Places you can reach in the morning and leave in the evening. Public transport first; the car only where it really helps.
Santa Barbara
A Spanish Colonial Revival town between the mountains and the sea, whose look was defined as the city rebuilt after the 1925 earthquake. The Pacific Surfliner runs up from Union Station to a station steps from the waterfront and downtown, so no car is needed.
How to get there
- Train · Amtrak Pacific Surfliner · 2 h 40 minFrom Los Angeles Union Station
Departures: 6 trains a day each way
Fare: Fare not verified 2026
Timetable effective 4 May 2026 (revised October 2026): northbound trains leave Union Station at 5:13, 7:13, 9:13, 11:13, 15:13 and 19:13 and take about 2 h 35 min to 2 h 45 min to Santa Barbara (209 State St). Southbound trains leave Santa Barbara at 6:53, 8:49, 12:45, 15:04, 16:40 and 19:00. For a day trip take the 7:13 or 9:13 and come back on the 16:40 or 19:00 (arriving 19:43 or 21:46). The online booking tool was down when checked, so fares could not be read.
What to see
- Santa Barbara County Courthouse. A working courthouse and National Historic Landmark completed in 1929. Free; open 8:00-17:00 Mon-Fri and 10:00-17:00 at weekends, last entry 16:30, with security screening. Climb the clock tower to the observation deck for views over the red roofs, and see the painted Mural Room on the second floor, where free one-hour docent tours start daily at 14:00 (also 10:30 Mon-Fri). Allow 60-90 minutes.
- Old Mission Santa Barbara. Founded in 1786; Franciscan friars have lived here ever since. Self-guided visit Mon-Sat 9:30-17:00, Sun 12:30-17:00, last ticket 16:00; adults USD 17. Allow 60-90 minutes.
- Santa Barbara Museum of Art. On State Street across from the courthouse; Time Out calls it a relative bargain at USD 15 for its Southern California abstraction. Allow 60 minutes.
- Stearns Wharf and the Funk Zone. Watch the sunset from the wharf, then walk the Funk Zone's urban wineries between the beach and the train station. Allow 1-2 hours.
Closed days
The courthouse and the Mission are open daily; the Mission is closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, the courthouse on Christmas Day.
Best time to go
all year
By car
Public transport is the better way to go here. About 1 h 50 min by car. Time Out gives 1 h 50 min from Downtown LA in light traffic. Time Out calls Santa Barbara the most train-friendly trip on its list. The courthouse's city lot across Anacapa Street is free for 75 minutes, then USD 3 an hour.
Good to know
- Be at the courthouse at 14:00 for the free docent tour from the Mural Room; the clock tower deck closes half an hour before the building.
- The Mission opens only at 12:30 on Sundays, so go to the courthouse first that day.
San Diego
California's first Spanish settlement, about three hours down the coast on the Pacific Surfliner. Get off at Old Town for the historic park where a mission and fort were founded in 1769, or ride on to the Santa Fe Depot downtown for Balboa Park and the USS Midway.
How to get there
- Train · Amtrak Pacific Surfliner · 2 h 55 minFrom Los Angeles Union Station
Departures: 13 trains a day southbound, 14 northbound
Fare: Fare not verified 2026
Timetable effective 4 May 2026 (revised October 2026): southbound trains leave Union Station from 6:10 to 22:10 and reach Downtown San Diego (Santa Fe Depot, 1050 Kettner Blvd) in about 2 h 55 min, Old Town 13 minutes earlier. Northbound trains leave San Diego from 4:01 to 21:01; the last one reaches Los Angeles at 23:57. The online booking tool was down when checked, so fares could not be read.
What to see
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Where a Spanish mission and fort were founded in 1769: restored buildings and museums on Mexican and early American San Diego, and an outdoor exhibit on the Kumeyaay. Visitor center and select museums 10:00-17:00. Right next to the Old Town Surfliner stop. Allow 1-2 hours.
- Balboa Park. A 1,200-acre park of museums and gardens. Free general walking tours leave the Visitors Center Tue and Thu at 11:00 (USD 5 donation suggested, no booking). Allow 2-3 hours.
- USS Midway Museum. A retired aircraft carrier turned museum in downtown San Diego. Open daily 10:00-17:00, last admission 16:00. Allow 2-3 hours.
Closed days
Old Town's museums close on Thanksgiving and Christmas; the USS Midway is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Open daily otherwise.
Best time to go
all year
By car
Public transport is the better way to go here. Time Out warns that traffic on the I-5 can easily double the drive; it calls the Pacific Surfliner the more pleasant option. There is no parking at the Santa Fe Depot.
Good to know
- Take a train before 8:00 to have five or six hours in the city.
- Do Old Town on the way in or out: every Surfliner stops there, 13 minutes before downtown.
- The Midway's last admission is 16:00.
Catalina Island (Avalon)
An island 22 miles off the coast, about an hour by fast ferry from Long Beach. The small port town of Avalon is walkable for a day: the Art Deco Casino on the bay, a beach club where you can drink on the sand, and a museum on the island's century as a holiday resort.
