Escape the grind with day trips
WE’VE MISSED A LOT BEING COOPED UP. HERE ARE SEVEN LOCAL DAY TRIPS, FROM THE BEACHES TO THE DESERT TO THE CANYONS, TO GET YOU OUT THERE.
Set off for one of seven adventurous destinations, all within a few hours of downtown Los Angeles.
WHEN YOU CAN’T RESIST THE CALL OF A SEA BREEZE OR THE DESERT AIR, SET OFF FOR ONE OF SEVEN DESTINATIONS WITHIN A FEW HOURS O FD T LA.
ONE DAY YOU WILL BE READY to roam again — really roam, across borders, oceans and continents. But for now, let’s start small. Here, as a mostly homebound school year resumes and we enter our seventh month of pandemic- altered existence, are seven day- trip ideas within a several- hour drive of Los Angeles, some with overnight options, a few with beaches. Just because they’re open now doesn’t mean you have to visit today. In fact, state officials still urge Californians to avoid nonessential trips. But when you’re ready, these places are too. No matter where you go, health experts urge you to wear a mask unless you’re eating or in the water. And keep a distance from strangers.
COACH ELLA VALLEY
It will be about a thousand degrees, which explains why you’ll find lots of room. At dawn or dusk, hike one of the Indian Canyons — Palm Canyon is the most popular — or dawdle in the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, with admission by timed ticket. Prowl Palm Canyon Drive, the main drag through Palm Springs, and dine at festive Las Casuelas Terraza ( 222 S. Palm Canyon Drive, [ 760] 325- 2794), which dates to 1958.
To get the f lavor of the valley, you might need a date shake. If so, stop at Hadley Fruit Orchards in Cabazon or Shields Date Garden in Indio, surrounded by date palms.
The Shields shop and restaurant are open ( patio dining only). The bad news is that its theater, which has been screening “The Romance & Sex Life of the Date” since 1953, is now closed. The good news is that the film, all 17 minutes of it, is viewable on the Shields website and YouTube.
Info: visitgreaterpalmsprings. com
LA JOLLA
At Torrey Pines State Beach, swim, fish, walk the sand or sunbathe. The beach is 4 ½ miles long, between northern La Jolla and southern Del Mar, and lined by red- dirt cliffs and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve ( still closed). For a memorable overview of nearby beach, cliffs and sea, park at the Torrey Pines Gliderport, watch paragliders take off, get a sandwich at the Cliffhanger Cafe and sit at one of the outdoor picnic tables.
Plenty of art and architecture await just east of the glider port on the 1,200- acre UC San Diego campus. You can take a self- guided tour among the works of art at the Stuart Collection and check out the striking academic architecture, including the otherworldly Geisel Library ( interior closed) and the crooked little house atop the engineering building.
In La Jolla, you can stroll past the shops, galleries and restaurants on Prospect Street and Girard Avenue. Or go tide- pooling or picnicking along Coast Boulevard near Children’s Pool Beach. There’s also pleasant strolling along the Coast Walk Trail near Cave Street.
Or you could kayak around La Jolla Shores or the cliffs and caves near La Jolla Cove. Co- owner Michael Luscomb said La
Jolla Kayak ([ 858] 4591114, lajollakayak. com) resumed rentals in late May, tours in early June. “We’re very strong on weekends,” he said.
For coffee or a snack, head to Pannikin ( outdoor seating) at 7467 Girard Ave.
For a fancy dinner, you might try George’s at the Cove, a longtime Prospect Street mainstay whose Level 2 and Ocean Terrace dining areas are open.
Info: sandiego. org
LAGUNA BEACH
Laguna Beach, with its gorgeous stretch of sand, cliffs and rockscapes, once was an artists colony. Now it’s more of a gallerists colony but undeniably pleasant to visit.
Beyond Main Beach ( and its landmark blueand- white lifeguard tower) in downtown Laguna, a path leads from Treasure Island Park ( just south of the Montage Laguna Beach resort) to Treasure Island Beach ( good for families, tide- pooling and snorkeling). You might not be ready to spend $ 1,000 for a night at the Montage, but you might consider breakfast, lunch or dinner on the patio at the resort’s Mosaic Bar & Grill. Downtown, there’s plenty of window- shopping among the galleries and stores. And there are three state parks in the area.
