Southern California created the Getaway, even Louis and Clarke strolled down the coast. It’s the unique mix of so many different terrains – deserts, forests, mountains, this big ocean – that makes you want to explore more. Me, as someone not from Southern California, it made me want to really see all of this crazy landscape, the iconic cities and even the tiny tucked away towns.
The land is a constant call to go, and you should…Go.
These are the trips everyone talks about, the seemingly simple getaways that pop-up on every social feed or hang like a right of passage for SoCal travelers. They’re right there. Still, the actual going, making the trip alludes so many of us.
Well, this is your sign, your simple guide…you can do this. Make this the year you spend 10 weekends becoming a California expert.
Palm Springs
Ideal Age : All Ages (though the itinerary needs to be changed to suit the age)
Distance : From pretty much anywhere in LA, Palm Springs is about 2 hours away.
Ideal Length of Trip : A one-day trip to Palm Springs is a great start, but most people spend at least 2 nights.
Avoiding Traffic : Leave morning, dead-mid-day, or in the evening and enjoy the trip.
When to Go : If I had to pick, I’d say Spring and Winter. Palm Springs is usually considered a year-round destination. (Personally, I’m not a huge fan of roasting in the Summer – when temps top the 100s). What I love about winter is that the desert floor is cool and great for hiking in nearby Joshua Tree or just down the street to brunch, and (if you take the Aerial Tramway to the top of San Jacinto Park) you’ll usually find snow.
What to Do : This is resort life so – pool, brunch, and cocktails. Greater Palm Springs is more than that though, and if you are staying longer than 2 days, make your way out to 29 Palms and Joshua Tree. Also, the Mt. San Jacinto State Park – as I mentioned – is amazing.
Avoid : Palm Springs is a huge local draw and it’s sorta-kinda always busy. Unless you are attending Coachella or Stagecoach avoid heading out to the desert during those weekends.
Added Trips : Nearly everyone associates Palm Springs with Joshua Tree, but there are many other great stops nearby. Two of the most interesting we’ve found is the Salton Sea and Salvation Mountain.
We have so many tips for Palm Springs and Greater Palm Springs, check them out for more details::
- Step-by-Step Guide : LA to Palm Springs Road Trip
- Top 14 Budget Hacks for Your Palm Springs Getaway
- Guide : Visiting Joshua Tree & 29 Palms
- Don’t Panic : Joshua Tree in 1 Day
Las Vegas
Ideal Age : 4 and up. (There’s cool stuff to see on the strip and great experiences throughout the city.)
Distance : Las Vegas is about 5 hours from anywhere in LA (without Traffic)
Ideal Length of Trip : Just doing the Vegas strip makes a good weekend (2 nights), but, if you want to explore greater Vegas or hit up any of the nearby sites, I’d suggest 3-4 nights. You can check out our how-to guide, Don’t Panic : Driving from LA to Las Vegas.
Avoiding the Traffic : This drive is a major weekend draw – so avoid leaving Friday (especially afternoon) and returning Sunday (unless you get up and leave before 10am).
When to Go : Not to sound repetitive, but Vegas is a year-round destination. You have your own reasons for visiting so follow your heart, but try to tell your heart no to Friday & Sunday afternoons.
What to Do : If you’ve never been to Vegas, do Vegas – go see the fountains, take in a Cirque Show (‘O’ is sill our favorite) and wander the strip (even the Taco Bell is cool). If you have been before, get off the strip and check out the art installations and unique Vegas Only attractions like the Container Park and Meow Wolf.
Avoid : Surprise fees. Make sure when you book your hotel room, you account for the additional resort tax. Be aware of Self Parking fees as you navigate the strip. If you plan to pre-party in your room, bring booze with you – the liquor stores near the strip can get busy.
Added Trips : There are three trips we recommend for everyone, and which one you choose depends on how much time you want to spend. First there’s Valley of Fire State Park, with amazing terrain, petroglyphs, and heat (so hot). A bit further but still a day trip is Area 51. This one is a bit weirder, but everyone you tell will be amazed. The nearby overnight would be St. George – with access to some amazing State Parks and Zion National Park.
From Vegas, there are so many other places to explore. Check out some of the day-trips we suggest:
- Guide : Things to do in Greater Zion
- Toddlers Take Over St. George
- Don’t Panic : Visiting Area 51
- Day Trip : Las Vegas Secret River
Big Bear
Ideal Age : All Ages (The best activities are outdoor adventures so old enough to walk, ski, or swim.)
Distance : 1.5-3 hours depending on where you are. Mostly 2 hours.
