Great Los Angeles Weekend Get-A-Way Spots

Sometimes, you just need to get away but you are either on a tight budget or you don't want to spend your free time driving and traveling. Here are a couple of suggestions to visit either for a day or for a relaxing weekend get-a-way for those who live close to Los Angeles.

My favorite road trip is on Highway 101 from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara County. It's a two hour drive and it's absolutely beautiful. The drive includes ocean-side views, rolling hills, and cliffs. The town of Malibu is filled with oceanside views, canyons, and beaches. A great location to stop and get breakfast or brunch. I highly recommend Geoffrey's restaurant in Malibu, California. It is located on a cliff and you get a spectacular view of the ocean. You might even run into a celebrity or two.

After breakfast, head to Solvang. A Danish community that is filled with quaint little shops filled with delicious chocolates and candies. After a couple of hours of shopping, check into the Hadsten House. Rooms start at approximately $135.00. You can take a short stroll through their winery or visit one of the wineries in the area. My personal favorite is the Wandering Dog Wine Bar. A quaint atmosphere that offer tasty boutique wines.

The next morning, enjoy a complimentary breakfast buffet. Afterward, enjoy being pampered in their day-spa or go on a bicycling tour. The Nojoqui Falls County Park is only eight miles a way and is a great place to enjoy a day outdoors. For a fun evening, try your hand at gambling in the Chumash Casino which is only four mile away.

On your way back home, visit Inn of Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon. An adorable restaurant nestled in a forest a rolling brook. If you arrive during sunset, witness a fairy like setting with twinkly lights and outside seating. A perfect way to end a great weekend get-a-way.