Trifter

As the second-largest city in the country, Los Angeles is full of things to do. But for those days when a Los Angeleno needs a break from the hustle and bustle of this city of 9,800,000, there are plenty of intriguing places to visit just a few hours away from the City of Angels, ranging from the energetic adventure to the more relaxing break.

We’re not talking about going to Hollywood or Beverly Hills; we’re talking about real breaks away from the city, where you’ll find hiking, shopping, surfing, eating, drinking, nature-watching and sightseeing. All locations listed below are in the state of California.

1. Joshua Tree National Park: Located just a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a nature-lover’s ideal getaway, providing the perfect mountain-and-desert scenery for clearing one’s thoughts. View wildflowers in hues of purple, orange, white, yellow and red; walk along one of the park’s 12 nature trails or lengthy hiking or mountain biking trails; or see all the way to Mexico to the south and San Francisco to the north from Keys View. If you’re looking for more than a day trip, stay overnight at one of the nine campgrounds.
2. Catalina Island: With departures from Long Beach, Newport Beach, San Pedro, Marina del Rey and Dana Point, you’ll have no trouble finding a port to take you to Catalina Island, a garden oasis off the Los Angeles County coast. You can golf, relax on the beaches of Avalon, snorkel, kayak, fish, hike and more on this idyllic island. Ride in a glass-bottom boat or scuba dive to see the buried treasures of the reefs, multiple shipwrecks and schools of bright orange Garibaldi fish of the area. If you need more than a day to see all that Catalina Island has to offer, hotels, restaurants and spas are all within reach.
3. Mullholand Drive: Though it begins west of the 101 Freeway in Hollywood, Mulholland Drive is a 55-mile road that winds through the Santa Monica Mountains. With its slightly rugged, unpaved strip and mountain bike trails, Mulholland Drive is popular with hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers, as well of those who just want a great view of the Los Angeles basin, Fryman Canyon, Simi Hills, San Gabriel Mountains and San Fernando Valley. The Hollywood Bowl Overlook provides a gorgeous spot to gaze upon the Hollywood Bowl Amphitheater, downtown Los Angeles, and on a clear day, the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.
4. Santa Barbara: Less than 100 miles south of Los Angeles, the Santa Barbara coast is one of the best places in the world for whale sightings. More than 27 types of whales and dolphins can be seen in the Santa Barbara Channel, depending on the season. During February, March and early April, California Grey Whale sightings are frequent. From May to September you can see Blue Whales, Minke Whales and Humpback Whales, and watch dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions at any time of the year.
5. Ojai – This small town in a valley less than 90 miles from Los Angeles is known for its exquisite spas and gorgeous natural backdrop, which was photographed to represent Shangri-La in the 1939 movie “The Lost Horizon.” Artists, health enthusiasts and musicians flock to this city of 8,000 to experience the Spanish mission-style village, hiking trails and mountain peaks that give off a rosy glow in the evening light, called The Pink Moment. Golf is big in Ojai, as well as celebrations such as the Wine Festival, Film Festival and Music Festival.
6. Balboa Park Museums, San Diego: Get all of your culture in one place at Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park, that’s a two-hour drive from Los Angeles. Here, you’ll find 15 major museums, performing arts venues, lush gardens and the San Diego Zoo. Museums are centered around history, photography, air, space, transportation, sports, art, international culture, science and more. The hand-carved and hand-painted 1910 Balboa Park Carousel is worth a spin; other noteworthy attractions include the 1935 Cactus Garden and Japanese Friendship Garden and teahouse. Restaurants and snack carts are located throughout the park.
7. Palomar Observatory, Palomar Mountain: Owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology, astronomical research facility Palomar Observatory has five telescopes that have been involved in searching for near-Earth asteroids and probing distant galleries. See the sparkling night sky during clear weather, which is on average, 290 nights per year. The massive 200-inch Hale Telescope, the world’s largest telescope until 1993, is an object of wonder. You’ll know you’re getting close to the complex when you see the R2-D2-esque tower looming over the surrounding trees.
8. Sand Dune Park, Manhattan Beach: Bring the kids to this 100-foot high sand dune, or let the park bring out the kid in you, but don’t come in the middle of the day: it’s hot! For children, there’s a playground area, and for adults, an intense, challenging workout awaits. Either walk the 200 steps up the dune, or check out the natural trail that winds through native plant life and provides an interesting and educational nature walk. When you get to the top, enjoy the panoramic east-facing view of Manhattan Beach.
9. Tidepools, San Diego: Just a few miles from San Diego, rocky areas near the ocean offer multiple opportunities to explore the marine life found in tidepools. Hermit crabs, and the occasional octopus, thrive in the water at Cabrillo National Monument. Shore crabs, sea anemones, chitons and jellyfish can be seen at Ocean Beach. At Tourmaline Surfing Park, spot sea snails, sea urchins and brittle stars, and at Shell Beach in La Jolla, watch the seals and sea lions on Seal Rock Reserve. On the north side of Dike Rock, you’re likely to spot a starfish or an octopus on a good tide. At Seacliff Park, see oysters, sea hares and brittle stars.
10. Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach: Surf, ride bicycles, eat or drink craft beer near Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula, home of the world-famous body-surfing spot, The Wedge. Whether you want to participate or just watch others partake in the fun, waves get up to 20 feet high at The Wedge.  In this area, you can also see the scenic Balboa and Newport Piers, the Balboa Pavilion and Fun Zone, Newport Beach’s Coney Island equivalent.