Ideal Length of Trip : 2-3 nights is a great amount of time in Big Bear.
Avoid the Traffic : Big Bear and Las Vegas travelers both clomp onto the interstate Friday afternoon and evening. For Big Bear, try and leave early and have most of the day on the mountain. If traffic is crazy – there is a sorta-secret back way that goes around South and East via the 38. It adds about :30 minutes of drive time, but there’s very little traffic.
When to Go : I love Big Bear mid-week in winter, but it’s also great mid-week during the summer when the cooler temperatures are perfect for hiking.
What to Do : We have a great guide for winter in Big Bear. In summer, rent a pontoon boat in advance and cruise the lake for a few hours. Big Bear also has several festivals a year (like Octoberfest) that make great added entertainment.
Avoid : Weekends get really crowded pretty much year round. Also, dining out leaves a bit to be desired.
Big Bear is one of our favorite weekend getaways, so we have all kinds of tips and hacks for making your trip amazing:
San Diego
Ideal Age : All Ages (With the Zoo, Sea World, and beaches – there’s tons to do)
Distance : About 2 hours
Ideal Length of Trip : Plan for at least 2 full days for the city and add an extra day for each big attraction you plan on visiting.
Avoid the Traffic : You’re traveling from a city to a city, so rush hour is real. Alternately, you can completely avoid the traffic by hoping on the Pacific Surfliner.
When to Go : I love San Diego in the Spring and Summer. It’s weather is very similar to Los Angles, so it can get toasty, but the beaches (especially North County Beaches are super accessible and a great way to spend the day). Plus, in the summer, there are all kinds of events in the city.
What to Do : Don’t miss North County. Sure the gas light district and the zoo are great, but these beaches make great spots for surfing even for, or especially for, beginners.
Avoid : Staying too far from your key highlights. Figure out where you’re going to be spending most of your time and book somewhere close by. You don’t want to mess with parking or hired cars all the time. Also, make sure you find some place with a pool that you’ll want to lounge beside.
Mammoth Mountain
Ideal Age : All Ages (This is even more of an outdoor-forward destination than Big Bear, Augustine really started enjoying this when she could hike independently.)
Distance : About 5 hours.
Ideal Length of Trip : As one of the longer trips, stay at least 2 nights. We usually start to get restless though if our trip stretches past 4 nights.
Avoid the Traffic : This is the longest but also the easiest drive. Basically you just get to the 14 and go North. The only real traffic spots are in LA, so avoid back ups at around where I-5 meets I-14 and you’ll be fine the rest of the drive.
When to Go : I prefer Summer or Winter. I either want enough snow to ski on or no snow and endless hiking. Summer is actually the high season in mammoth.
Don’t Miss : One of the easiest hikes winter or summer is Twin Lakes out by Tamarack Lodge.
Avoid : Big Holiday Weekends (I’m looking at you MLK Day and 4th of July). Also, there’s a lot of talk about the Mammoth Hot Springs – we’ve been, it’s not worth it.
Added Trips : Nearby Mammoth you can rent pontoon boats at Convict Lake. There’s also June Mountain next door with is amazing for family skiing. (Seriously, I love taking Augustine to ski at June)
Santa Barbara
Ideal Age : 10 and up
Distance : About 2 hours
Ideal Length of Trip : Like Palm Springs, Santa Barbra is a slow vacation. Don’t rush it, take 2 nights at least and an extra night for each road trip you tack on.
Avoid the Traffic : Idk man, I feel like there’s traffic at all kinds of random times. Just expect to hit some traffic around Ventura or Carpinteria. Alternatively, the Surfliner also goes to Santa Barbara.
When to Go : Santa Barbara is really a year-round destination. It’s a super unique mix of town and beach community. Pretty much whatever is pulling you towards Santa Barbara will be there whenever you go.
Don’t Miss : A quick trip we love is up in the mountains behind Santa Barbara to see the Chumash Painted Cave. It’s a short experience, so it’s good to pair it with a picnic. Also, we love stopping by the Carpinteria Harbor Seal Rookery, which is best to visit December thru May.
Added Trips : For a weekend, Santa Barbara is a great hub to explore the Southern end of California’s Central Coast. While there make at least one trip to Solvang, Ostrich Land, and if you’re there in season take the ferry to the Channel Islands National Park.
We actually worked on a tour of the Central Coast with Expedia. Check out two great travelogues to help plan your getaway :
Big Sur
Ideal Age : All Ages. With short hikes, easy access to vistas and great camping – this is a great stop for families.
