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.

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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!

xoxo, Irose

Summer is officially here, which means longer, hotter days and plenty of sunshine.

The virus is still out there, which unfortunately means that we can’t dance at music festivals or party all day at a crowded bar. However, this doesn’t mean your days will be spent watching the same Netflix shows in your pajamas. There are several activities both indoors and outdoors that are safe to enjoy, ones that won’t get in the way of masking up and practicing social distancing.

If you’re located in Los Angeles (like us) or Orange County, we have some local recommendations for you!

Here are 10 ways that you can enjoy summer 2020 while staying safe and healthy.

1. Go hiking

Hiking trails were among the first places to open during reopening. Most hiking trails are wide enough you won’t come within 6 feet of others while enjoying nature and splendid views.

Los Angeles has several hiking trails with varying intensities. Less experienced hikers will enjoy many trails at Griffith Park while more experienced hikers will feel more challenged more north around Malibu.

For easy hikes with beautiful coastal views, check out Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach, Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, Los Liones Trailhead in Malibu.

Feel like challenging yourself by climbing steep trails? Head to East LA towards the Angeles National Forest for some high elevation views and waterfalls. Here’s a list of some of the tougher hikes here if you’re looking to sweat for miles!

2. Go to the beach

Beaches were also among the first to open and are a great way to get some sunshine without having to move. The amount of space and typical pre-pandemic practices (nobody sets up their station within 6 feet of strangers anyway) makes social distancing come naturally. You’ll be able to see plenty of other humans with limited social and physical contact while going for a walk by the ocean.

We recommend Santa Monica/Venice for the beach, but since a million others are saying the same thing, you can head south to Hermosa or Manhattan Beach (pictured below) to avoid the occasional crowding. If you feel like taking a trip further south to Orange County, Laguna Beach is a beautiful option as well.

Don’t forget that even at beaches, there are guidelines. Some beaches may require masks and some won’t let you build sand castles. Each beach will have its own rules, so make sure you watch out for any signs before entering.

3. Other outdoor individual sports such as surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking

Hiking is fun and rewarding, but temperatures are climbing and some days are too hot for hiking. If you’d like to stay active outdoors in a way that’s easy to cool off, try water activities such as paddle boarding. These activities don’t lead to much physical contact and are typically carried out at a safe distance from your friends sans virus.

If you’re looking to hang out in a group of people, the nature of these activities requires distancing between all of you anyway. You’ll just need to rent some equipment for a fee.

4. Camping

If you can’t get enough of the outdoors, go camping! Since camping requires an extended amount of time away from home, make sure you pack plenty of sanitizer and other cleaning equipment. Make sure all utensils and plates are properly sanitized and not shared. Set up your campsite far from others and acknowledge the rules of your campsite and any trails you visit. If they’re closed, there might be a good reason why.

5. Picnic in your yard or other open spaces

Picnics are a great way to relax outdoors while enjoying some food. Public parks and beaches often have plenty of room to lay down a blanket far from others with members of your household.

Santa Monica has some of the lovelier parks we’ve seen, but since so many others agree, they tend to get crowded. For a shadier location that isn’t typically crowded, the base of Ferndell Nature Trail is a great place to relax and watch hikers pass by. Here’s a detailed list of many of the parks in LA.

6. Scenic drive down PCH

Going to visit an older relative soon? If you’d like to play it safer, you can still enjoy the sunshine within the confines of your car. Fortunately, there are many locations with plenty of beautiful scenery that can be appreciated just from driving. No need to get out of the car.

A well-known scenic drive in Los Angeles is definitely Pacific Coast Highway, a highway right next to the Pacific Ocean graced by several palm trees. Start in Santa Monica and make your way up to Malibu. For a more southern destination, start in Seal Beach and make your way down Orange County.

7. Take a walk and explore your city

Another way to get on the move without trekking up hills is to simply take a walk around your city. Since many shops are still closed, now is the time to appreciate the outdoor landscape. Instead of dining in a restaurant, look for street art, such as murals, sculptures, and other monuments. The augmented reality game Pokemon Go will help lead you to historical landmarks. It’ll be like going to an outdoor museum for free!

8. Learn a new skill

Want to be productive while staying indoors? Take up a new skill. Instead of partying, your nights can be spent learning a new instrument, becoming better at one you already play, or learning how to paint. Honing a skill definitely counts as a glow-up.

You don’t have to go out and take a class for this. YouTube and Google will give you plenty of online resources. If you’re looking to gain new job skills, have a look at e-learning platforms like Udemy, Udacity, Coursera, or Skillshare.

9. Take a road trip

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can take a road trip with members of your household. A road trip could combine many of the above points and won’t cost as much as usual since gas prices have dropped.

Remember to pack plenty of food, extra face masks, and sanitizer for the long rides. As you move through different cities and states, rules will vary. Some places are more lenient than others with venue capacity, so you may end up at crowded restaurants and hotels. If you plan on staying in hotels or AirBnBs, make sure everything is sanitized.

10. Foster a new pet

If you’re willing to take on several new responsibilities, a pet is a great way to have more company. The pandemic has slowed pet adoption down, which means plenty of dogs and cats are without a home. Reach out to a nearby shelter to discuss your options and the responsibilities of fostering.

If you’re unable to foster but still would like to help the animals out, most shelters are taking donations.

Images by our in-house photographer Sharon

9 Mini Road Trips To Explore In California