calling someplace an awesome launching pad to different locations generally is a little bit of a backhanded praise. However whereas Los Angeles itself has lots to maintain you busy (seashores, theme parks, locations to discover Latinx and Black food, historical past, and tradition), it’s additionally simply two or three hours from a bunch of numerous weekend getaway choices.
Decide a compass level. North? That’ll take you to the American Riviera, the town of Santa Barbara, and to wine cities aplenty within the Santa Ynez Valley. South? That manner results in San Diego. East(ish)? Take your choose between the mountain communities of Massive Bear and Lake Arrowhead or desert locations like Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. West? Effectively, there’s the ocean—however there is an island escape on Catalina awaiting you. Listed below are a number of of our favourite locations to flee for 48 hours.
Santa Barbara
How far is Santa Barbara from Los Angeles?
Los Angeles to Santa Barbara is about 100 miles. It’ll take you round two hours by automotive. The Pacific Surfliner prepare from L.A.’s Union Station takes just below three hours.
Why go to Santa Barbara?
Reliably good climate, a sedate harbor, clear seashores, upscale procuring, winetasting within the tasting room sizzling spot the Funk Zone—Santa Barbara packs lots in for its 90,000 fortunate residents (together with new native householders Harry and Meghan).
The place to remain
We love the Ritz-Carlton Bacara simply north of Santa Barbara for its a number of saltwater swimming pools, beachside location, and spacious suites with marble bathtubs, Asprey merchandise, and ocean views.
E book now: from $329/evening, expedia.com
The place to eat
Caffeinate your mornings at Handlebar Coffee, seize pizza for lunch from Bettina, order Asian takeout from Oku, and end with a cocktail at Venus in Furs. State Road Promenade within the heart of city has been pedestrianized because the pandemic and appears set to proceed as a car-free technique to peruse menus once you’re hungry.
Issues to do
Received youngsters? They’ll need to discover MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation (closed at time of writing; hopefully open quickly), seize an ice cream from a department of McConnell’s, and tour the harbor on Lil’ Toot Water Taxi’s 20-minute trip. There’s a ravishing Spanish mission, a Maritime Museum, Lotusland botanic gardens, and plentiful procuring. Did we point out the winetasting?
Read more on the perfect weekend in Santa Barbara
San Diego
How far is San Diego from Los Angeles?
About 120 miles. As for the way lengthy it takes to drive, that relies upon in the event you’re speaking early on a Sunday morning or at 4 p.m. on a Friday. Allot anyplace between two and 4 hours relying on site visitors (in L.A., by Orange County, and north of San Diego). Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will get you from downtown to downtown in three hours or much less.
Why go to San Diego?
San Diego is among the hottest highway journeys from L.A. for a cause—or a dozen: For starters, there are a 12 completely different seashores to discover, together with energetic, bar-filled Pacific Seashore, La Jolla Seashore (nice for browsing, snorkeling, and seal recognizing), and family-friendly Mission Seashore. The latter is ready on an extended spit, which means you may stroll oceanside then wander by the quiet streets or close by amusement park to take a look at the calmer Mission Bay facet.
The place to remain
Strive the Resort del Coronado, a Nationwide Historic Landmark on Coronado Island that’s hosted presidents and was featured in Some Like It Sizzling. The historic resort simply launched a brand new part of the lodge: The Cabanas “neighborhood,” which encompasses 97 oceanfront and poolside visitor rooms and a brand new pool.
E book now: from $276/evening, expedia.com
Article continues beneath commercial
We additionally love L’Auberge del Mar in Del Mar, about 20 minutes drive from the middle of San Diego, for its proximity to a textbook SoCal seashore, upscale homely really feel, and pleasant workers.
E book now: from $509/evening, expedia.com
The place to eat
Fashionable American Juniper & Ivy, seafood spot Ironside Fish & Oyster, and Michelin-starred Addisn are amongst our favorite San Diego dining options, however you’ll additionally need to attempt a handful of beachside fish tacos earlier than you head residence—search for the traces of locals.
Issues to do
Seashores apart, guests arrive in droves for the famous zoo, sprawling Balboa Park, or to see the USS Midway plane service. It’s additionally price heading to one among San Diego’s interesting neighborhoods like arty North Park, LGBTQ-friendly Hillcrest, or museum-packed Outdated City.
Palm Springs
How far is Palm Springs from Los Angeles?
Palm Springs is simply over 100 miles from Los Angeles—driveable in two hours in the event you get fortunate on the ten freeway.
Why go to Palm Springs?
Palm Springs has lengthy been a basic weekend getaway from Los Angeles for quite a few causes. Between late fall and about April, the largest draw is the climate, with nary a drop of rain and soul-lifting solar day in, time out. (In the summertime, it’s triple digits and never so nice.) That dependable local weather permits guests to spend lazy days in a sizzling tub, gazing on the distant mountains fringed with palm tree fronds, earlier than tearing themselves away to benefit from the metropolis’s midcentury-modern structure and ample eating places and outlets principally centered round Palm Canyon Drive.
The place to remain
Palm Springs lodges run the gamut from historic (the Parker) to hipster (the Ace) and plenty of are glorious retreats for design lovers. We’re keen on Korakia Pensione, a Moroccan-inspired spot near downtown, the place quiet courtyards stuffed with bougainvillea vines and palms result in luxurious suites.
