weekender.
Weekend trips from CalArts
Hidden spots near Valencia, day trips and weekend road trips from CalArts in November, scored 1–10 on price, timing and what's happening, with gas, park fees, a campsite or room and food included.
Plan your own trip from CalArts →Local finds near campus
Vasquez Rocks
Tilted sandstone slabs where Captain Kirk fought the Gorn, and a hundred other westerns and sci-fi films. Free.
Sandstone Peak
The highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains, with Channel Islands views.
Malibu Creek State Park
The M*A*S*H set, a volcanic rock pool for swimming and Century Lake, in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Venice & Santa Monica
The skatepark, the canals and a bike ride along the boardwalk to the pier.
Day trips
Calico Ghost Town
A silver-mining boomtown on the way to Vegas, with a mine you can walk into.
Los Angeles
Griffith Observatory over the lights, Koreatown at midnight and the Broad's mirror rooms.
Ojai
An artsy valley known for its 'pink moment' sunset and an outdoor bookstore.
Palos Verdes
Tide pools, a sea arch and the Portuguese Bend coves on LA's quiet peninsula.
Santa Barbara
Spanish-revival streets, the Funk Zone's tasting rooms and Inspiration Point above it all.
Point Mugu
A sand dune you can run down to the ocean and canyon trails behind it.
Weekend trips
Anza-Borrego & Borrego Springs
Giant metal dinosaur sculptures in the desert, wildflowers in spring and a dark-sky town.
Salvation Mountain & Salton Sea
A hand-painted hill, Slab City's off-grid art town and the eerie shores of the Salton Sea.
Joshua Tree
Twisted trees, boulder scrambles and some of the darkest skies near LA.
Death Valley
Salt flats below sea level, rainbow-colored hills and the darkest night sky in California.
Palm Springs
Midcentury pool motels, palm oases in Indian Canyons and a rotating tram up the mountain.
Kern River (Kernville)
Whitewater rafting through a granite canyon, a few hours from LA.
Long weekends
Anza-Borrego & Borrego Springs
Giant metal dinosaur sculptures in the desert, wildflowers in spring and a dark-sky town.
Salvation Mountain & Salton Sea
A hand-painted hill, Slab City's off-grid art town and the eerie shores of the Salton Sea.
Joshua Tree
Twisted trees, boulder scrambles and some of the darkest skies near LA.
Death Valley
Salt flats below sea level, rainbow-colored hills and the darkest night sky in California.
Valley of Fire (Nevada)
Swirling red and pink sandstone, petroglyphs and the Fire Wave, an hour past Las Vegas.
Palm Springs
Midcentury pool motels, palm oases in Indian Canyons and a rotating tram up the mountain.
Personalize it
Set your budget, how many friends are coming, your car (or no car: train and bus), and what you're into (hiking, beaches, camping, stargazing, food and more), and Weekender re-ranks every trip for you, with a day-by-day plan, directions and campsites.
Find my trips from CalArts →