The Best LA Weekend Getaways

Now that summer is officially in full swing, Angelinos are looking for ways to escape the heat, traffic, and noise of the LA scene, without getting too far away from home. We’re here to help you find some of the best summer weekend getaways, that will make you feel like you’re a million miles away, without having to go far. 

Located a 90-minute drive from the city, the quaint artist retreat of Laguna Beach is an ideal summer destination. Many of the beaches on this strip of coastline are Marine Protected Areas offering crystal clear water and booming ecosystems. You can often catch glimpses of dolphins, sea stars, sea lions, and more. Low tides cater to incredible tide pooling at many of the local beaches, and the Laguna Beach Trolley lets you hop from one beach to the next and explore the downtown area with ease. Be sure to check out Laguna Beach’s famous summertime events, the Pageant of the Masters and the Sawdust Art Festival and dive right into the local art community! 

Visit an Island, without even leaving Los Angeles County! Catalina Island is a short 40-minute ferry ride away from San Pedro, but it feels as if you’re in a completely different world. With strings of boats moored inside the cove of a vintage casino, Avalon is a picturesque getaway at its finest. Rent kayaks, take an electric car into the hills and look for bison, or just relax on the sand. While you’re snorkeling, sea-shell collecting or swimming be sure to look for Garibaldi, the California State Marine Fish that’s bright orange and has little fear of humans!

Only two hours north from the city, Santa Barbara is an ideal place for a weekend getaway. With wine tastings, art walks, and a drive-in movie theatre, Santa Barbara offers something for every mood. Relax at a five-star spa, visit Old Mission, or spend a night out on State Street! With hip cafes, upscale seaside dining options and the roots of a surf city, your weekend in Santa Barbara awaits. 

How about a staycation? Los Angeles is such a huge, sprawled out city, and even though it’s amazing to get out of town every once in a while, sometimes life gets too busy for a getaway. The vastness of Los Angeles makes it easy to get lost in a new neighborhood while feeling like you’re someplace completely new. Ride bikes through Venice like a local, grab dim sum in Chinatown, visit a botanical garden in Pasadena, take a surf lesson in Malibu, go vintage bowling in Huntington Park, or find a cool Los Angeles event in a new area of town to check out. From culture to art, music, and food there are plenty of ways to get lost and escape your bubble of Los Angeles. Maybe even check in to a hotel for the night and relax poolside, walk (gasp!) to the shops, or treat yourself to some room service. With so much diversity and interesting things to explore within Los Angeles, getting away with a stay-cation has never been easier!