11 Day Trips from Los Angeles
11 Day Trips from Los Angeles
The season of day trips, aka summer, is almost upon us. Although, tbh, it feels like day trip season is every season here in LA. A major perk of living here, for sure.
We have been on our fair share of day trips as of late so I wanted to put a post together of our favorite day trips from Los Angeles in case you too are looking for a little day long escape that are perfect whether you live here or you’re just visiting.
Most of the spots on this list take about an 1- 1/2 hours to get to, depending on where in LA you’re coming from, when you go and traffic, of course. Some take a little closer to 2+ hours, but I try not to do anything past that as a day trip because, personally, I just think that’s too much driving to truly have enough time to explore a place for only one day. And then other spots on this list are so close that they’re technically still a part of LA, but I’m including them, because, let’s be real, depending on where in the city you’re coming from, it can take you just as long to get to them as it can take you to actually get out of the city. And there’s definitely enough to do in each of these areas where you can spend a whole day there.
The truth is that each of these spots really needs a specific dedicated guide, something I’ll make sure to do, but in the meantime, this can serve as a highlight reel, with a few things of note in each location and to help you get those day trip planning wheels turning. Another tip- we also like to combine spots on this list for a little multi-city day tour. So, for example, we’ll do Ventura and Ojai or Montecitio and Carpenteria or Summerland and Montecito or Newport and Laguna. The options are really endless.
We truly are so lucky to have so many wonderful and varied escapes just a quick drive away from us here in LA. And I know we’ve just barely scratched the surface with the ones listed here, so I will be sure to keep this post updated anytime we add a new one to the list.
NORTH
TOPANGA CANYON
I love this quirky spot! It feels like it’s a whole other world, not just a spot tucked into a canyon right off PCH. One of my favorite hikes is here, Tuna Canyon, which I highly recommend for both a good workout and incredible views. Stop at some of the little road side shops in the town center and then grab a bite to eat at Cafe on 27 (a spot nestled in among the trees), Topanga Living Cafe (great for anything from smoothies to bites), Endless Color (a fun pizza spot) or Inn of the Seventh Ray (for a more romantic, cozy meal).
MALIBU
Talk about a spot that truly needs a whole big post dedicated to it because there is so much we love doing here, I honestly don’t even know where to begin! You can’t go wrong with any of the beaches….Surfrider, Leo Carillo, Point Dume, Broad Beach, just to name a few. There’s great hiking, the canyon roads are fun to cruise on and you get some pretty epic views (Decker Canyon is a fave) and, of course, then there’s the food. So many great options but a few of are go-to’s include Neptune’s Net, a classic spot for seafood, Taverna Tony's for amazing mediterranean food (I live for their mezze!), Nobu for something fancier and amazing waterside seating (we also like to do take-out and then enjoy it for a beach picnic), Geoffrey’s for breakfast and lunch (The views!), Lily’s for breakfast burritos (order ahead, then pick up and take to eat at Point Dume) and Joules & Watts for coffee.
VENTURA
We love a day trip to Ventura! The beach is great for walking and watching surfers and the main street is packed with thrift stores that we’ve found so many incredible gems in. There’s also some cute boutiques and I love the old bookstore. For food and beverages, we like to grab tacos on the pier at Beach House Tacos, oysters at The Jolly Oyster (They’re so yummy!), Pete’s Breakfast house for a classic diner breakfast, Cafe Ficelle for baked goods, Ventura Coast Brewing Company for a beer (or two) and Prospect Coffee is one of my favorite coffee shops (tbh, sometimes I try to convince Dave to go to Ventura just so we can get lattes here). We also love to stop by Ventura Spirits to stock up on our favorite bevs!
OJAI
Always a fun escape; I still have several things I want to check out here that we haven’t had a chance to yet, but, in the meantime, check out this post for ideas of what to do on a ay trip to Ojai.
CARPENTERIA
The beach here is super pretty, so it’s a perfect spot to post up for the day. But if you want to grab a bite, Little Dom’s (of LA fame) has a seafood restaurant and, for a drink, we love Apiary for unique ciders and Rincon for beers.
SUMMERLAND
A dreamy little spot to go for all the interior inspo and home shopping (if you have an unlimited budget). Be sure to pop into Field + Fort to shop, then stay for the yummy food.
MONTECITO
If you’re looking for a luxe day trip, this spot is for you! It is stunning and you definitely feel like you’ve stepped into a little slice of wealthy heaven. Check out this post for an example itinerary from one of our day trips here if you want to know how to spend a day in Montecito.
SANTA BARBARA
I prefer to spend more than just a day in Santa Barbara, but it’s definitely doable as a day trip. Check out this post for some ideas of things to do in the area.
SOUTH
PALOS VERDES
The views alone are worth a day escape here. It’s also great to come here for hiking along the coast, the lighthouse is a fun stop, and there’s plenty of spots to enjoy a picnic (pro tip: there’s a Trader Joe’s at the shopping center there, which is a perfect place to stop and pick up a few cheeses and other picnic essentials).
NEWPORT/BALBOA ISLAND
Cute spots to walk around, yummy coffee and food, shopping, boat rides….honestly, all the things you could want in a day trip escape. We love Rye Goods for incredible baked treats and bread, walking around the shops in Lido Village, grabbing coffee at Herst or Huskins, walking through Balboa Island (there’s also some cute shops in there…I especially love Hjom), grabbing a frozen banana (a classic Balboa treat) and enjoying a boat ride.
LAGUNA
We love coming to the beaches in Laguna…they’re just so pretty! Crystal Cove is especially a favorite! We also love hiking the Top of the World trail (Beautiful views!). The Deck is great for sunset bevs and The Shake Shack is perfect for affordable beach shack-style seafood, bites and shakes while taking in the sunset (just expect a bit of a wait here so plan accordingly if you want to catch sunset).
