Roadtrip

Just under three-hours from LA is achingly cool Palm Springs. Famous for midcentury-modern architecture, mineral springs and the retro ring-a-ding-ding of the Rat Pack, this desert city radiates style. Its plethora of plush hotels, culinary offerings and cool cocktail bars is matched only by its astounding natural beauty. The hiking trails and pristine wilderness of the Mount San Jacinto State Park await at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Delving through dense stands of towering palms of Indian Canyons reveals trickling streams, electric bluetailed lizards and the ancient stories of the Agua Caliente Cahuilla people. Just a short drive east is Joshua Tree National Park, where the kinky-limbs and spiky leaves of its namesake trees share a landscape of weather-smoothed boulders, a cacophony of cacti, and dramatic vistas of mesas and mountains.

SUN &Sea

Two hours from LA, San Diego’s yearround sunshine, 100-kilometres of pristine coastline, vibrant arts scene and diversity of cuisine and culture, lend the city its special charm. Hit the hiking trails of the oceanfront Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve for sweeping Pacific views. Hire a bike to cycle the harbour from the Hilton San Diego Bayfront to Liberty Station, or slather on the sunscreen at one of San Diego’s dozens of beaches. Coronado Beach is flanked

SIP & Spa

by majestic mansions and the iconic Hotel del Coronado, La Jolla boasts reef breaks and a bay-like location, while Ocean Beach adds snoozing sea lions, sunsets and access to seaside eateries to the mix. Explore Balboa Park, home to world-class museums, cultural centres, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Military history enthusiasts should add the USS Midway Museum to their itinerary.

Ninety minutes from LA, Santa Barbara’s small-city, coastal vibes, cinematic festivals and fine wines have given it the moniker of the ‘American Riviera’, but this place has a charm all of its own. Beyond beaches, there’s fine fashion on State Street, even finer art at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and natural masterpieces along the meandering trails of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Take an island-hopping tour of the Channel Islands National Park, touted as the ‘Galapagos of the North’ for its unique flora and fauna. Melt into wellness offerings that run the gamut from underground salt caves to luxury spa hotels. For the wine-curious traveller, Santa Barbara offers a choice of an urban wine trail of tasting rooms and working wineries throughout the city or the rolling vineyards of nearby Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys.

MOUNTAINHigh

At just under five hours drive from LA, Mammoth Lakes, located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, never takes a day off from dazzling visitors. An otherworldly landscape of craters, alpine lakes and limestone towers, Mammoth Lakes lofty mountain terrain and pristine lakes beckon hikers, fishermen and kayakers during the warmer weather and snow enthusiasts in winter at the worldclass Mammoth Mountain. Located just a few miles east of the picture-book pretty town of Mammoth Lakes is Hot Creek Geological Site’s percolating cluster of blue pools, steamy fumaroles and erupting geysers. Another must see is the stunning formation of basalt columns of Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls. Mammoth is not only a gateway to ski resorts but to Yosemite National Park, a legendary Californian landmark as famous for its abundant wildlife as it is for its vertigo-inducing cliffs, deep valleys, thundering waterfalls and towering ancient sequoias. For a spooky touch of history, visit the ghost town at Bodie State Historic Park.