Help us design The Great LA Getaway Adventure!

August 30, 2011 4:26 PM

With an unexpected break in our schedule this weekend, we'd like to get out of town. We're in Los Angeles. Please suggest fun awesome affordable places to go 1 to 4 hours away from LA. Camping OK. More details after the jump.

I know it is Labor Day Weekend and that makes it tricky! And so, I turn to you MetaFilter. Help us design our Great LA Getaway Adventure!

Affordable is nice. Also, I'm not a huge fan of crowds of people, so I'm thinking Catalina on Labor Day weekend is out. Nature is GREAT. We love quirky. Camping is OK, we have gear.

Please feel free to MeMail me your secret fav spot away from LA if you don't want the info broadcast all over the internets. I won't blab - promise!

We're not from this part of the country and we're clueless about where to go or what to do with this unexpected break in our schedule.

Thanks!

posted by jbenben to Grab Bag (13 answers total)

My wife and I live in Los Angeles. One place that is close is Oak Glen, which is a community built around apple orchards. We really enjoy it there, although I'm not quite sure apples are in season yet. Also, Idylwild is a couple of hours out of town. We go there when we can. Slightly touristy, with plenty of opportunities for camping, hiking, etc. Also, we enjoy Crestline. Some hiking and stuff, feels like a little getaway for a couple of days. Of course, there's always Lake Arrowhead and Lake Tahoe, all within a few hours of LA, as well.
posted by SpacemanStix at 4:45 PM on August 30, 2011 [2 favorites]

Oak Glen was my 1st thought as well. Being as it's not apple season yet is why it may be the only place in the San Bernardino Mountains that isn't packed to the gills this weekend.
posted by buggzzee23 at 4:47 PM on August 30, 2011

Lake Arrowhead and Tahoe are going to be pretty crowded, unless something has changed dramatically in the last ten years.

I'm going to try and look up where it is my dad always goes (it's in the Angeles National Forest, like that's narrowing it down.) I'll MeMail if I figure it out.
posted by SMPA at 4:50 PM on August 30, 2011

Lake Tahoe is also a 10 hr drive from LA, unless you fly.
posted by HeyAllie at 4:55 PM on August 30, 2011

Yeah, uh, you're going to have a very hard time finding campsites. Everything that can be booked, will be booked. Most grounds will have a few sites open for first-come types but you'll have to be in line when they open to try and snag them. How about a spectacular day trip? Like maybe in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA?
posted by zomg at 5:26 PM on August 30, 2011

You could also try Solvang and its environs - it's a fun Danish town fairly easily accessible from LA.
posted by juiceanddoom at 5:29 PM on August 30, 2011

Mercey Hot Springs

It's off the beaten path. Not many people know about it. It's north of Los Angeles and about a 3 hr drive on Interstate 5.

It really is in the middle of nowhere. Nothing around. Perfect for an adventure

It's a hot springs that would fit nicely in a David Lynch, John Huston or Robert Altman film.
posted by goalyeehah at 5:36 PM on August 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

It's a bit of a drive (6 hours), but I love the area around Mammoth/June Lake.
I've gone fishing there a few times and stayed at June Lake Pines (which is a teeny little set of cabins). There is also plenty of nearby camping and you're close to Sonora pass. Be aware that June Lake is a get away. There's not much there, but damn is it pretty.
posted by plinth at 6:00 PM on August 30, 2011

Ha. Not Lake Tahoe, that is far. I actually meant Big Bear Lake, which is within driving distance of Lake Arrowhead. But yeah, they'll likely be pretty busy.
posted by SpacemanStix at 7:27 PM on August 30, 2011

I used to live in LA, but so long ago it's hard to recommend specifics -- but I did enjoy weekend trips to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara; Pismo Beach... Oh! Solvang's cute. You can get a nice weekend just going up the coast and stopping at wherever strikes your fancy. Ojai is okay for a brief stop but the general vibe was too touristy for me.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about the fantastic, very one-of-a-kind Madonna Inn (in SLO).

I lived in the Angeles National Forest for two years -- there are little pockets inside it that are private property -- but my old house and probably most other things I know of it went up in the Station Fire, so I can't really help on that one, but it certainly is, or was, a wonderful area.
posted by kmennie at 8:13 PM on August 30, 2011

If you guys like wine, you could have a great day up in Santa Barbara county wine-tasting. They have drivers who will take you around so you can both drink! Hit up Los Olivos and Solvang for sure. MeFi mail me if you want suggestions on specific wineries to visit, I have spent way too much time up there to keep the secrets all to myself.
posted by milqman at 8:58 PM on August 30, 2011

Treebones in southern Big Sur..
posted by hortense at 10:53 AM on August 31, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks everyone so much. I should have asked this question years ago!

There are a lot of small spots I've never even heard of before, which is great. I will consult the family and perhaps update this thread after Labor Day Weekend.

I will not be marking best answers because I'd like to keep these out of the way gems still a little secret, if I can. But yes, I clicked all the links and very much appreciate the info!!
posted by jbenben at 5:46 PM on August 31, 2011