Ideal Length of Trip : With the drive and the destination, we usually allot at least 4 total nights for the trip, but I’d recommend 5. With a mid-way overnight going there and back.
Distance : about 6 hours, but we break it up with kids with a stop in either Pismo Beach or San Louis Obispo.
Avoid the Traffic : Get out of LA early and you’ll be more-or-less fine throughout the day. Also, driving through Big Sur, it’s really slow, just be prepared.
When to Go : Shoulder seasons are best to avoid crowds and maybe even find a few deals on accommodations. If you’re planning on camping – plan on arriving early (as early as you can) to get the right spot.
Don’t Miss : On the way up, don’t skip The Elephant Seal Rookery by Hearst Castle. While in Big Sur, stopping at the much photographed Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a must – it’s just really, really pretty.
Avoid : You can save some drive time by taking I-5 North and swinging South along the PCH from Carmel, but – to be honest – that’s not like the Big Sur Experience. This is a true road trip, so just relax and enjoy the PCH scenery.
Added Trips : I love nearby Carmel. We had made 3 trips up to Big Sur before we headed into Carmel-by-the-Sea and now always add at least an overnight there. Also, “Finding Dory” might have overplayed the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but it’s still worth a half-day stop.
Yosemite National Park
Ideal Age : All Ages. There are tons of short hikes that make carrying younger kids totally do-able.
Distance : According to Google, this is roughly a 5 hour drive, but I’d account for at least 6.
Ideal Length of Trip : 2-3 Nights is enough time to really do the park and be ready to go.
Avoid the Traffic : Traffic can fluctuate, but most often there is very little traffic outside of LA. So avoid LA rush hour and you’ll be fine.
When to Go : Most people would suggest shoulder season to avoid the summer crowds, which is right. Or, summer because Yosemite is really beautiful when fully green. I’d like to suggest winter – or at least early winter. Usually the floor will be roam-able with less people (albeit with less leaves), and there’s skiing at the top of the mountain.
Don’t Miss : There are some truly epic accommodation options when staying near Yosemite. We splurged and stayed at AutoCamp Yosemite which was a bit further away and made its was rightfully it’s own sort of destination.
On another note, at Christmas Yosemite hosts an annual Bracebridge Dinner – styled after Washington Irvings early 19th Century Christmas writings.
Avoid : Look Firefall is gorgeous, but just a heads up – there is going to be a big crowd – so be prepared. Also, if you’re going in winter, take special note of what is open and what is seasonally closed.
Sequoia National Park
Ideal Age : All Ages
Distance : About 4 hours.
Ideal Length of Trip : With a relatively short drive, I’d say 2 full days is enough to hit the highlights and still give you something to explore next time.
Avoid the Traffic : Traffic can fluctuate, but – again – avoid LA bottlenecks and you’ll be pretty much open the rest of the drive.
When to Go : The ideal conditions for the park at Summer, that’s why literally everyone goes between June and September. If you want to avoid the crowds, make a trip in early Fall. From about November to May – snow can make driving dicey and certain parts of the park have limited times.
Don’t Miss : Obviously there are a few well known sights to see, but one of the lesser known stops is to Crystal Cave…don’t miss it.
Avoid : The biggest problem with National Parks is the people. Plan you days ahead of time so you can get up early or stay late, as opposed to those people who show up around 10am and leave around 3pm.
Ojai
Ideal Age: While any age could go, this makes for an awesome adults only weekend getaway. So have the grandparents watch the kids and embark on a blissful two nights reconnecting with your partner or best friends.
Distance: 90 Minutes from Los Angeles
Ideal Length of Trip: Two nights really lets you wind down, especially since most of the enjoyment will be at your resort.
Avoid the Traffic: If you have the luxury of visiting during the week, you can pick your departing time when most are already at work to skip any of that traffic. If you are heading up for a weekend, leave early on Friday or you’ll wind up in some traffic on smaller roads.
When to Go: Ojai is gorgeous all year around, but spring and fall really shine. One note about Fall and Winter – it could be fire season, so watch the weather closely.
Don’t Miss: Ojai Valley Inn is hands down just a fantastic resort- with gorgeous rooms, and a beautiful sprawling property, every moment at the resort is memorable. The pool is heated and their spa is a must. Even dining outside or s’mores by the fire at sunset are can’t miss moments.
Avoid: Once you settle into your hotel, don’t get back into your car if you can help it. Ojai is really easy to bike around (and most hotels include free bike rentals with a stay). Bike to the brewery or a local hike and really just enjoy the outdoors.
