Unusual Things to Do in Southern California:…
Explore unique and unconventional destinations in Southern California that are not
Your Trip Starts Here
Explore unique and unconventional destinations in Southern California that are not
Southern California's Botanical Gardens are a perfect choice if you're looking for an
Explore our extensive list of day trip ideas in Orange County, California. Uncover
Knott’s Berry Farm is Southern California’s most affordable theme park. It offers
Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique destination that combines a fully operational
Explore our extensive list of Los Angeles Day Trips. Uncover exciting adventures,
Southern California's Inland Empire is a vast region that includes a large portion of
Discover the beauty of California's desert regions with these unique day trip ideas.
Discover San Diego's best day trips just an hour or two away from downtown. Explore
Malibu Beach is an affluent beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California. It offers some of the world's most spectacular beaches and views, making it the perfect place to spend a day soaking up the essence of
Santa Barbara is about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, making it an easily accessible destination for a day trip. However, we highly recommend starting your trip early in the morning to make the most of your time there. The
The Santa Monica Mountains have quite a few vineyards. Most are on a small scale and are hobbies to their owners. The mountains have dry summers and mild to cool winters. It's not exactly the perfect place to grow wine.
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a beautiful day destination. It has over 1,100 animals from 250 different species and a botanical collection with several gardens and more than 800 plant species, totaling 7,400
Make the most of your time and escape to Catalina Island for a day trip. This hidden gem is just 26 miles off the Southern California coast, southwest of Los Angeles. Catalina Island spans 76 square miles of stunning
When checking off the list of reasons, you should plan a visit to Palm Springs, including the sunshine, outstanding resorts, shopping, outdoor adventures, museums, and spectacular scenery. This beautiful oasis in the Mojave
Hollywood is a star-studded destination, even for those not enamored with celebrities. However, for those who are, Hollywood's status as an iconic place to mingle with the famous is not an exaggeration, as visitors often come
Located on the summit of Mount Hollywood, the Griffith Observatory has been an iconic Californian destination since its construction in 1935. Visitors can explore various captivating attractions at the observatory grounds,
Tanaka Farms in Irvine, California, is a treasure trove of fun and education for families and individuals. This 30-acre farm offers a variety of tours and activities throughout the year, allowing visitors to pick their fruits
Trestles Beach attracts surfers from all over the world to experience the perfect wave. Trestles is named after the railroad bridge over San Mateo Creek near the entrance to the beach. The 3½-mile-long beach features five
Mission San Juan Capistrano is the most renowned of all the California missions, famously known as the "Jewel of the Missions." The Mission is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over California and
Laguna Beach is a perfect day trip destination. It is part sleepy beach town and part thriving art colony. This Orange County beach town has everything for those who want a relaxing getaway and some fun in the California sun.
Home to the second-longest wooden pier in the United States, Seal Beach is the perfect blend of a rustic old surf town and a new upscale cultural community. Of course, the main attraction that lures visitors to this quaint
Old Towne Orange Day Trip things to do and see along with some great places to eat. Located in Orange County, California, the City of Orange and it's circa 1920s Old Town District is the perfect destination for a lazy weekend
San Clemente is located in Southern Orange County and is the last town before entering the wide-open space of Camp Pendleton. What was once a sleepy beach town populated by surfers and marines from Pendleton is now a popular
California Route 74, otherwise known as Ortega Highway, stretches just over 21 miles from beautiful San Juan Capistrano to growing Lake Elsinore Valley in the east. With its origins being nothing more than an Indian
Birch Aquarium, part of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, is great for a fun-filled family day. Visitors can observe more than 5,000 animals representing 380 different species. The aquarium is situated on a
Mission Beach is a charming small community situated on the coast of San Diego that resembles the East Coast beach towns. This is the perfect spot if you are fond of beaches like Atlantic City and Coney Island. Once a summer
Borrego Springs is a unique desert town in the center of Anza-Borrego State Park. It is an excellent choice for a quick weekend retreat or a cost-efficient family day trip. Regardless of the time of year, this desert haven
Julian Day Trip Fun Things To Do Julian, a historic gold mining town, is 60 miles east of downtown San Diego in the mountains. Once a booming hub during California's gold rush, this rustic but charismatic hidden gem retains
LEGOLAND California resort offers a theme park, aquarium, two water parks, and two hotels for kids aged 2-12 and their families. The theme park is the most popular destination, with over 60 rides and attractions specifically
