Best Weekend Trips
from Los Angeles, CA

Big Bear is known as a wintertime retreat, but during the summer, this mountain getaway is fantastic for water sports, hiking, biking, and just relaxing. The skies are crystal blue, and the air is clean. Temperatures hover around 80 degrees, which is downright perfect compared to parts of L.A. in summer.

With tony hotels, great shopping, and top-notch dining, Newport Beach is a great spot to hole up for a few days. It straddles two worlds: one occupied by mega yachts and the super ritzy Fashion Island, and the other defined by the Balboa Peninsula's throwback charm and sailor bars.

There is nothing quite like a getaway with a few good girlfriends to fuel the soul, and with its sun, pool scene, spas, and shopping, Palm Springs is tailor-made for quick weekend getaways. The desert oasis is an easy drive from L.A., especially if you time it right (read: avoid I-10 during peak times).

It may not be the first place Californians think of when planning a trip to wine country, but that's what makes Paso Robles such a refreshing surprise. Our weekend plan will lead you between with funky art studios and cowboy bars—plus a bumper crop of top-notch (but totally unstuffy) tasting rooms.

It's only a 90-minute drive, but Santa Barbara feels worlds away from L.A. That's what makes it the perfect escape for couples—and why it's so often front and center for weddings. It's the jewel of the Central Coast, with lovely beaches, clean air, and gorgeous vistas. You can spend most of your time outside.