Los Angeles is one of the most exciting, enthralling cities on the planet, and can be hugely exciting to visit and experience with your young children. However, while there’s plenty to see and do within the city limits, it can also be a great idea to expand your vacation radius a little further and explore the surroundings areas. Here are five amazing day trips that anyone vacationing in LA should definitely consider.
#1 – Solvang
It’s fair to say that Solvang is rather unique when it comes to places to visit in California – due in no small part that it doesn’t quite seem as if you’re in California at all, but rather several thousands of miles to the east in Denmark. The city is particularly famed for its Danish architecture and windmills, but you’ll also be guaranteed an amazing time visiting the incredible (primarily Danish-focused) museums, browsing the eclectic range of shops, and even pausing to sample the local delicacies in one of the many eateries in the city. To visit the city from LA, you’ll need to be prepared for a travel time of around two and a half hours each way – but the charm of Solvang means it is absolutely worth the journey.
#2- San Diego
The distance between two of California’s most well-known cities is not insignificant (expect to spend about two hours on the road), but the destination justifies the travel. San Diego is a beautiful city and even if only visiting for a day, you should still have the chance to explore the city; you could relax in the picturesque Balboa Park, stroll along the golden sand of Pacific Beach, visit the world famous zoo, or even rent a jet ski and head out onto the water.
#3 – Disneyland, Anaheim
If you’d rather not spend hours on the road traveling just to reach your day trip destination, then Disneyland – which is located in Anaheim – could well be the right choice for you. While the exact travel time will vary depending on where you’re staying in LA, it should take you less than an hour to travel from your hotel to the park entrance. Thanks to the brevity of the travel, planning this day trip is relatively straightforward; you’ll just need to find the best place to purchase your tickets and then work with your kids to decide which rides and attractions you want to prioritize while you are there.
#4 – Joshua Tree National Park
There’s a lot of beautiful natural sites in California, but Joshua Tree National Park is perhaps the most remarkable of all thanks to its serene beauty and sweeping, varied landscape. It takes around two and a half hours to travel from LA to the park, so you’ll need to plan your time carefully; a visit to The Arch – pictured above – is highly recommended; you can start at the White Tank Campground and reach the rock formation within 20 minutes or so. Alternatively, the Hidden Valley Loop Hike is a great choice that is relatively simple yet offers spectacular views.
If you are planning a visit to LA, then one of the day trips could be the perfect way to add a little extra boost to your trip.
