The Absolute Best Roadtrips From LA

If you took a small bite out of Los Angeles and plopped it on the map, you would get San Diego. If you’re looking for restaurants and bars, head to the Gaslamp Quarter to get your groove on. If you’re looking for wildlife, go to La Jolla and watch the sea lions bask in the sun just an arm’s length away. If you want scenery, grab a bottle of wine and a blanket to watch the sun go down on the rocky shore of Sunset Cliffs.

San Francisco, though it may be a rival of many Angelenos, is a great city. You can head down to Fisherman’s Wharf for Clam Chowder at the pier and dessert at Ghirardelli’s Square. If you’re looking for wildlife, you can watch the sea lions go crazy, or take a hike up in Muir Woods where the redwood trees grow. To fulfill your tourist needs, you’ve got the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge, Lombard Street and Alcatraz Island. And don’t forget to stop at Buena Vista to have a taste of the first place that ever served Irish coffee in the United States!

I would explain this one, but what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Phoenix is another one of those cities that can fulfill your Insta pictures during the day and your Finsta pictures during the night. Take a hike (or a drive, you city slicker) up Camelback Mountain. I highly recommend watching the sunset over the city from up there if you get the chance. At night, there are plenty of casinos to waste your money at, otherwise hop on over to Downtown Tempe to party like ASU.

Huntington Beach is an easy day trip as it’s right over in Orange County. Though I can’t guarantee you’ll see any Real Housewives, the Huntington Beach Pier is where it’s at. This is one of the longest public piers on the entire West Coast of California. If you’re a dog lover like myself, I have to recommend the Huntington Dog Beach [whether you have your own dog or not]. You’ll be able to see these four-legged friends having the best days of their lives as they chase sticks into the water and tackle each other into the sand.

If Catalina Island doesn’t give you mad Step Brothers throwbacks, then don’t worry about the Catalina Wine Mixer. From the beaches and palm trees to the resort town nearby, you’ll be able to satisfy all of your exotic tastes: Parasailing, zip lining and kayaking– must I go on?

There’s a special spot in my heart for Santa Barbara. Their downtown area is built Mediterranean-style with white stucco buildings lined with red-tile roofs. Stroll down their cobblestone paths to grab a bite to eat and do some shopping. If you’re looking more to get away, there are some stunning coastal walks that lead to the beach, like Arroyo Burro.

Laguna Beach is a small coastal city in Orange County. Obviously, the best thing to do here is to just hit the sparkling waves at the beach. However, if you’d like to add a bit more to your itinerary, there are plenty of easy hikes to do along the water’s edge as well as boutiques and restaurants of every kind.