How to get there
- Ferry · Catalina Express · 1 hFrom Long Beach (Catalina Landing, 320 Golden Shore)
Departures: 4 sailings a day each way 20 Oct 2026-31 Mar 2027, more in other seasons
Fare: USD 103 adult round trip including the USD 10 island wharfage fee and tax; seniors 55+ USD 93, children 2-11 USD 82 (checked 2026-10)
Winter schedule 20 Oct 2026-31 Mar 2027: Long Beach to Avalon at 6:00, 9:50, 14:00 and 17:50 (18:30 on Fridays); Avalon to Long Beach at 7:50, 11:50, 15:55 and 19:45 (20:30 on Fridays). A day trip fits between the 9:50 out and the 15:55 or 19:45 back. Ferries also leave from San Pedro (about 1 h 15 min, same fare). Parking at the Long Beach terminal is up to USD 26.95 per 24 hours. Weekend and holiday schedules may vary; reservations recommended.
What to see
- Catalina Casino. The Art Deco ballroom and theatre at the end of Avalon's beachfront path; Time Out says the inside is mostly seen on walking tours or at film screenings in the Avalon Theatre. Allow 30-60 minutes.
- Catalina Museum for Art & History. 217 Metropole Ave. Island history and art exhibitions; adults USD 14. Closed Mondays from September (after Labor Day) through May. Allow 60 minutes.
- Descanso Beach Club. Just past the Casino; Time Out notes it is one place where you can legally drink on the beach. Allow 1-2 hours.
Closed days
The Catalina Museum is closed on Mondays from September (after Labor Day) through May, and on New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Ferries run daily.
Best time to go
all year; more sailings in summer
By car
Public transport is the better way to go here. Only the drive to the ferry: the Long Beach terminal has a car park (USD 26.95 daily maximum). The Metro A Line also runs from Downtown LA to Long Beach.
Good to know
- Book the ferry ahead; sailings are listed on the reservation system, which also shows extra departures.
- Time Out suggests the Commodore Lounge upgrade (USD 20 each way on the operator's fare table) if a long day on the water sounds tiring.
- Avoid Mondays from September to May if you want the museum.
Joshua Tree National Park
Desert national park of famous rock formations and twisted Joshua trees, about 140 miles east of Los Angeles. With an early start you can walk a couple of short trails and stay for the sunset before driving back.
How to get there
What to see
- Hidden Valley. 1-mile (1.6 km) loop among boulders from the Hidden Valley picnic area. Allow 45-60 minutes.
- Barker Dam. 1.1-mile (1.8 km) walk from the Barker Dam parking area, almost flat (50 feet of climb). Allow 45-60 minutes.
- Cholla Cactus Garden. 0.25-mile (0.4 km) loop through thousands of densely growing cholla cactus, 20 miles north of the Cottonwood Visitor Center. Stay on the trail and wear closed shoes. Allow 20-30 minutes.
- Joshua Tree village. The small town at the West Entrance; Time Out recommends Crossroads Cafe, a classic diner, and coffee across the street before going into the park. Allow 45 minutes.
Closed days
The park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Best time to go
Oct-Apr; summer heat is a serious risk
By car
A car makes this trip easier. About 2 h 30 min by car. Time Out gives 2 h 30 min from Downtown LA in light traffic; the NPS says the park is about 140 miles (225 km) east of Los Angeles, reached from Interstate 10 or Highway 62. The West Entrance is 5 miles south of Highway 62 at Joshua Tree village. Private vehicle pass USD 30, valid 7 days; some entrances take cards only. The NPS warns not to trust GPS: it can send cars onto sandy backcountry roads.
Good to know
- Fill the tank and carry all your water and food: there are no gas stations, restaurants or shops and no water inside the park.
- Cell reception is very limited; download a map before you go.
- Hike in the morning or late afternoon; avoid the hottest part of the day.
Ojai
A small Ventura County town in the Topatopa Mountains, known for its creative community, citrus and the famous outdoor bookstore. A slow day of shops, food and a sunset over the valley, about 90 minutes' drive from Downtown LA.
How to get there
What to see
- Bart's Books. Calls itself the world's largest outdoor bookstore: more than 130,000 used and new books on shelves around a courtyard, since 1964. Open daily 10:00-18:00. Allow 60 minutes.
- Meditation Mount. Gardens and a view over the Ojai Valley at 10340 Reeves Road; open by pre-registration only, closed Monday and Tuesday. Time Out suggests ending the day here for the 'Pink Moment' at sunset; arrive early. Allow 60 minutes.
- Ojai Valley Trail. A former citrus railway line turned into a 10-mile trail toward the ocean; good by bike. Allow 1-2 hours for part of it.
Closed days
Meditation Mount is closed Monday and Tuesday; Bart's Books is open daily.
Best time to go
all year
By car
A car makes this trip easier. About 1 h 30 min by car. Time Out gives 1 h 30 min from Downtown LA in light traffic. We did not find a direct public transport route worth recommending for a day trip.
Good to know
- Come on a Sunday morning for the Ojai Certified Farmers Market (9:00-13:00, per Time Out).
- Register online for Meditation Mount before you go; it is closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Time Out's picks for food: the Dutchess for coffee and pastries, Pinyon for lunch, Ojai Ice Cream (since 1979) for a cone.