Crystal Cove State
Park, which stretches from Laguna Beach to Newport Beach, has 3.2 miles of beach, a campground, the Beachcomber Cafe ( where you’re invited to order by phone rather than touching a menu) and the Crystal Cove Shake Shack at 7703 East Coast Highway ( find more info on Facebook). Before visiting, check the beach website at crystalcove statepark.org for updates.
Info: VisitLagunaBeach.com
SOUTH BAY BEACHES
Wake up early, bring your bike or rent one and ride the Strand, a paved 22- mile beachfront route that spans Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.
Officially, it’s the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, 14 feet wide and shared by cyclists, skaters, pedestrians and wheelchair users. It can take you far north of the South Bay, through Venice Beach and Santa Monica to Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades. The southern endpoint is Torrance County Beach. It’s always busy, so it’s best to try this early in the day, preferably on a weekday.
Bike- rental options include Hermosa Cyclery ([ 310] 374- 7816, hermosa cyclery. com) in Hermosa Beach and Marina Bike Rentals ([ 310] 318- 2453, marinabikerentals.com) in Redondo Beach.
An alternative is to pick one or two piers — Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo each have one — and build a walk. If you’re new to the South Bay, Manhattan Beach is the priciest of these places, Hermosa is more casual and rowdy, and the Redondo Pier and King Harbor Marina are often more diverse.
Need a cool snack? The Manhattan Beach Creamery at 1120 Manhattan Beach Ave. has been a favorite for years.
Info: Downtown ManhattanBeach.com, HermosaBeach.gov, Redondo. org
PA LOS VERDE S PENINSULA
Start in Redondo Beach and follow Palos Verdes Drive as it loops around the dramatic peninsula to San Pedro. Stop at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. Its interior was closed as of Sept. 23, but the grounds are accessible and you can walk along the bluffs.
About 2 ½ miles east, past Terranea Resort ( which reopened in June) and across the street from Wayfarers Chapel ( visitor center closed), you can walk the pebbly shores and bluffs of Abalone Cove Park in Rancho Palos Verdes ( parts of the beach are closed).
End in San Pedro, where you can walk to the Korean Friendship Bell in Angels Gate Park, with wraparound views on a clear day. Or walk the coastal side of the road ( Point Fermin Park) to see the vintage lighthouse and rocky cliffs. Keep a lookout for brown pelicans, which often f ly at eye level. There are pullouts throughout the drive where you can pause to enjoy the view.
For a bite, try Nelson’s, the scenic patio restaurant, at Terranea ( walkin customers OK).
Info: rpvca.gov, pvestates.org, spcvb.com
MALIBU AND TOPANGA
Head up Pacific Coast Highway, enjoy some beach time, then head back through Topanga Canyon. Or vice versa. On this itinerary, you’ll see all sorts of beach scenery and canyon greenery.
You might want to linger on the Malibu Pier, where the Malibu Farm restaurant and cafe serve breakfast, lunch and dinner alfresco. The restaurant takes reservations and also serves early dinner; the cafe is first come, first served.
You might hike in Malibu Creek State Park ( parking is limited; Rock Pool and Century Lake are closed).
Or you could enjoy a lazy lunch and swim at Paradise Cove, a selfieready nook on the sand that humbly calls itself “the best beach in the world.”
In Topanga Canyon, follow winding two- lane Topanga Canyon Boulevard through country scenes, passing quirky homes, businesses and landmarks with hippie overtones, including the Los Angeles Horseback Riding ranch ( losangeles horsebackriding. com; $ 100 for an hour).
Info: visitcalifornia . com/ experience/ malibu
SANTA BARBARA AND CAR P INTER IA
Start at Santa Barbara’s Stearns Wharf and get some sea breeze in your hair. Then peruse lower State Street’s shops and restaurants, especially the stretch from Haley to Sola streets, where local leaders recently banned cars to create an eight- block promenade.
Old Mission Santa Barbara tours and museum are still closed, but the nearby Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is open from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. daily. The Santa Barbara Zoo is also open; advance reservations are required.
South of town, take lovely, two- lane Foothill Road ( California 192) between Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. There you can stop and meander Linden Avenue, which ends at a beach with lots of sand and gentle waves.
Get breakfast or lunch on the patio at Esau’s Cafe ( 507 Linden Ave.; [ 805] 684- 1070, esauscafe . com; call to check days and hours), where the surfer vibes are thick.
Or grab a burger at the Spot ( 389 Linden Ave.; [ 805] 684- 6311, facebook. com/ TheSpotCarpinteria), which has a rustic patio.
Info: santabarbara ca. com