Devan and Marley's travel guide for California

For Lisa and John

LAX In'n'out

~1hr-2hr drive

The in'n'out on sepulveda is RIGHT by LAX which makes it a weirdly great little stop if you just flew in. It sits directly under the landing approach so you can eat a burger and watch planes come right overhead as they land. The drive-thru will be atrocious, so I recommend going inside. This one is Dad's recommendation since Marley and I never stopped here.

The Grove

~45m drive

It’s a walkable strip with restaurants, a movie theater, and a lot of people-watching. It gets busy, especially weekends, and parking can be a pain, but it’s an easy place to wander for an afternoon, grab dinner, and catch a movie without needing a big plan.

Santa Monica Pier

~45m drive

The wooden pier at the end of Santa Monica, sticking out over the beach. You can walk all the way out over the water, ride the Ferris wheel, and drop down onto the sand afterward. It’s busy and a bit touristy, and parking takes a little patience, but being out on the pier with the ocean on both sides is one of the better simple stops in the area. Plan on a few hours if you want to wander, eat, and stay for the beach.

Santa Monica Promenade

~45m drive

The outdoor pedestrian street in downtown Santa Monica, a few blocks from the pier, and ending at the Santa Monica Mall. Shops, restaurants, street performers, and a lot of foot traffic since there's no vehicles allowed. It can be a little crowded, but convenient if you're already visiting the beach or the pier. Marley likes the two-story Barne's and Noble, and There's an excellent ice cream spot.

Peterson Auto Museum

~50m-1.5hr drive

Car museum on Wilshire in mid-city LA. Actually a super cool place if you're into cars/car movies. Exhibits are entire rooms full of historic vehicles, or Hollywood pieces like the Delorean from Back to the Future/Camaro from Transformers etc. The traffic getting there can be bad, and parking isn't free. If you like cars don't miss it, otherwise skip.

Knott's Berry Farm

~1.5hr-2.5hr drive

Rollercoaster park in Anaheim. I have to include this one since it genuinely surprised me the first time I visited in August. Its smaller and less intense than six flags. Also, the terrain is completely flat making it much easier to get around. The lines are short and the rides are long. All that being said, it is a further drive, and traffic can make it worse. The cost of tickets/parking/food at the park can all add up so watch your wallet while you're there. Overall an awesome park, while being a little small, it's still a lot of fun and can make an entire day.

Thousand Oaks

This is Home, so it’s not really a sightseeing spot. Come by, hang out with us, eat somewhere nice, and use it as the quiet place in between the bigger day trips. It’s suburban and calm compared to L.A., which is kind of the point if you’ve been out all day.

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

~10m drive

Up on a hill in Simi Valley, not far from home. The grounds are open and quiet. The Air Force One pavilion is much more impressive in person than it sounds/looks in photos. There's a replica oval office, and an exhibit for the Dead Sea scrolls. The parking is easy and free, and there's virtually never traffic getting there from home. Plan on 2 or 3 hours

Neptunes Net

~40m drive

Old seafood shack on PCH right by the water, just past Malibu. It's baskets of fried seafood, picnic tables, bikes out front and the ocean right across the Road. Sitting outside with a plate next to the ocean is the main reason people keep showing up, that and the motorcycles. The drive there is very pretty too whether you take the coast or the canyons.

Mugu Missile Park

~30m drive

Two stops right nearby each other. The missile park is one of my favorite places along PCH (Pacific Coast HWY). It's a small outdoor museum of old Navy aircraft and Missiles (F-14 Tomcat/ F4 Phantom/ etc.). It's a short stop if you're just beginning or ending your drive along the coast with a little military history. Mugu Rock is another part of California's history where the Mountain was blasted to make room for more road. Not much to see here, but I had to include it. Also, only 10m away from Neptunes

Topanga Lookout

~1hr drive

A pull-off in the Santa Monica Mountains with a wide view of the ocean on one side, and the canyons on the other. It's an easy stop if you're on your way to Neptune's Net. You can get a great view from right where you park, so no need for a hike, however there is a trail leading up the hill towards an abandoned foundation that makes an even better lookout spot. Good for 10 or 20 minutes, then keep driving. Sometimes it can be cold so bring a jacket.

Golf'n'Stuff

~30m drive

The old mini-golf and arcade place in Ventura, it's got go-karts, bumper boats and a wicked castle. It's old but it's got charm. Close enough to home that you don't need to set aside an entire day for it.

Stearn's Wharf

~1hr-1.5hr drive

Stearn's Wharf, the wooden pier in downtown Santa Barbara. A walk around, grab food, and there's a Museum on the wharf. It's less of an amusement park so it's a lot calmer than Santa Monica pier and a lot less crowded. Great to pair with a walk around downtown.

State St. Promenade

~1hr-1.5hr drive

Santa Barbara's main downtown street, the stretch you walk after the wharf. Shops, restaurants and an open street with the mountains at one end of the view. There's no traffic allowed on this street so walk wherever you like, stop if you're hungry, and you can explore as much as you'd like. Can still be busy on weekends but overall a lot less crowded than LA. Super easy way to see the town without a plan.

Six Flags: Magic Mountain

~1hr drive

SIX FLAGS! Big Roller-coaster park in Santa Clarita. If you like rollercoasters don't skip six flags. It definitely gets busy so go during a weekday if possible, and wear sunscreen. Tickets, parking, and food at the park all add up, but you could easily spend all day here and have a great time. Side note: The "Mountain" in Magic Mountain is there for a reason, the park is a little hilly which makes it a hike to get to different parts sometimes.

Pacific Surfliner

~15m drive

(to the Moorpark station)

Amtrak's coastal train, you can Catch it at the station in Moorpark and ride it up to Santa Barbara or down toward LA, or even all the way to San Diego. The views are beautiful if you take it up North. Extremely smooth and quiet ride, and you won't get stuck in traffic, and it's extremely cheap. Though buying the tickets isn't as simple as it seems so just prepare ahead of time so you don't miss it.

Big Bear

~2.5-3.5hr drive

A mountain lake town a couple of hours inland, it's much cooler, and you'll likely find snow in winter. The town is walkable, food, shops, right near the water. Places to ski/snowboard and lots of other snow activities. Worth a whole day if you're gonna take the long drive up there.