Short, Worthwhile Vacations within Easy Travel Distance of Los Angeles
January 24, 2020 12:15 PM Subscribe
I'm trying to use up some more of my vacation time this year doing something more fun than lazing around at home. I've got a nice week-long vacation in Greece booked for late spring already, but I'd like to do some shorter trips throughout the year too. What are some good travel destinations for short 3-4 day trips for a solo traveler who lives in Los Angeles?
In the past, I've taken short road trips in California and the Southwest, but I'd like to maximize my actual time at my destination and get more bang for my travel buck. What are some destinations that can be reached in a reasonable amount of time from LA, such that a 3-4 day trip will be worthwhile? I'm imagining a travel itinerary something like leave LA on a Wednesday evening, have Thursday-Saturday at my destination, leave my destination sometime on Sunday to be back in LA by evening.
I'm not an especially outdoorsy person, so mostly I'm just looking for destinations that are relaxing and/or interesting to explore, so good food, nice scenery, museums, etc.
Thanks!
In the past, I've taken short road trips in California and the Southwest, but I'd like to maximize my actual time at my destination and get more bang for my travel buck. What are some destinations that can be reached in a reasonable amount of time from LA, such that a 3-4 day trip will be worthwhile? I'm imagining a travel itinerary something like leave LA on a Wednesday evening, have Thursday-Saturday at my destination, leave my destination sometime on Sunday to be back in LA by evening.
I'm not an especially outdoorsy person, so mostly I'm just looking for destinations that are relaxing and/or interesting to explore, so good food, nice scenery, museums, etc.
Thanks!
Best answer: Have you explored the Pacific Northwest? Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland all have short direct flights from L.A., and all of them have plenty to do. Maybe wait until late spring/early summer for the best weather, though.
posted by lisa g at 1:21 PM on January 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by lisa g at 1:21 PM on January 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
I just went to Idyllwild earlier this month and it was lovely, and there's places enough that you can be outdoors in a "look around at how pretty this is" way rather than "go stomp up the rest of the mountain" way. We only went out to eat once because the other families we were with were vegan so we cooked most of the time, but there is in fact a vegan restaurant up there and we had a very good brunch buffet. If you time it so you're not driving through San Bernardino/Riverside anywhere near rush hour, it's maybe 2.5 hours.
The train to San Diego is nice (avoid ComicCon though, it's a nightmare), and there's a ton to do there.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:28 PM on January 24, 2020
The train to San Diego is nice (avoid ComicCon though, it's a nightmare), and there's a ton to do there.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:28 PM on January 24, 2020
If you're down for international, Mexico City is quite close, had an amazing time there. Tijuana's cool, too. I did not love Ensenada.
posted by miltthetank at 1:55 PM on January 24, 2020
posted by miltthetank at 1:55 PM on January 24, 2020
There are direct flights from LA to Guanajuato, which makes that city & San Miguel de Allende possibilities for a short trip.
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:20 PM on January 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:20 PM on January 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
Cabo San Lucas is also a short flight from LA, if you want to relax on a warm beach.
posted by monotreme at 5:21 PM on January 24, 2020
posted by monotreme at 5:21 PM on January 24, 2020
Esalen? The property is amazing and the hot tubs are lovely. Not cheap but definitely worth it.
posted by ananci at 8:04 PM on January 24, 2020
posted by ananci at 8:04 PM on January 24, 2020
Best answer: I’ve done all of these locations in 3-5 day trips: Sedona, Hawaii, Chicago, México City, New Mexico, Joshua tree, Death Valley (it is mostly outdoorsy, but it is truly a fascinating place), Zion/antelope canyon, Grand Canyon, New York, San Diego, Monterey/Carmel, Seattle, Oregon.
Of these, I really have to highlight—
1) México City—short/cheap flight, amazing museums (the astonishing anthropology museum! Frida kahlo’s house!), world class dining, favorable exchange rate, interesting history (plus pyramids!), dining in a cave!, amazing churros, relaxing activities (take a boat out on the xochimilco canals or check out one of the vast beautiful parks), great place to wander.
2) New Mexico—called the Land of Enchantment and it does that name justice. Lots of spas/hot springs for relaxing, larger sights/museums in Santa Fe, smaller ones in more remote locations (space museum!)...Rent a car and do a loop of the state, you’ll find some of the most gorgeous nature and archaeological sites up north, Taos, art and culture in Santa Fe (along with Meow Wolf, a mindblowing art collective/house that you can explore...open every door, even the washing machine....it’ll lead you to a whole ‘nother world!), Roswell for some corny history, the Carlsbad caverns for amazing cave exploration and the special bat amphitheater at sunset, White Sands for the most beautiful and otherworldly landscape (make sure it’s not one of the days they’re missile testing!), the VLA—very large array, where they shot scenes from the movie Contact and where you can learn about all the space info they collect, and so much more!
