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View Poll Results: Best weekend day trip from LA?
Santa Catalina Island 5 26.32%
Santa Barbara 9 47.37%
Joshua Tree National Park 1 5.26%
Laguna Beach 2 10.53%
Palm Springs 2 10.53%
Malibu Beaches 0 0%
Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 04-06-2021, 08:12 PM
 
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Is this a day trip (i.e., in and out all within one day) or a weekend getaway? The title is confusing.
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Old 04-06-2021, 09:45 PM
 
Location: East Bay, San Francisco Bay Area
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As others have mentioned, all of these are worthwhile destinations. Another great weekend day trip is Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley. Solvang is known for it’s Danish-style architecture.
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Old 04-07-2021, 02:10 PM
 
Location: Houston(Screwston),TX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KemBro71 View Post
Is this a day trip (i.e., in and out all within one day) or a weekend getaway? The title is confusing.
Maybe I should have said we're taking a day trip on the weekend. Can't decide if it's Saturday or Sunday. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.
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Old 04-07-2021, 04:21 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Ojai
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Old 04-07-2021, 07:08 PM
 
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Unless you can fly to Catalina, I wouldn't bother with a day trip, it takes too long to get there. It's an island, but it looks like all of SoCal, dry, rocky, bare. If you stay longer, you could maybe snorkel or hike & see the bison. Food, lodging is pricey. You have to rent a golf cart or something like that to get around. It's more like a weekend.

Depending where you start from, Palm Springs & Joshua Tree can be day trips. I love the desert, so I'm biased. Check for wildflowers by using Theodore Payne Foundation wildflower hotline.

Malibu beaches will have parking & traffic issues, even with the pandemic. You could drive the coast highway from Santa Monica to Zuma & back.

Laguna same as Malibu re parking, traffic & crowds.

My picks would be Santa Barbara or Ojai, both are beautiful.

Factor in starting point, distance, traffic for a day trip.
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Old 04-07-2021, 07:41 PM
 
Location: Memphis, Tn ~ U.S.A.
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If you literally only have 1 day I wouldn't even bother coming.
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Old 04-07-2021, 10:02 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Redlionjr View Post
Maybe I should have said we're taking a day trip on the weekend. Can't decide if it's Saturday or Sunday. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.
You got some good advice here.

Where will you be departing from? That will make a difference.

I love the desert, and you can be there in back in a decent/long day and still enjoy it.

No go on Catalina IMHO.

I'd combine a hike and beach day if you're going to do Malibu, ending with a nice seaside dinner.

A late start and/or traffic can foul all of these plans.
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Old 04-08-2021, 01:52 AM
 
Location: Midwesterner living in California (previously East Coast)
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LA is blessed with many high-quality day trips or short weekend getaways. Very different vibes all in a 1.5 to 2.5-hour drive of the city.

Ojai is small but charming. Beautiful area with citrus orchards, olive trees, and good hiking in the Los Padres mountains.
The vibe kinda feels like a mix of Topanga, Sedona, and Montecito.

The combination of Santa Barbara + Carpinteria is wonderful. Very hard to beat that.

I'm always down for a Big Bear getaway. It's not a day trip, but really more like a spot to go to for the weekend.

Never been to Catalina Island. Looks super cool from the pics. Kind of a hassle to take the ferry ride over, but I guess it could be romantic.
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Old 04-08-2021, 08:30 AM
 
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The last time I was in Catalina, which admittedly was about 8 years ago, the town (Avalon) seemed very run down and many of the shops had closed. The island tour by bus is fun if you like that kind of thing. My kids were excited to see the bison.
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Old 04-08-2021, 05:37 PM
 
Location: LA County
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Santa Barbara

SLO and Pismo beach are fun too
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