Five of the Coolest Day Trips from Los Angeles

One of the greatest cities in the world is home to amazing weather, beautiful scenery and fabulous shopping. It also boasts some of the coolest places to take a quick and fun day trip. "Day-cations" are a fool proof way to get your travel fix and stay within a recession era budget! Instead of a week and lots of dough, try these five cool LA Day Trips.

1. Ojai, CA. Located about 80 miles north of Los Angeles, Ojai is one of the most scenically beautiful places in the area. This lovely little enclave was photographed to represent Shangri-La in the 1939 classic movie, The Lost Horizon. One can enjoy the natural beauty by strolling, jogging, biking or horse back riding along the Ojai Valley Trail, which starts on Fox St. and runs nine miles to the outskirts of Ventura.

Ojai is also famous for it's artistic vibe there are plenty of quality local galleries to browse in the quaint down town. The Ojai Center for the Arts, (113 S. Montgomery St.), founded in 1939 is the oldest multi-purpose, non-profit art center in California. Monthly art and photography shows, theatrical productions, and chamber music concerts are just some of the many activities put on by the center. Log on to ojaiartcenter.org for times and listings of events.

In June the city hosts the Ojai Music Festival in Libbey Park. (E. Ojai Ave), Set in a beautiful outdoor amphitheater surrounded by majestic California Oaks, the event draws large crowds and great musicians playing both classical and contemporary music. This year the festival will be the week of June 9-11th. For more info go to ojaifestival.org.

Don't leave Ojai before you stop at Movino Wine Bar and Gallery. This cozy little place is located downtown and has a great wine list and even better food. Enjoy the offerings outside on their patio or stay indoors and listen to live jazz after 9:00PM on weekends. Movino Wine Bar (308 E. Ojai Ave.), is the perfect place to sit with friends and talk after a great day of incredible art, natural beauty, the fresh air that is Ojai.

2. Palm Springs-Just a quick two hour drive, Palm Springs is the coolest desert town around! Home to movie stars, amazing mid century architecture and a plethora of upscale retirees who like to indulge in the numerous golf and tennis facilities, Palm Springs is a perfect day trip.

A great way to spend the day is to check out the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, (1 Tramway Rd.). Open daily with a tram leaving every half hour, the Tram is offers a different perspective of the town. Beginning at the base of San Jacinto Mountain, the journey takes you up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon to a top elevation 8,516 ft. elevation. Once at the top enjoy an amazing dinner with a view of the city at Peaks Restaurant. Or scale it down and have a light lunch at the cafeteria style restaurant, The Pines. Just for kicks have a cocktail at the Lookout Lounge and really soak up the city lights of Palm Springs.

If you're more interested in lower elevations, Palm Springs itself will not disappoint. Check out old school fine dining at Copley's. True the place is full of aging senior citizens, but this just adds to the grown up ambiance of the place. Copley's, located on the main drag at 621 Palm Canyon Drive, is the kind of place you can visualize Sinatra and the Pack having a steak and a martini.

If shopping for vintage furniture is your idea of fun, stop at the Estate Sale Company located at 4185 East Palm Canyon Drive. This Palm Springs institution sells furniture and accessories from all eras from the funkiest 70's disco mod to Hollywood Regency to Mad Men style mid century modern. It's huge, it's fun and it will take up an entire day if you allow it, but it offers a glimpse into Palm Springs era of the past. It's so ring-a-ding-ding! Just like the city it's located in.

3. Long Beach has a reputation as a gritty beach town, but it's so much more than that. Home to an abundant cultural atmosphere, a great place to start in Long Beach is the Art Theater, (2025 E. 4th St.). Built in 1934 this historic landmark, Art Deco designed theater screens independent and foreign films, documentaries and animated features. Enjoy a latte at the coffee bar or a glass of wine at the wine bar before embarking on a cinematic treat.

For a delicious choice of great eateries and eclectic shopping, head over to Belmont Shores. This funky enclave has a thriving nightlife. For a great meal and fine wine, try Fora on 2nd St. Second St. is the main drag in Belmont Shores and it is filled with an assortment of interesting shops. Try Blue Window if you're looking for an unusual gift. The store also has great gift wrapping.

