If you’re an urban coastal dweller, it can be a refreshing excursion to head away from the busy big cities towards more relaxed rural and suburban towns, or even trek deep into the wilderness and escape civilization altogether. Whether you’re looking to meditate or sweat it out on a strenuous hike, there’s a reason for everyone to head away from the city every once in a while.
California isn’t just cosmopolitan San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. A little further from the Pacific Ocean are beautiful smaller towns with historic architecture reminiscent of Wild West films. You can soar in a hot air balloon over majestic green fields, sample local wines, hike through forests and deserts, and generally experience a more relaxed vibe you’re unlikely to find in urban Los Angeles. Plus, all these activities are outdoors and pandemic-safe!
If you’re looking for an inland weekend getaway lined with mountains and lakes rather than the beach or new trendy restaurants, here are some popular destinations in California perfect for that short, nature-oriented excursion:
1. Joshua Tree
Located about 130 miles southeast of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree is a popular destination for southern California residents looking for a getaway into nature. The park is named after the Joshua trees native to the Mojave Desert. Its climate is dry and temperatures often reach over 100 degrees during the summer days. Many of its campgrounds are right by hiking trails with varying lengths. Joshua Tree is also popular with rock climbers, full of short climbs of varying levels of difficulty.
You can check out a list of their campgrounds here. As you can see, it doesn’t look like your typical camping in the woods!
Aside from the dry desert climate, visitors also enjoy birdwatching with the 250+ bird species that inhabit the area. Its distance from urban life makes it a great spot for stargazing and astronomy since you’re free of the light pollution of the cities.
This is also the place to go if you’re looking to feel like you’re in a Wild West flick. Outside the park is Pioneertown, a community built in the 1940s for creating films set in the 1880s. Don’t be surprised if you’ll feel like pretending to be a cowboy.
2. Big Sur
If you strongly prefer a more Mediterranean climate over a hot, dry desert, check out Big Sur. Big Sur is a mountainous area located along the central coast. Lined with spectacular views of the mountains and Pacific Ocean, the coastal drive there is one of the most scenic driving routes in the country.
If you need help getting around this magnificent destination, there are tour guides who can take you on hiking and vehicle tours. If you’d rather not sleep in a tent, Big Sur actually has plenty of hotels and resorts. If you need a break from the wilderness, you can check out their art galleries and shop from local artisans.
3. Palm Springs
The most urban item on this list is Palm Springs of Coachella Valley (yes, Coachella is a place and not just the festival). Not all resorts have to be walking distance to an ocean. Despite the abundance of palm trees and pool parties associated with more coastal areas, Palm Springs is quite inland, 120 miles east of Los Angeles. It may not be a beach town, but you can find a relaxed, “anything goes” vibe there as well.
The city has a hot, dry desert climate with temperatures often flying over 100 degrees. It’s common for celebrities to head there, so be prepared to be starstruck. Even though it’s the desert, that doesn’t stop it from hosting tons of cultural events such as the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
You can view their COVID-19 updates here.
4. Catalina Island
Take a ferry from Long Beach for an hour and you’ll reach rocky Catalina Island, a destination popular for scuba diving, snorkeling, and touring shipwrecks and reefs on glass bottom boats. If you’re looking to stay on land, there’s over 165 miles of hiking trails, some that are loop trails so you won’t have to worry about getting lost. If you’re really looking to challenge yourself over a few days, you can try the 38.5 mile Trans-Catalina hike.
Hollywood movies are often filmed here, so who knows what star you might see?
5. Big Bear Lake
Southeast of Los Angeles is Big Bear Lake where you’ll find plenty of people fishing, boating, and jetskiing. If you’re looking for something rustic, you can stay overnight in wooden cabins. Over the colder months, the area becomes popular for skiing and snowboarding. The ski lifts stay open after the snow melts so you can take a panoramic ride for the views.
Animal lovers rejoice! Big Bear features a zoo that takes care of injured animals. You’ll get to meet mountain lions, bears, and eagles up close. The injured animals are released back into the wild once they’re ready.
6. Mammoth Mountain
You don’t have to fly all the way to Hawaii to see a volcano. Mammoth Mountain is a lava dome complex deep within central inland California popular with skiers in the winter. During warmer months, the gondolas are still in use mainly for views. Yes, no need to head to the Alps for gondolas. When you need to cool down, head to one of the many lakes.
If you’re planning on overnight stay, you can choose between dog-friendly campgrounds or full-on large hotels. There’s quite a few restaurants, so don’t worry if you run out of food.
7. Solvang
Have you been dying to go to Europe but don’t want to pay that hefty price tag? Head on over to the town of Solvang, a little piece of Scandinavia in central California in the Santa Ynez Valley. Founded by a group of Danish immigrants in the early 1900s, Solvang’s architecture is pretty much that of a traditional Danish village. Solvang is home to multiple bakeries, stores, and restaurants offering authentic Danish products and cuisine.
8. Temecula Valley
Imagine flying in a hot air balloon, hovering over majestic green fields that look like ones you’ve seen in movies. That’s one of the many activities available at the Temecula Valley, a popular destination for wine lovers 90 minutes southeast from Los Angeles.
Take a walk into the past at Old Town Temecula as you shop locally-crafted artisan goods and enjoy some wine tasting. If you need to relax and unwind after that, check out their spas and casinos.
9. Sequoia National Park
The land between Fresno and Bakersfield is one of giants -- giant trees to be exact. The park is known for its variety of ecosystems, featuring lush meadows, glacial canyons, and lake basins. The diversity makes the park popular with environmental scientists and Mount Whitney, the highest point in the United States, makes it a wonder for the rest of us. You can either rest up in your campground or at a lodge before heading up the mountain.
The trees often grow to be over 200 feet and can live over 2000 years. The forest is also home to General Sherman, the largest living tree on earth at 275 feet.
If you’ve got the courage for a darker adventure, the park has hundreds of caves with one open to the public.
Exploring towns and nature in the outdoors is one of the safer fun activities right now. Being outdoors can be rejuvenating and calming, physically and mentally taking you away from your busy life. Since your gym might be closed, you can work towards your fitness goals the natural way by hiking up a mountain or through the woods, further releasing endorphins that can improve your mental health.
What are some of your favorite weekend escapes? Let us know down below!