10 Beautiful Getaways from Los Angeles for Fun-Seekers!

Los Angeles, often known as the ‘City of Angels’, is the ultimate destination for culture, education, and entertainment. Students thrive in an environment rich with opportunities at its more than 100 colleges and institutions, which include USC and UCLA. People come from far and wide to visit Hollywood and Santa Monica Pier, two of Los Angeles's most famous features. Finding the best places to go near Los Angeles is crucial because sometimes city life may feel stressful. There are a variety of day trips from Los Angeles to help you take the break you deserve!

Top 10 Day Trips from Los Angeles that You Cannot Miss!

Los Angeles is known for its sprawling Hollywood sign, and studios like Universal, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros. However apart from films it is also the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. Due to its all-around progress, it has also become the most populated city in the State of California. Due to the widespread population growth, it has become essential to stay in a safe neighborhood. Stay secure in the safest neighborhoods of LA to live worry-free! However, whenever you feel like you just need a break and want to run away from LA, go to one of these top 10 day trips from LA that you can take, and return home after relaxing (do not literally run to these places)!

Joshua Tree National Park

Distance From Los Angeles: 130 Miles (2.5 Hours).

Most Convenient Way to Go: Drive/ Bus (Budget Friendly Option).

Things to do: Hidden Valley, Cholla Cactus Garden, Ryan Mountain, Arch Rock Nature Trail.

Imagine a romance between two deserts. Okay, maybe romance is stretching it too far, but 2 deserts do meet, at Joshua Tree National Park! Boasting two different desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, it features at the top of the list of day tours from Los Angeles you can take. Named after Joshua Trees, it also features 5 palm oases! So what are you waiting for? Is this enough motivation for you to take a Joshua Tree day trip from Los Angeles? Because if not then, it also has a lot of hiking trails that enthusiastic trekkers can take up. Here is a list of top hiking trails in America that you can follow to become one with nature.

Palm Springs

Distance From Los Angeles: 106 Miles (2.3 Hours).

Most Convenient Way to Go: Drive/ Bus (Budget Friendly Option).

Things to do: Visit the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Springs Airplane Museum, Moorten Botanical Garden, and Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Looking for a city that has a museum for art as well as airplanes on your day trips from Los Angeles? Look no further than Palm Springs, because it not only has an airplane and an art museum but the famous Cabot Pueblo museum as well! Situated amidst the sprawling Sonoran desert, Palm Springs is sure to make you feel relaxed after a hectic week. With midcentury modern architecture, it is known for its hot springs, stylish golf courses, and spas. Palm Springs has a variety of vintage boutiques, turning your 'shop till you drop' dream into reality! Situated amidst Coachella Valley, day tours from LA are common here. Coachella Valley offers various options like hiking, and trekking to give you some time off the screen, and gaze into nature. Here's how you can take some time off the screen and live life beyond the screen!

Santa Barbara

Distance From Los Angeles: 93 Miles (2 Hours).

Most Convenient Way to Go: Drive/ Amtrak Coast Starlight or Pacific Surfliner Train (Budget Friendly Option).

Things to do: Shoreline Park, Botanical Garden, Museum of Art and Nature, The Funk Zone.

The picture merely provides an initial glimpse of the laid-back vibe that the city can offer, and the city does not let your expectations down. One of California's most beautiful coastal cities, Santa Barbara is a favorite destination for day trips from Los Angeles, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Santa Ynez Mountains in the background. The city's Spanish colonial past is reflected in its white stucco structures with red tile roofs in the Mediterranean style. Another must-visit location in Santa Barbara is the Santa Ynez Valley, which offers excellent wine-tasting, dining, and shopping options. 

Big Bear Lake

Distance From Los Angeles: 100 Miles (2 Hours).

Most Convenient Way to Go: Drive/ Big Bear Airport Shuttle (Budget Friendly Option).

Things to do: Alpine Zoo, Snow Summit, Boulder Bay Park, Discovery Center.

Want to just dip your feet in water, and forget all your worries? Take day trips from LA to Big Bear Lake! Imagine a lake so pretty that the entire city was named after it. Big Bear Lake is IT. Because of its height of 2058 m, Big Bear Lake is famous for its ski resorts. It receives 120 inches of snow annually making it an amazing ski resort! However, it isn't just your typical hill station, because it also has the magnificent San Bernardino National Forest, surrounding the entire city! Talk about diversity! And through this beautiful national forest lies a mountain trail. All this makes it a popular destination in the list of short trips from Los Angeles. 

Catalina Island

Distance From Los Angeles: 22 Miles (1 Hour).

Most Convenient Way to Go: Ferry from San Pedro or Long Beach.

Things to do: Catalina Casino, Zip Line Eco Tour, Catalina Museum for Art and History, Descanso Beach Club.