The San Diego Zoo is a must-see in Southern California, with many attractions that can not be fully experienced in just one day. The San Diego Zoo is home to nearly 4,000 animals and over 700,000 plants in its botanical
If you or any of your travel companions are interested in architecture, a trip to Point Loma Lighthouse will captivate you. However, upon arrival, you will realize that Cabrillo National Monument has much more to offer than
Visiting Old Town San Diego is like taking a step back in history. Often called the birthplace of California, Old Town is the location of the first Spanish settlement in the region and makes a great day trip destination. Old
Treebones Resort is a charming and unique lodging destination on the beautiful California Big Sur Coast. The resort offers ocean-view tent campsites, including a twig hut, cozy yurts, and a spacious 500-square-foot tent with
Lake Cachuma is a beautiful lake located in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County. It was artificially created as part of the Bradbury Dam in 1953 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, covering over 3,100 acres. The lake
Oceano Dunes is a great place to camp on the beach and ride or drive around on the dunes. Many people make the trip to Oceano for one reason: the dunes. Oceano is the only place in California where driving your vehicle on the
Use our list California Central Valley day trip destinations list to plan a road trip or weekend getaway. The California Central Valley covers a vast area, extending from Shasta County in the north to Kern County in the
Santa Barbara is about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, making it an easily accessible destination for a day trip. However, we highly recommend starting your trip early in the morning to make the most of your time there. The
Los Olivos is an excellent place to start your trip to the Santa Barbara Wine Country. This charming historic town is known for its art galleries, boutiques, wine stores, and landmark stagecoach stop housing, which date back
El Capitan State Beach is approximately 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara and is a perfect destination for day-use and overnight camping. The beach is an excellent choice for families seeking a beach camping experience away
The Gaviota Coast, located in Northern Santa Barbara County, is the largest remaining undeveloped coastline in Southern California and is considered one of the most pristine coastal areas in the state. Gaviota State Park is
The Mojave Desert Heritage Association is a captivating museum that displays the rich history of the Mojave Desert. It boasts an extensive collection of mining and railroad artifacts, vintage automobiles, Route 66
The China Ranch Date Farm is not your typical farm; it's a hidden oasis in a desert valley. This secret treasure, off the beaten path, is a must-visit on your next adventure through the Mojave Desert. As you step into this
Death Valley Junction started as a water stop along the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, which operated from 1907 until 1940. In 1914, a 20-mile side spur was constructed from Death Valley Junction to the mines at Ryan, near
The Cottonwood Charcoal Kilns are seven miles north of the ranching town of Cartago in the Owens Valley of California. A graded dirt road off Highway 395 leads to the kilns. Any vehicle can make this side trip as long as you
Cabot's Pueblo Museum is one of Southern California's most unique buildings. It all started with one man’s dream. He was an extraordinary individual who worked hard and traveled to many places. He wanted the desert to be a
Randsburg is located just off Highway 395 in eastern Kern County, known as the Rand Area. At an elevation of 3,500 feet, the Living Ghost Town of Randsburg transports travelers back to California's early gold mining days.
Several arches in the Death Valley National Park vary in size. The most renowned arch is the Natural Bridge, which is easily accessible. Natural Bridge is just one of the many remarkable attractions in Death Valley. It is
The Old Mojave Road takes off-road adventurers from the Colorado River through the Mojave National Preserve to Afton Canyon near Barstow, California. This historic route has been used by native Indians, Spanish explorers, and
If you're planning a road trip from San Diego and looking for ideas, here are ten fun destinations within a two-hour drive of downtown San Diego. Julian Historic Gold Mining Town Julian is a town in the Cuyamaca
Los Angeles has a multitude of exciting activities to offer visitors. You can tour movie studios, explore museums, indulge in thrilling theme parks, stay active on hiking trails, or relax on beautiful beaches. Moreover, there
With over 300 miles of coastline, selecting the perfect beach destination in Southern California can be overwhelming. However, not all SoCal beaches are created equal, and with nearly ideal beach weather year-round, any day
With so many destinations on Daytrippen.com, we decided to list our top ten Southern California day trips. All these trips can be made in one day from just about anywhere in SoCal. This list is not in any particular order
Emerald Bay State Park Lake Tahoe One of the most visited areas of Lake Tahoe, and deservedly so. Emerald Bay has the only island on Lake Tahoe, Fannette Island, which rises above the surface of Lake Tahoe by 150 feet.
Here are ten fun ideas for family-friendly outings in and around Los Angeles. Both parents and children will love these day trips—travel time to these destinations, two hours or less from downtown Los Angeles. 1. Los