Desert, beach, vineyards, mountains, and more.
Summer has finally given way to fall, which honestly doesn’t mean much to those of us who call Los Angeles home. Aside from vaguely cooler temperatures and shorter days, our city remains as green and temperate as ever. But if you’re keen to experience a dash of autumn in the form of a day or weekend trip, we’ve got plenty of options ranging from luxurious wine country destinations (and no, we’re not talking about Napa), to stunning desert locales and mystical mountain towns—all of them just a few hours drive away. So grab a mask, sanitizer, and all the gear you’ll need for a memorable fall road trip, here are 11 weekend getaways to bookmark for the next time you’re itching to skip town:
Live the luxe life in Montecito
Home to Oprah Winfrey, Harry and Meghan, and plenty of other A-listers, the once-sleepy town of Montecito that used to be a place you just drove through on your way to Santa Barbara is now its own must-stop destination. Grab lunch at Honor Bar, where they don’t take reservations and lines can be long, but their menu of elevated shareables, burgers, and sandwiches is worth the wait. Head to the Folded Hills Tasting Room for wine tasting before checking out the iconic Rosewood Miramar Beach that’s been dubbed the American Riviera for its stunning architecture and sweeping landscapes.
Grab a bite to eat at Rosewood’s on-site restaurants like Caruso’s and Miramar Beach Bar, enjoy the ocean views just on the other side of the train tracks, or head to the beach—just east of the hotel is a public beach for all to enjoy. Guests and locals can take part in curated picnics offered by the hotel in partnership with Moët Hennessy. Select a chef-curated menu of sandwiches, snacks, salad, and desserts paired with wine for up to 12 guests, and find a spot to spread out on the property’s 16 acres, including on the beach. For dinner, visit Lucky’s Steakhouse—a Montecito institution that recently expanded to a second location in Malibu. Top Chef-testant Phillip Frankland Lee’s omakase sushi experience Sushi|Bar is a high-brow sushi experience ($125 per person) that just earned a Michelin star and is located in the Montecito Inn.
Drive: 1.5 hours
Stay: The quaint Montecito Inn is located in the heart of town, but live like the locals (read: royals) and treat yourself with an over-the-top stay at the Rosewood Miramar Beach hotel. And of course, there’s the creme de la creme San Ysidro Ranch, where the Kennedy’s honeymooned in 1953 if you want to keep up the living like a royal theme.