weekender.
Weekend trips from UC San Diego
Hidden spots near La Jolla, day trips and weekend road trips from UC San Diego 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 UC San Diego →Local finds near campus
La Jolla Cove
Sea lions on the rocks, kayaking into sea caves and snorkeling with leopard sharks (summer).
Encinitas & Moonlight Beach
Swami's surf break below a golden-domed meditation garden.
Sunset Cliffs
Sea caves and arches lit orange at sunset in Ocean Beach.
Coronado
A wide sparkling beach in front of the 1888 Hotel del Coronado, and the bay ferry back to downtown.
Potato Chip Rock
The famous thin rock ledge photo, on a 7-mile round-trip hike from Lake Poway. Go early: no shade.
Torrey Pines
Sandstone bluffs with the rarest pine in the US, down to Black's Beach.
Day trips
Palm Springs
Midcentury pool motels, palm oases in Indian Canyons and a rotating tram up the mountain.
Anza-Borrego & Borrego Springs
Giant metal dinosaur sculptures in the desert, wildflowers in spring and a dark-sky town.
Julian
A Gold Rush mountain town famous for apple pie, with snow a few times a winter.
Temecula wine country
Hot-air balloons at sunrise and relaxed wineries in rolling hills.
Laguna Beach
Hidden coves, tide pools and the Thousand Steps beach.
Los Angeles
Griffith Observatory over the lights, Koreatown at midnight and the Broad's mirror rooms.
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.
Palm Springs
Midcentury pool motels, palm oases in Indian Canyons and a rotating tram up the mountain.
Idyllwild
A mountain village with a dog as mayor, Tahquitz Rock and trails to San Jacinto Peak.
Kern River (Kernville)
Whitewater rafting through a granite canyon, a few hours from LA.
Long weekends
Salvation Mountain & Salton Sea
A hand-painted hill, Slab City's off-grid art town and the eerie shores of the Salton Sea.
Mojave Preserve & Kelso Dunes
Booming sand dunes that hum when you slide down, and free camping under the stars.
Joshua Tree
Twisted trees, boulder scrambles and some of the darkest skies near LA.
Valley of Fire (Nevada)
Swirling red and pink sandstone, petroglyphs and the Fire Wave, an hour past Las Vegas.
Death Valley
Salt flats below sea level, rainbow-colored hills and the darkest night sky in California.
Kern River (Kernville)
Whitewater rafting through a granite canyon, a few hours from LA.
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.
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