3) Hawaii—you can definitely fit in an island in that time...I did Oahu and had a great time. Some beautiful hikes, snorkeling Hanauma Bay, relaxing on the beach with some poke or fruit from the local market and some parasailing-watching (go to the beaches on the eastern side for the white soft sand, Kailua and Lanikai), museums of Hawaiian history, good food—if a bit specific (poke, shrimp trucks, musubi, fresh fish, great Japanese food, malasadas from Leonard’s, Hawaiian shaved ice!), drive around to marvel at the lush greenery, go turtle spotting (there’s one beach in particular the pretty reliably has turtles relaxing, watched over by some locals, of course), North shore to see surfers catch some waves.
4) the major cities are givens for good food, architecture, and museums...I assume you been to most of them but they are great for short trips —NYC, Chicago, Seattle.
Places I haven’t gone that I’m sure would work well in the time frame: New Orleans, Savannah.
I love travel and travel planning, and frequently plan what I call Weekend Roadtrips for my friend group, so if you want more specific itineraries send me a memail! Also for California roadtrips, which can largely be grouped into 4-5 areas.
posted by sprezzy at 1:27 AM on January 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
Of these, I really have to highlight—
1) México City—short/cheap flight, amazing museums (the astonishing anthropology museum! Frida kahlo’s house!), world class dining, favorable exchange rate, interesting history (plus pyramids!), dining in a cave!, amazing churros, relaxing activities (take a boat out on the xochimilco canals or check out one of the vast beautiful parks), great place to wander.
2) New Mexico—called the Land of Enchantment and it does that name justice. Lots of spas/hot springs for relaxing, larger sights/museums in Santa Fe, smaller ones in more remote locations (space museum!)...Rent a car and do a loop of the state, you’ll find some of the most gorgeous nature and archaeological sites up north, Taos, art and culture in Santa Fe (along with Meow Wolf, a mindblowing art collective/house that you can explore...open every door, even the washing machine....it’ll lead you to a whole ‘nother world!), Roswell for some corny history, the Carlsbad caverns for amazing cave exploration and the special bat amphitheater at sunset, White Sands for the most beautiful and otherworldly landscape (make sure it’s not one of the days they’re missile testing!), the VLA—very large array, where they shot scenes from the movie Contact and where you can learn about all the space info they collect, and so much more!
3) Hawaii—you can definitely fit in an island in that time...I did Oahu and had a great time. Some beautiful hikes, snorkeling Hanauma Bay, relaxing on the beach with some poke or fruit from the local market and some parasailing-watching (go to the beaches on the eastern side for the white soft sand, Kailua and Lanikai), museums of Hawaiian history, good food—if a bit specific (poke, shrimp trucks, musubi, fresh fish, great Japanese food, malasadas from Leonard’s, Hawaiian shaved ice!), drive around to marvel at the lush greenery, go turtle spotting (there’s one beach in particular the pretty reliably has turtles relaxing, watched over by some locals, of course), North shore to see surfers catch some waves.
4) the major cities are givens for good food, architecture, and museums...I assume you been to most of them but they are great for short trips —NYC, Chicago, Seattle.
Places I haven’t gone that I’m sure would work well in the time frame: New Orleans, Savannah.
I love travel and travel planning, and frequently plan what I call Weekend Roadtrips for my friend group, so if you want more specific itineraries send me a memail! Also for California roadtrips, which can largely be grouped into 4-5 areas.
posted by sprezzy at 1:27 AM on January 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks all, I'm thinking about the Pacific NW, NM, and Mexico City for now, gonna keep an eye on cheap flights and/or hotel deals for the next couple of months. Keep the suggestions coming though!
I've already done short trips to: Joshua Tree, San Diego, Pismo Beach, Grand Canyon, and NYC. Hawaii's an option too, but I'd want to take a friend along for that, and not sure we can swing it this year.
posted by yasaman at 9:28 AM on January 25, 2020
I've already done short trips to: Joshua Tree, San Diego, Pismo Beach, Grand Canyon, and NYC. Hawaii's an option too, but I'd want to take a friend along for that, and not sure we can swing it this year.
posted by yasaman at 9:28 AM on January 25, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by tinymegalo at 1:09 PM on January 24, 2020 [3 favorites]