Long Beach was built with canals and one can take a gondola ride through Naples, one of the eclectic and rich neighborhoods located on the water. Gondoliers will guide you through a tour complete with pizza and pasta in a Venetian style cruise. Contact gondo.net for more info.

One of the big draws in Long Beach in the unparalleled Long Beach Aquarium. Open 9:00AM to 6:00PM every day of the year, walking into facility you will be greeted by the 350,000 gallon Tropical Reef Habitat. The exhibit includes thousands of fish and incredible coral, sea horses and sea dragons to name a few. Be sure and visit the Shark Lagoon which has over 150 sharks that you can actually touch! Feedings are a great time to visit, but there are also daily presentations and lectures featuring the sharks. Long Beach is the little beach town that is a great place to visit.

4. Pasadena is an affluent community few minutes from downtown Los Angeles. Home to the yearly Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game, the stadium where the Rose Bowl (1001 Rose Bowl Dr.), is played is a great place to be if you're a flea market maven. The Rose Bowl Flea Market takes place the second Sunday of every month and it is filled with an amazing array of vendors selling their wares. Everything from furniture, arts and crafts and food is all here once a month. Plan on coming early and paying cash.

If flea markets are not your thing, check out the Huntington Library. (1151 Oxford Road). Featuring one of the most lush gardens and grounds in the area, the Huntington also boasts a first rate art collection which includes such diverse works as Thomas Gainsborough's "Blue Boy" to Edward Hoppers "The Long Leg". Afterward enjoy the Rose Garden Tea Room and have a traditional English Tea while sitting in the heart of the botanical gardens. Reservations are required for tea, but anyone can enjoy a light meal at the Cafe.

Another delightful area to visit is Old Town Pasadena, located on E. Colorado Blvd and S. Fair Oaks. Old Town is filled with unique stores and boutiques along with the standard staples of any shopping area such as an Apple Store, Sephora, and Crate and Barrel. After shopping stop at Gale's, for great Italian food at a reasonable price. Located right in the thick of things at 452 S. Fair Oaks, Gale's has great pizza and pasta along with fresh fish and steaks. Pasadena is a great mix of city and small town and, is a lively way to spend the day.

5. Malibu is more than surfers and Pam Anderson. It is home to some of the most beautiful and yes, famous beaches on the planet. Surfers gather at Surfrider Beach, one of the premier breaks in the world. On the west side of Malibu Creek there is a nature preserve, complete with picnic table and great bird watching area. Nature and cultural tours are held seasonally. Call 310-456-8432 to schedule a tour.

A few hundred feet north on Pacific Coast Highway you will find the Adamson House, (23200 Pacific Coast Highway). Situated to take advantage of incredible views, the National and State Historical Landmark features distinct Malibu Tiles throughout the home. Beautiful teak furnishing, hand painted murals and led windows decorate the house.

Walk across the street the the Malibu Country Mart, (3856 Cross Creek Rd.). This great little outdoor shopping center has everything you need. Coffee shops, a movie theater, an outdoor play area for the kids and upscale clothing, furniture and art galleries fill the tidy little center. Howdy's Taqueria has delicious Mexican food and you can sit outside while eating and people watching. You never know if a Hollywood celebrity might saunter by. Hey, it could happen, it's Malibu!

Another scenic place to spend the day is the Getty Villa, (17985 Pacific Coast Highway). Perched high on a cliff overlooking the Pacific, the Villa was originally a home to oil billionaire J. Paul Getty. Getty designed the palatial estate to mimic an Italian villa overlooking the ocean. Later the estate became a museum featuring Getty's personal collection of Ancient Greco and Roman art. The stunning viewing pool and Inner Peristyle are filled with sculptures, trees, flowers and water features. The Getty Villa Cafe has a great menu for a reasonable price and don't hesitate to plan your trip on a Thursday afternoon where you can enjoy Tea by the Sea. Starting at 1:00PM, enjoy Mediterranean inspired food and deserts, cheese and fruit. Reservations are required. Log onto getty.edu for more information.

End the day at Malibu by strolling down to the beach and kicking off your shoes. Breath in the fresh ocean air and be glad you're in Los Angeles, which is home to some of the best, most fascinating and fantastic day trips around.