![]() Santa Barbara is doable as a day trip from LA and it's not uncommon for people to drive up just for lunch or dinner, but it's more enjoyable as a weekend road trip. Things to see along the way include The Getty Villa, The Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum, and The Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University. Others, like Zuma, are long stretches of nondescript sand with good surf breaks, parking, and amenities. Some, like Matador, require a hike down to the water, but you're rewarded with gorgeous scenery. Several are just a scramble down a few feet of sand next to Pacific Coast Highway. There are 20 named beaches in Malibu, each with a different personality. There is also camping at Malibu Creek State Park, closer to LA, which is technically in the city of Calabasas on the other side of the mountain. Malibu does have one of the few places you can camp near the beach at the beautiful Leo Carrillo State Park. At the high end, the Malibu Beach Inn puts you right in the sand with waves crashing under your balcony. The wealthy folks in Malibu don't really appreciate tourists, so there are only a handful of places to stay in Malibu itself. The Malibu Hills are also home to a number of ranches where you can go horseback riding and vineyards where you can take a Malibu wine tasting tour. The windy mountain roads lead to a number of surprises in the hills, from a stunt ranch and the Biggest Loser Resort to an elaborate Hindu temple. ![]() Most of the city is along both sides of Pacific Coast Highway, with access roads that cut through canyons or over mountains to reach State Route 101. The city stretches 27 scenic miles west of Pacific Palisades in LA along the south-facing coast at the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains to the Ventura County line. If you want to take a drive for the joy of driving, Malibu is a great place to start. The estimated times posted are for taking the quickest route, but sometimes it's worth taking the scenic route and enjoying the drive. The trick to making most of the more distant locations as a day trip is to start before rush hour so that you're outside of LA before traffic gets jammed. The travel times are off-peak driving times, which can be double or more in rush hour traffic. Given the size of LA, the distance could vary by 40 miles, depending on where you're actually starting. The distances we've listed are calculated from Hollywood, just to pick a central point. Depending on who you talk to, a visit to Santa Monica, Pasadena, Long Beach or Disneyland may be considered just another day out in LA, a day trip away from LA, or reason enough to get a room and stay overnight. Most of these road trips and getaways presented in the next pages are worth spending a night or two if you have the time and money, but if you don't mind long days and lots of driving, you can do every one of them as a day trip. Beach options along the coast are abundant, but within one to three hours of Los Angeles, you can retreat to the mountains or desert, explore wine country, experience California history or immerse yourself in mineral springs. Whether you live in Los Angeles and are looking for a quick escape or you are traveling there and want to explore a little more of California, here are some popular road trips that can be done as a day trip or as an overnight getaway from LA. When in Oxnard, also make sure to check out Casa Sirena, an abandoned seaside resort that was once a prominent destination.Even though you'll never run out of things to do in Los Angeles, the city is perfectly situated for exploring all the riches ofĮven though you'll never run out of things to do in Los Angeles, the city is beautifully situated to explore the riches of Southern California and-with L.A.'s driving culture-a road trip is just part of the experience. Art aficionados should pay a visit to the Carnegie Art Museum, the first building in Ventura County to be included on the National Register of Historic Places. Or, show off your skills at Bedford Pinkard Skate Park before heading over to the Downtown Oxnard Farmers Market to grab local produce and freshly prepared goods. You can also stroll through the Channel Islands Harbor and partake in everything from diving and kayaking to sportfishing and whale watching. Check out Silver Strand, Bass Rock, or Mandalay State Beach-each is unique in its own way-to enjoy an afternoon picnic and catch the sunset with your special someone. ![]() Visiting Oxnard and not going to the beach is basically committing a sin. Often overshadowed by the nearby cities of Malibu and Santa Monica, Oxnard is a coastal paradise for those planning a romantic getaway in Southern California on a budget, especially if you love beautiful beaches.
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