Everyone sure has their own nicknames, however, have you ever heard of an island having its own nickname? Well, Catalina Island has its own nickname! Catalina Island, short for Santa Catalina Island, is also nicknamed as Pimu. Catalina Islands are famous for their glass bottom boat tours of the reefs and shipwrecks. However, you cannot just focus on looking into the water, cause there are flying fish here too! Adventurers can have a field day here with activities like parasailing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Possessing this much natural beauty, there have been over 500 movies, documentaries, and TV shows shot on Catalina Island. It is situated only an hour away from LA, making it one of the best day trips from LA!

Ojai

Distance From Los Angeles: 81 Miles (1.5 Hours).

Most Convenient Way to Go: Drive/ VISTA bus (Budget Friendly Option).

Things to do: Bart’s Books, Farmer’s Market, Ojai Valley Museum, Ojai Vineyard and Vinery.

With its name originating from the Native American Chumash language, Ojai is a perfect destination for relaxation. Ojai means 'Moon', which is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the Chumash people who historically inhabited the place. It is set in the Topatopa mountains, with the north area being bordered by Los Padres National Forest. Ojai has its small-town vibe, with a traditional farmers market and ecologically friendly art. You can also go hiking and exploring, just like the Three investigators did, and try to find the Chumash Hoard. However, that's not all,  since multiple music festivals take place in Ojai, so if you are a music fan, get ready to vibe in Ojai! In case you do miss the Ojai music festival, here are some music festivals in the USA you cannot miss.

Solvang

Distance From Los Angeles: 121 Miles (2.5 Hours)

Most Convenient Way to Go: Drive/ Amtrak Train to Santa Barbara and then a Bus (Budget Friendly Option).

Things to do: Boutique shopping, Solvang Festival Theater, Golfing, Elverhøj Museum.

Are you someone who likes Danish cookies? Then Solvang is the place for you. With its rich Danish history and culture, you are sure to get authentic cookies in Solvang! However, if you want to learn about Danish history and art then do visit the Elverhøj Museum. There is a beautiful church, called Old Mission Santa Inés which is an early 1800s Franciscan church. There is also a Vintage Motorcycle Museum here, so get your Los Angeles one day trip on schedule cause Solvang has a lot to show you! Located just 2.5 hours, it is a popular Los Angeles trip that few would want to miss!

San Diego

Distance From Los Angeles: 118 Miles (2.5 Hours)

Most Convenient Way to Go: Drive/ Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Train (Budget Friendly Option).

Things to do: Harbor Cruise, Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour, USS Midway Museum, San Diego Zoo.

Let's hit the beach in San Diego! With beautiful parks and beaches, San Diego is an ideal day trip from Los Angeles! It is also the first place where the European settlers visited and well you know - settled. The city is famous for its lovely climate, skyline, and the San Diego Zoo. It has also become famous for its craft beer industry which is booming, owing to the beautiful weather. It has 70 miles of beach, with numerous art galleries and museums. So put San Diego at the top of your Los Angeles day trips list and go and chill at the beach! Forgot to put your sunscreen on? 

Balboa Island

Distance From Los Angeles: 53 Miles (1.5 Hours).

Most Convenient Way to Go: Drive/ Metro Bus - Ferry (Budget Friendly Option).

Things to do: Whale Watching Center, Saint John Vianney Chapel, Newport Coastal Adventure, Sherman Library and Gardens.

Since you already have your sunscreen on, let's take you to another place famous for its beaches! Balboa Island is famous for Balboa Beach, Newport Beach, and its surfing spots. There is a surfing spot called 'Wedge' which is popular for its big waves. Balboa Island is one of the best places to go near Los Angeles, due to its famous boat tours! You can also watch an actual whale, at the Newport Landing Whale Watching Point and Davey's Locker Whale Watching Point! You can also go to Newport Beach's pier which offers a lovely view. A day trip from Los Angeles to Balboa Island offers all this and a lot of relaxation, since it is one of those places where you can actually chill and live life king-size.

Malibu

Distance From Los Angeles: 31 Miles (1 Hour).

Most Convenient Way to Go: Drive/ Bus (Budget Friendly Option).

Things to do: El Matador State Beach, Malibu Pier, Leo Carrillo State Park, Solstice Canyon.

‘Next to you, The sky is more blue, In Malibu’. The sky is indeed blue in Malibu, and Miley couldn't have put it more beautifully in words. Cause Malibu is just gorgeous! Take a nice day trip from Los Angeles to Malibu and get a chance to see your favorite superstar out and about, as Malibu is home to a lot of celebrities like Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Leonardo DiCaprio, and many more. Don't forget your surfboards, cause the waves are just perfect for surfing an entire beach has been nicknamed ‘Surfrider Beach’! You can either chill at the beach or go hiking to the Solstice Canyon, and boy oh boy is that a beautiful view! So pack your bags and take a relaxing day trip to Malibu!

Now that you know the best day trips from Los Angeles, where are you going? Whether you are a student wanting to go day dri-- tripping or a tourist who wants to explore, these places have something for everyone. Just like amber, a platform that provides secure housing to students all over the globe! With student residences in over 250 countries and over 1 million beds, amber provides safe accommodation for every student. Check out the amber app today, and book your favorite home away from home! So don't be afraid to explore, grow, and glow with amber, so that you can make more day trips from Los Angeles and many more places!