E book now: from $309/evening, expedia.com
Or, in the event you’re going to the desert with youngsters and also you’re there on any of the 360 days of the yr it’s sunny, the waterslides, swimming pools, and lazy river of the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells are laborious to beat.
E book now: from $357/evening, expedia.com
The place to eat
The drink and eating scene in Palm Springs is thrilling and evolving. Strive Asian fusion poolside at Roly China Fusion, tacos accompanied by a margarita made with date tequila at Tac/Quila, or shrimp taquitos at Tu Madres Cantina to start out.
Issues to do
Many come right here to golf on the 100+ programs, some designed by legends like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Others simply go to to sip Arnold Palmers by the pool (the eponymous ice tea and lemonade drink was coined in Palm Springs within the ’60s).
Extra energetic varieties would possibly need to deal with the switchbacks of the South Lykken Trail, a 2.2-mile there-and-back hike with nice metropolis views, or discover the shadier Tahquitz Canyon, which is a part of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, prices $12.50 for adults to enter, and results in a waterfall. The Palm Canyon Trail, in the meantime, is free and showcases Sonoran Desert ecosystems earlier than ending in what the USDA Forest Service calls the “largest Palm Oasis in North America.”
The Aerial Tramway is a rotating cable automotive that takes you to an elevation of 8,516 toes in 10 minutes. The customarily snowy (and definitely a lot cooler), pine tree–dotted wilderness is a stark distinction to the desert flooring. Up there, a museum, two eating places, and dozens of miles of mountaineering trails in Mount San Jacinto State Park await. The Dwelling Desert museum—an alfresco wildlife park specializing within the wildlife of the desert—can be price a peek.
Joshua Tree
How far is Joshua Tree from Los Angeles?
Joshua Tree is about 130 miles from L.A. and takes simply over two hours to drive. (Sensing a theme right here?)
Why go to Joshua Tree?
Article continues beneath commercial
To hike and discover its namesake nationwide park, which encompasses components of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts and is teeming with life, from lizards scuttling among the many cacti to rock climbers bouldering on jagged outcrops. And in addition to immerse your self within the idosyncratic artwork scene and high-desert life-style.
The place to remain
AFARians have skilled a number of glorious Airbnbs within the area, together with Ocotillo Verde, a midcentury ranch home sleeping as much as 9, and the HiDesert Ranch, which contains a number of buildings, has a sizzling tub and outside grill, and might accommodate 10 folks in the event you lease out the entire five-acre property.
E book now: Ocotillo Verde from $229/evening, airbnb.com
E book now: The HiDesert Ranch from $237/evening, airbnb.com
Alternatively, the Pioneertown Motel dates again to 1946 and has accommodated singer and actor Gene Autry (who performed poker till dawn in Room 9, apparently). It’s obtained the requisite rustic exterior however all of the mod cons inside its 19 rooms and serves tacos and margaritas on the renovated Purple Canine Saloon.
E book now: from $304/evening, expedia.com
The place to eat
Eater insists that chef Nikki Hill’s brunch at La Copine is “among the many greatest meals obtainable for a good way in any path” including that the menu “reads like a Silver Lake love letter, with nods to the Center East, the deep South, and coastal California.”
Pappy & Harriet’s, in the meantime, serves up steaks and burgers from its mesquite barbecue in addition to some killer chili for diners in its sprawling outside space. The outside stage has performed host to any variety of bands, from desert rock legends like Eagles of Demise Metallic to Paul McCartney.
Issues to do
Joshua Tree has an preliminary to-do listing like nowhere else: Take a sound tub on the Integratron; discover the outside sculptures crafted from scavanged supplies on the Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Art; go to the desert shrine to ’60s singer Gram Parsons (it’s behind a rock a brief stroll from a car parking zone within the park). Nonetheless, you would possibly discover it greatest to simply present up and see the place the wind (or the locals) take you.
Catalina Island
How far is Catalina Island from Los Angeles?
A pair dozen nautical miles. It takes about an hour to get to Avalon on Catalina Island by ferry from Lengthy Seashore.
Why go to Catalina Island?
For a change of tempo. Island life is a bit slower, there are barely any automobiles there (there’s a 25-year wait to get one, and most of the people transfer round on golf carts), and days are based mostly round spare time activities.
The place to remain
The Resort Atwater within the heart of city was just lately refreshed to mark its one centesimal anniversary, and it provides brilliant and ethereal rooms with artwork deco touches, harbor views from its top-floor rooms, a energetic reception full of video games, plus espresso and grab-and-go meals on the adjoining Bistro at the Atwater.
E book now: from $169/evening, expedia.com
The place to eat
Descanso Seashore Membership, a brief stroll from the principle city in an adjoining bay, provides cocktails and appetizers on the seashore, and Avalon Grille serves native seafood (together with scallops, salmon, or trout) and craft beers from a patio with harbor views. There’s additionally a ton of seaside fare on supply alongside the harborfront; take a stroll and take your choose between pizza or burgers or ice cream at any variety of locations.
Issues to do
We’ve put collectively a complete information to spending a weekend in Catalina, however you would fill your days with something from ziplining to semi-submersible excursions, kayaking, snorkeling, Jeep excursions, or just slowing right down to island time with a e book on the seashore.
>> Subsequent: Why Catalina Island Is the Mediterranean Escape Every Southern Californian Needs
