The City of Angels with its glorious canyon hikes and healthy cafés make for an enjoyable enough day to relax, but every once in a while, getting out of the city and heading on a day trip is the perfect prescription for mood-elevation.
We’ve put together a list of the Top 5 day trips from Los Angeles for the outdoor lover, the café lounger and of course the best beach day trips for the entire family to enjoy.
Joshua Tree
Can you do a daytrip to Joshua tree from LA without needing camping gear and a 4:30 am wake up alarm? Of course! It’s about a 2-hour drive (150 miles give or take your location in the city).
Joshua Tree National Park is most known for its namesake Joshua Trees. These prickly trees are cousins of the agave, most often found in the Mojave Desert.
But the National park has more to see than just Joshua Trees. Amongst the densely packed trees, you’ll find giant, lava-formed rocks, gathered and stacked high above the ground. These unique rock formations draw climbers from all over the world.
Pop into Trimana at 800 N. Alameda to get some Daytrip CBD-Infused Sparkling Water for the road. Dry desert environments require you to bring double the amount of water you normally would, since hiking in dry, hot environments will dehydrate you faster.
Cholla Cactus Garden is one of the best sunset spots. As the sun creeps over the horizon, the garden illuminates and glows as the cacti catch the morning sun.
Drive straight through the park to the Cholla Cactus Garden. As you drive through the dark, keep a watch for wildlife. We saw multiple coyotes and a giant owl sitting on the road at 4 am.
Walk along the ¼ mile dirt trail to photograph the glowing cactus. Plan to arrive at least 45 minutes early to capture the light from dawn through the morning golden hour.
Head back along Park Boulevard to explore (and climb!) Arch Rock. This unique arch sits atop a stack of boulders, formed from lava pushed up through the fault line.
Continue along Park Boulevard to another famous rock formation, Skull Rock. Find a parking spot along the road and make the short trek out to the skull look alike.
An hour or two before sunset, make the scenic drive out to Keys View, stopping to capture the Joshua Trees in the late afternoon sun.
On the way home, pop by Pappy and Harriets for some BBQ and live music (check out their often updated calendar of talent here ). Open since the 1940’s it’s a legend not to be missed.
Big Bear
Is a weekend daytrip to Big Bear on your radar? We’re in it for the snowboarding (obvi) but Big Bear has four seasons full of daytrip fun.
Sitting at 7,000 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains, California’s Big Bear Lake enjoys 300+ days of sunshine. Big Bear has 22 miles of shoreline, fishing, hiking, water skiing, snow skiing and snowboarding.
Ski Big Bear offers 18 trails, 7 lifts including 3 Magic Carpet lifts, and 650' of vertical. When Mother Nature isn't sending snow there are snow makers so chances are good from November on, your daytrip from LA will be filled with powder.
Lift tickets, season passes, and lesson/rental reservations will be available for purchase online, on the BBMR mobile app, at ticket windows, and by calling 844-GO2-BEAR.
Going year-round? Book other outdoor adventures like:
Horseback riding tours with Baldwin Lake Stables.
Book Zipline and Segway adventures with Action Tours.
Book high flying helicopter tours with Helicopter Big Bear.
Book 4X4 Jeep tours with Big Bear Jeep Experience.
Grab a case or two of Daytrip CBD Sparkling Water and hit the road early for that fresh powder!
Ojai
Foodies and artists unite. If you’re looking for a daytrip from LA that focuses on farm to table dining where everything from olives and grapes to an abundance of citrus grow in this climate.
Only about 2 hours from Los Angeles arrive in Ojai before lunch and head straight for Ojai Village (this handy Shopping Map will help you set your must-sees) Browse the local olive oil stores, book stores art galleries and local shops (we love the concert tees and patches at Camp Ojai).
Then head over to Friends Ranches and fill up a box of citrus fruits (try the pixie oranges) to work off your lunch.
Want a pro tip? Blend some pixies with Daytrip Tangerine CBD-Infused Sparkling Water and ice for a super chill healthy version of a Slurpee. It has zero sugar, under five calories and is a gluten free alternative for a refreshing drink.
And speaking of farm to table, if you can get yourself on a list for a bee keeping experience, Ojai Valley Inn has a great one , to see the hives, meet the bees, and taste local honey pollinated from the inns sage and avocado plants. Finish the experience with a sit-down tasting paired with the tastiest cheese platter.
Hop on a bike, work off your afternoon of snacking and head down the Ojai Valley Trail which is 15. Miles and can take you all the way to Ventura if you choose to do the whole thing
Malibu
Sometimes you want a daytrip that is quick and easy. We’re all about grabbing a can of Daytrip CBD Sparkling Water, throwing on our sunnies, cranking up the tunes and hitting the road.
For this one, you can sleep in and take a leisurely day trip to Malibu (unless you want to hit the morning surf, of course).
Malibu is known for their community’s commitment to sustainability and practices that nurture both the body and soul. What could be better than a little recharge and mood-elevation?
So, after cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway, roll down the windows, soak in the ocean air and drop in Pacific Coast Greens for some instant uplift thanks to the CBD and botanical terpenes in Daytrip’s CBD Sparkling Water.
Then cruise over to Malibu Country Mart to shop must have beach attire (and maybe a sweatshirt or two it gets chilly by the ocean!).
Grab lunch at the Reel Inn snap a pic of their daily punny signs (the Cod Father, David Buoy, Wu-Tang Clams) post it on social, make your friends laugh and then dig in to some fresh seafood.
Then hit the beach – because, it isn’t a daytrip to Malibu unless you dip at least your toes into the ocean.
Zuma is our favorite – fun fact, we did our first official photoshoot for Daytrip CBD Sparkling Water right in the sand. Pop on our Lo-Fi Chill Spotify Playlist and tell our favorite lifeguard Sarah “hi” from us.
Santa Barbara
A little up the ways on the Pacific Coast Highway – or PCH for you locals is Santa Barbara. What makes Santa Barbara the perfect day trip from LA? Maybe it’s the palm tree lined coast, beautiful golden beaches or the sailboat-dotted horizon but put your Big Little Lies playlist on and start driving north. About 95 miles that is, depending on where you live in Los Angeles.
First stop, beach cruiser to get the lay of the land. Rent one here at Santa Barbara Bikes, throw a few essentials in your bag (sunscreen, sun glasses – we are partial to Ray Ban Wayfarers and some matching Daytrip CBD-infused gummies (check out the shape and see if it looks familiar). Who doesn’t want gluten-free, vegan and botanically infused gummies to start your day with a little mood-elevation?
Bike to the Old Mission House and park the old Courthouse and the bike to La Superica Taqueria (the line out the door says it all) or The Lark in the Funk Zone for lunch.
Then rehydrate (Daytrip CBD-Infused Sparkling water in Grapefruit is the perfect refreshment to wet your whistle) and hit the beach.
Butterfly Beach, East Beach, and Arroyo Burro Beach are our favorites.
Or on our bucket list – charter a sail boat and see the coast from the sea.