Five Peaceful Retreats in Southern California

It's nice to go to museums, coffee houses, bars, clubs, concerts - the list could go on. But every now and then you probably feel the itch to get away from city life, high-rises and honking car horns and, instead, get back to nature.

There are plenty of places in Southern California that offer relaxing day-long retreats that allow you to enjoy beautiful scenery, lush gardens or the ability to walk and think in perfect peace. This may not be for everyone, but if you're looking for something different to do, or just want to get away, try one of these Southern California retreats.

Greystone Mansion and Park, Beverly Hills: Greystone is actually the former mansion of Edward Lawerence Doheny, but it is now considered a public park. The grounds have served as the former site of movie sets as well as private weddings, but you can visit here to enjoy beautiful gardens and get a great view looking down at Beverly Hills.

Every now and then tours are offered of the house and gardens along with teas, festivals and concerts. Tickets for such events vary. Check the site for more information on the specific day you plan on visiting.

Visit www.greystonemansion.org

Chino Hills State Park, Chino Hills: If you are more the rugged type and you are into hiking, any state park is a great retreat away from an urban setting. If you're not sure where to go, Chino Hills State Park is 12,500 acres to use for horseback riding, bikers and anyone on foot. Even on a crowded day, it feels like you are secluded and sealed away from people.

On any walking path, you can see animal tracks, a cool reminder that you are in the wilderness. Make sure to bring binoculars.

You have the option of parking just outside of the park and walking, or you can drive up the dirt path (beware though, it's a narrow, one-way road, so watch out for on-coming traffic). Parking is $4 on the honor system. You will hit a stand after traveling along the dirt road.

The Park also offers camping with bathroom facilities, but just remember that you're not fenced in from the animals. Avoid the park during mid-day summer afternoons. It can get pretty hot to the point of making your trip miserable.

Visit http://www.parks.ca.gov

The Huntington, San Marino: The Huntington is a mix of libraries, art collections and gardens. The mix of what you can see and do makes it an exciting trip if you are concerned that you may get board with just an entire trip of just gardens.

For the art lovers, there are two collections, the Huntington Art Gallery, which includes paintings and sculptures, and then there is the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art which spans work from 1690 to 1950. The buildings where the art is housed tend to get crowded sometimes, which defeats the purpose of going if you are trying to escape people, so plan your trip early in the morning or toward the end of the day.

As for the botanical gardens, there are several to choose from, including a Chinese Garden (which is new), a conservatory, Shakespeare garden, herb garden, jungle garden and a Japanese garden. This is a great place to pack up a lunch and sit on the grass and just relax in the shade. There is a café, but it gets a little pricey and can get crowded.

Visit www.huntington.org

Los Angeles Central Public Library, Los Angeles: I don't care how crowded this library gets, it is one of the most peaceful places to go. Plus, because it's a library, the noise decibel levels don't get too high.
Beautiful architecture and so many different book sections make it easy to separate yourself from everyone else. And unlike other, smaller public libraries, this one houses exhibits (depending on when you go). The other great thing? It's all free.

Visit www.lapl.org/central

Balboa Park Gardens, Balboa Park: The gardens at Balboa Park cover 1,200 acres divided amongst eight different gardens. Themes include a Japanese Friendship Garden, rose garden, desert garden and botanical building.
And despite the fact that you are near tourist attractions, such as the San Diego Zoo, you can still find peace and quiet here.

Visit www.balboapark.org