California Dreaming

With LAX as your starting point, you’re minutes away from dozens of only-in-Los Angeles experiences. Scout out your favorite celebrity’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Immerse yourself in Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood. Browse funky treasures on Melrose Avenue or rub elbows with big spenders on Rodeo Drive’sthree blocks of chic boutiques. Explore West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip and its legendary nightlife venues: The Roxy, the Whisky a Go Go, and the Comedy Store. Catch a live performance or a film showing at The Theater at Ace Hotel, a 1920s Spanish Gothic gem. Eat your way around the globe at bustling Grand Central Market, the largest and oldest public market in Los Angeles. Taste Michoacán-style cooked meats at Tacos Tumbras a Tomas, German sausages at Berlin Currywurst, Salvadoran pupusas at Sarita’s, and Korean fare at Shiku.

There may be no better place to people-watch than Santa Monica, a casually luxe coastal city that caters to indulgence. Upscale resorts, shops, and bistros attract well-heeled patrons who are living their best, beachiest lives. At the open-air Third Street Promenade, poodles wear designer denim to match their perfectly coiffed owners, and on 10 blocks of tree-lined Montana Avenue, style mavens browse one-of-a-kind clothing in posh boutiques. But over by the seaside, high fashion takes a holiday. Shorts and flip flops are just-right garb for a trip to the fun-loving Santa Monica Pier. Ride the pier’s solar-powered Ferris wheel for dazzling ocean vistas, and visit Heal the Bay’s aquariumtucked beneath the pier. Take a surf lesson from Santa Monica Surf School, or rent a beach cruiser and pedal along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail to the soundtrack of ocean waves.

On Malibu’s 27-mile-long stretch of postcard-perfect coastline, Hollywood stars and A-list athletes hide out in oceanfront mansions, enjoying front-row seats for unforgettable sunsets. But Malibu’s sun-drenched scenery welcomes everyone, famous or not. Take a stroll on Surfrider Beach, just off the Malibu Pier, where the right-break waves were designated as a World Surfing Reserve in 2010. Watch the breakers roll in at Zuma Beach, a sun magnet for locals and visitors. You’ll need a day or two to tour the ancient Greek and Roman art at The Getty Villa, browse the upscale shops at Malibu Country Mart, and spoon up clam chowder at Neptune’s Net, so plan on staying overnight. The Malibu Beach Inn is just steps away from the Pacific’s blue waves and soft-as-silk sand. 

Ventura’s pride is its breathtaking stretch of Pacific coast, where every day seems like endless summer. Go on a beach tour and pick your favorite: San Buenaventura Beach is the bustling “in-town” beach, anchored by Ventura’s1,620-foot-long pier. West of the pier is Surfer’s Point, a premier point break favored by longboarders. South of town, McGrath State Beach is a bird-watching and beach-walking paradise. To the north, Emma Wood State Beach lures surfers, swimmers, and surf anglers to its boulder-strewn strand. When you’re ready to brush off the sand, stroll through Ventura’s highly walkable downtown. Visit the 1782 Spanish mission, its grand-and-glorious City Hall, and laid-back hangouts like Palermo Coffee, Calico Cat Bookshop, and Topa Topa Brewing. Get schooled in local history at the Museum of Ventura County, then get some exercise: Hop on the 16-mile Ventura River Parkway Trail and pedal all the way to Ojai.

A picture-perfect Southern California beach has swaying palm trees and broad stretches of brayed-tan sand, and that’s exactly what you’ll find in Santa Barbara. This Riviera-esque city is a California postcard of whitewashed buildings and flowering bougainvillea. Watch for dolphins swimming by as you sunbathe on Butterfly Beach. Admire the historic Santa Barbara Mission’s twin bell towers, colorful rose gardens, and abalone-encrusted altar from the 1790s. Plunge back into modern times in the Funk Zone, a converted warehouse district decked out in colorful murals, groovy galleries, and inviting bistros. Taste The Nook’s burgers, Mony’s al pastor tacos, and Pearl Social’s tequila cocktails. Then cruise over to Santa Barbara’s 1929 Spanish Colonial courthouse to claim one of the city’s best vistas: Climb the stairs to its soaring clock tower for a glittering view of red rooftops and the shining sea.

With its colorful windmills, thatched-roofed buildings, and wooden storks dotting the downtown, Solvang charms even the most jaded travelers. Get out of the car for a self-guided walking tour or hop on the Solvang Trolley, a streetcar pulled by handsome draft horses. Stock up on almond kringle, butter rings, and Danish waffles at Olsen’s Danish Village, Mortensen’s, and other local bakeries, or debate the merits of vegan sausage versus meaty varieties at the Copenhagen Sausage Garden. When you can’t eat another bite of Solvang’s hygge-style cuisine, stroll through the olive groves of Mission Santa Ines, and listen to the 1915 wind harp near the Lutheran Church.

Santa Maria is bounded by more than 30 tasting rooms, but it’s also a laid-back ranching town where dinner attire is usually jeans and a Stetson hat. Taste the local vintages by riding the Santa Maria Wine Trolley, which stops at Cottonwood Canyon (cool wine caves), Costa de Oro (live music on weekends), and the brand-new Santa Maria Public Market. When it’s time to eat, barbecue is this town’s mainstay, especially Santa Maria tri-tip seared over flaming California red oak. Get yours at Shaw’s Steakhouse and Tavern, a local landmark since 1953 where the pitmaster grills your dinner over an oak firepit. Santa Maria is also a great city for Mexican food, with more than a dozen in-town taquerias clustered around Main Street and Broadway. Head to Birrieria la Charrita for beef or goat birria, tortas, menudo, or a plate of sizzling fajitas.

As you make your way back to Los Angeles International Airport, follow CA-154 through Los Olivos. Horse ranches meet world-class vineyards in this tiny cowboy town, where the local saddlery and high-end eateries occupy the same block. Stroll past early-20th century cottages with white picket fences, home to boutiques, day spas, art galleries, and 25-plus wine tasting rooms. Sip something sparkling at Fess Parker’s The Bubble Shack, then head to Bar Le Côte for a perfect pairing of french fries and oysters. Rent an e-bike from Pedego Electric Bikes and breeze along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, braking for crisp Riesling at Koehler Winery and robust Rhône varietals at Beckmen Vineyards. Or drift in a hot-air balloon over Los Olivos‘ endless vineyards and oak-dotted hills. When you’re back on earth, taste Chardonnay-flavored cupcakes in Saarloos + Sons tasting room, then sip hoppy IPAs on the sunny front porch of Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company.