Big Bear Lake
Distance from LA: 100 miles
Driving Time: 2 hours
Highlights: Big Bear Discovery Center, Snow Summit skiing and snowboarding, Moonridge Animal Park, Hangman’s Tree, Big Bear Solar Observatory, Pine Knot Village, horseback riding, and Big Bear Mountain Trading Company.
Joshua Tree
Distance from LA: 130 miles
Driving: Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Highlights: Carey’s Castle, Ryan Mountain, rock climbing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, Joshua Tree National Park, Lost Horse Mine, Integratron, Southern California Vipassana Center (meditation), and Mission Well.
Kernville
Distance from LA: 165 miles
Driving Time: 3 hours and 40 minutes
Highlights: Kern Valley Museum, river rafting, John Wayne Stagecoach, Johhny Powers Gravestone, Mayflower 100 Year Old Log Cabin, and the Kern River.
Laguna Beach
Distance from LA: 55 miles
Driving Time: 55 minutes
Highlights: Loads of galleries (especially specializing in ‘Plein Air’ art), golf, wine tasting, tennis, Marine Center/Wilderness Park, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Laguna Art Museum, beaches, surfing, water sports, Treasure Island Park, Crystal Cove State Park, and dolphin watching.
Palm Springs
Distance from LA: 107 miles
Driving Time: 2 hours
Highlights: Spas, Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs Art Museum, Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, botanical gardens, golf, Coachella music festival, Windmill Farm, Palm Canyon, Annenberg Theater, Pioneertown and Papi and Harriet’s Palace (music), and tennis.
San Diego and La Jolla
Distance from LA: 125 miles
Driving Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Highlights: San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, LEGOland California, Sea World, beaches, golf, shopping, nightlife, whale watching, and the Birch Aquarium, Tidal Pool Discovery Center, coral reef farms, La Jolla Festival of the Arts, La Jolla Playhouse, golfing at Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Resort and Spa, and Mission Bay Park.
San Luis Obispo
Distance from LA: 190 miles
Driving Time: 3 1/2 hours
Highlights: Wine tasting, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, San Simeon, Pismo Beach, Heart Castle, galleries, golf, Grover Beach, Avila Beach, shopping and spas.
Santa Barbara
Distance from LA: 95 miles
Driving Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Highlights: Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, beaches, surfing, historic Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Downtown Waterfront Trolley, whale watching, water sports, wine tasting, hiking, biking, restaurants and horseback riding.
Solvang
Distance from LA: 130 miles
Driving Time: 2 1/2 hours
Highlights: wine tasting, Hans Christian Andersen Museum, Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum, Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, Danish Days festival/parade/event (September), golfing, Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort River Golf Course, horseback riding, missions, specialty farms, spas, restaurants, Sideways tours, Solvang Farmer’s Market and Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts.
Ventura
Distance from LA: 70 miles
Driving Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Highlights: beaches, surfing, water sports, Ventura Music Festival, Downtown art walks, streets fairs, music festivals, and parks.
