Travel Destinations in the Immediate Vicinity of Los Angeles

♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA

An abundance of travel options are open to travelers arriving in Los Angeles. Ranging from trips to the famous national parks: Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, a high-speed boat cruise to a magical island, tours of artist towns by the sea, trips to high and snowy mountains (only in winter), or to the desert. I will detail here only the places located within a 90-minute drive by car.

Los Angeles Map

Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is an artist town situated on the seashore in a beautiful bay, where sharp hills rise from the coast. The tourist area, which includes beaches, parks, and galleries, is located between Hawthorne Drive and Forest Ave. A large art festival takes place in the town every year from early July to late August. Every evening, a unique performance called Pageant of the Masters is held, in which dozens of people recreate famous paintings and sculptures with their bodies, accompanied by classical music and stunning scenery. Because the show is unique and changes every year, people flock to it from all over the world, so tickets must be ordered long in advance. It is recommended and unique, but small children may lose interest after a short time. The Laguna Beach visitor center is located at 252 Broadway. Hotels in the city are quite expensive, so it is advisable to avoid staying there.

Booking guided tours in Los Angeles from GetYourGuide.com:

Newport Beach

Newport Beach is a coastal city of about 70,000 residents located in Orange County, south of Los Angeles and north of Laguna Beach. It is built on the seashore, and its recommended tourist part is the Balboa Peninsula, adjacent to which is a small and picturesque man-made island called Balboa Island. A bridge and a tiny ferry, which has room for three cars at a time, connect the island and the peninsula. It is nice to sail on it to the island and walk among the small and picturesque houses, the beach, and the bridges connecting some of the streets. On the peninsula are long sandy bathing beaches and two long piers, where many fishermen try their luck. No fishing license is required from the piers, but a license is mandatory if you wish to fish in lakes, rivers, or beaches without a pier. If you are lucky, you might watch the capture of a stingray or a large octopus. Newport has a large yacht harbor with about 9,000 boats. Near the ferry dock is a small amusement park called Balboa Fun Zone, with carousels, shops, and restaurants.

It is pleasant to ride bicycles on the promenade along the beach. Family bicycles seating 4-6 people can be rented. The Newport Beach tourism bureau is located at 1470 Jamboree Rd.

You can go on a short 45 or 90-minute riverboat cruise. The boats depart from Balboa Pavilion. On the eastern side of Newport Beach (in Costa Mesa) near the I-405 road is a large and luxurious shopping center called South Coast Plaza, considered the largest shopping center in Orange County, with representatives of all the large and prestigious department stores. An impressive center that is pleasant to walk through, but the prices are high.