dominicinco

My gf's birthday is coming up in a week (yes a week, I tend to procrasinate) and I need help deciding on what to do, where to go. We like traveling and don't mind driving max 4-5 hours from LA. My gf and I are in our late 20's, like good food and finding deals. I asked her what she wants for her b-day and she told me a new pair of shoes along the lines of Miu Miu's or Marc Jacobs. We live in West LA and she can pick those up anytime, so I guess I am looking to take her on an experience more than a shopping destination, but it would be nice if the place had shopping for her to do also.
Another note on going away, we are planning it for next weekend, 716-7/18, which works out because its during Car-maggedon. So the farther from LA the better, but not too far. Originally we were thinking Napa to race cars but its too far for such a short time, and all the wine we won't be able to taste

Here are places I've thought about, not all inclusive, can use more recommendations.
San Francisco (gf is not too keen about SF)
Monterey/Big Sur (just went a few weeks ago)
Napa/Sonoma (too little time)
Disneyland (figure someone might mention this, will go some other time)
San Diego (also a top option, took her here a few years ago for her b-day, seems repetitive, although the wild animal park sounds fun, can we bring our dog)
Las Vegas (some other time, took her here for her b-day before)
Mexico (not sure she would enjoy driving down there)
Palm Springs (top option due to Cabazon outlets shopping, Morongo casino, Aerial tram to mountains and resorts)

qwovadis

www.lajollabythesea.com/members/index.php?cid=4

hoteldel.com if budget is good beutiful amazing.

Palm Springs ok not great too much of a shake and bake

for me in summertime...

Happy Hunting,

tovarich

Santa Barbara.

socialworker

Ojai--short drive, very cute town for strolling around and lots of great hotel/spa locations.

socialworker

The purpose of this travel board is for people to offer assistance/advice and tips from traveler to traveler. *Not* for someone with an agenda or a business to promote it. Not only is that not the appropriate, it is prohibited.

tracys2cents

You do realize that the 16th is one of the days when the freeways are going to be a complete logjam?

tracys2cents

And no you can't bring your DOG to the wild Animal park.

SeeHag

How about Laguna Beach?

tomfuller

Think about taking a train to a destination in Santa Barbara county. I agree with tracy on the traffic logjam. Here is a discount on Amtrak- http://www.santabarbaracarfree.org/traindiscount.htm

PeaceOut

The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel is amazing.

Surfergirl

Since you live in WLA, coming back (as well as getting out of town) may be a problem, since the 405 cuts through WLA. So if you head south towards San Diego you don't know what the flow of traffic is going to be like as you leave town if the 405 is blocked off from the 10. People may be trying to use the 10 as an alternative -- and the 10 is busy enough, so pushing south of the 10 on the 405 could be a nightmare.

Similarly, coming back on the 405 northbound on the 18th could be equally horrible.

Or not.

Same thing applies to taking the 101 -- you don't know how the traffic patterns are going to change, and my crystal ball stopped working around the time my biological clock stopped ticking.

I love Tom Fuller's suggestion about taking the train somewhere -- to Ventura, Santa Barbara, or even down to San Diego (we've done that before and you can jump from the train to the trolley to Seaport Village). Don't know, though, if they allow dogs on trains. Maybe leave the dog at one of those kennels like the Loved Dog place or another kennel just west of Sepulveda between Olympic & Santa Monica for that weekend.

A few years ago in the LA Times there was an article on a weekend on the beach in Ventura -- also there's that wonderful outlet place near by.