FROM DESERT TO OCEAN - EXPLORING SOCAL
Exploring the mountains, deserts, and beaches of Southern California
Southern California has been one of our favorite places to visit in the world.
Whether you're seeking world class art and architecture, a cornucopia of global cuisine, white sand beaches, or otherworldly hikes, Southern California has it all in spades!
Our 7-day trip started in the deserts of Yucca Valley where we hiked among giant pines in the serene mountain forests of Mt. San Jacinto. Then we explored the Martian landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park.
From there, we returned to LA to wander among the priceless works of art and ancient artifacts of the Getty Villa and Getty Museum as well as the remote beaches north and south of LA.
Southern California offers an amazing diversity of landscapes, activities, and sights. One moment you'll be in a bustling metropolis and the next you'll wonder if you've been stranded on a remote island.
Join us as we explore one of our favorite corners of the world!
Days
Day 1: Arrive in LAX; Drive to Yucca Valley
Transit day
Our original plan was to hit up a few sights along the way to Joshua Tree National Park, but delays meant that we ended up foregoing most of our original plans. We did stop in Rowland Heights where there's plenty of great Asian cuisine options to choose from whether you're in the mood for Vietnamese, Chinese, or Korean. Be aware that the traffic along this route can be downright stagnant so give yourself plenty of time. Unfortunately, we didn't get to stop at the UC Riverside Botnaic Gardens as we had originally planned.
Visit
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UC Riverside Botanic Gardens
A planned hike that we had to skip due to the unexpected traffic along the way. Closes at 3 PM so plan accordingly. -
Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park
Along the route in.
Eat
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99 Ranch Market
We stopped in the Rowland Heights area to pick up some fruit and snacks as well as to grab a bite before heading out to Yucca Valley. If you're heading out to Joshua Tree National Park to camp, this is a great place to pick up ramen and noodles. -
Little Pan in Changsha Fever 生小煎在鸡飞蛙跳
We initially planned to stop here along our way into Yucca Valley, but the restaurant doesn't open in the afternoon until 5 PM. The pork buns looked amazing online so we're quite sad that we missed it. -
Stater Bros. Markets
Located near our Airbnb, we ended up picking up perishables here for our stay (eggs, butter, milk).
Stay
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Airbnb - Bonanza Drive, Yucca Valley
Our Airbnb for this leg of the trip was located in Yucca Valley. We decided that since we would make a day trip in to Palm Springs, it wasn't worth it to pay extra to stay in Palm Springs (as there was a golf tournament as well as a film festival during this week). Yucca Valley is much quieter -- which was great for us -- but still conveniently located for our hikes and day trips. We'd recommend this area if you plan on heading out to JTNP or Palm Springs as it is lower cost but still very convenient.
Transit
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Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Target arrival at 6:30 AM; flight rescheduled to 8:25 AM -
LAX airport (LAX)
Arrive at LAX and rent a car. -
Dollar Rental Car LAX
11 AM pick up. -
LAX airport (LAX) → Yucca Valley
Estimated 2 hours by driving
Photos
Day 2: Palm Springs Day Trip
Mountain hikes and downtown sights
Our day started with a ride up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway which took us up to Mt. San Jacinto State Park. The 10 minute ride offers great views of the valley below. Keep in mind that the temperature at the top can be 40 degrees cooler than at the bottom and pack accordingly! Layers are best as you can shed them as needed as you warm up. At the top, we decided on hiking the Round Valley Loop Trail which is a ~5 mile loop and requires a free hiking pass acquired at the ranger station. The trail offers some absolutely amazing scenery from giant pines to rambling brooks. It's quite challenging due to the elevation (8000+ ft) and rocky terrain! Our 12 year-old crushed it, but our 8 year-old had to work for every mile of that trail. We're always amazed that she's 1/3 of the size but completes 100% of the hikes (not without complaint)! Bring snacks and water! We used ~0.5 liter per person, but you'll definitely need more in warm weather. The first 1/3 of the trail is the hardest and gets easier once you pass the first junction. The trail took us a total of 3.5h to complete. Cell service at the top can be spotty so download offline maps before heading out. Afterwards, we made the short drive to downtown Palm Springs to grab a late lunch at Lulu Bistro. From there, we walked over to the Palm Springs Art Museum to check out the exhibits. Thursdays are a great time to visit as the PSAM is open late to coincide with the Thursday night Village Fest street fair.
Visit
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Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you up to the Mt. San Jacinto State Park where there are plenty of amazing hikes. Be prepared: the temperature at the top of the mountain can be 40 degrees lower than at the base so pack layers. We did the Round Valley Loop Trail which is a ~5 mile loop. The first 1/3 of the loop is challenging with a lot of uphill terrain. We took the first tram up at 10 AM and were down the mountain by 2 PM. It was a day of fantastic hiking and amazing scenery. https://pstramway.com/ -
Round Valley Trail
This challenging loop trail starts from the base of the tram station at Mt. San Jacinto State Park. A free permit is required before alighting on this trail. -
Palm Springs Art Museum
This is a great museum to visit on Thursday as it has extended hours to align with the Thursday street fair. The 4 floor museum features various artifacts and artwork on display including a few pieces by Picasso during our visit. -
Village Fest
This is a street fair that takes place Thursdays at the intersection of S Palm Canyon Road and Tahquitz Canyon Road. There are plenty of food options to choose from whether browsing the stalls or the many restaurants along the street. Save your appetite for the delicious global fare on display! https://villagefest.org/
Eat
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Lulu California Bistro
Serving a broad array of American cuisine, we stopped here after our morning hike for a quick bite. Quite pricey for 2 adults and 2 kids. If you're in the area on a Thursday, I'd recommend sharing a plate instead and save your appetite for the various options available at the street fair. -
Great Shakes
Great Shakes has a variety of delectable shakes available. Stop in for a small snack after your hike!
Stay
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Airbnb - Bonanza Drive, Yucca Valley
Our Airbnb for this leg of the trip was located in Yucca Valley. We decided that since we would make a day trip in to Palm Springs, it wasn't worth it to pay extra to stay in Palm Springs (as there was a golf tournament as well as a film festival during this week). Yucca Valley is much quieter -- which was great for us -- but still conveniently located for our hikes and day trips. We'd recommend this area if you plan on heading out to JTNP or Palm Springs as it is lower cost but still very convenient.
Transit
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Downtown Parking Garage
This parking deck has unlimited free parking and is a short walk to the main downtown strip. A convenient place to park and walk around Palm Springs.
Photos
Day 3: Joshua Tree National Park Hikes
Exploring desert trails
Our Joshua Tree National Park visit started with a hike to Arch Rock and Heart Rock starting around 9:30 AM. Arch Rock is short a 0.37 mile hike from the parking lot. The kids loved scrambling around the rock formations and exploring all of the nooks and crannies. Heart Rock is a great place to take memorable photos; arrive early as it can get quite busy during the middle of the day! We didn't expect to spend more than a few minutes here, but there was just so much to explore; this is definitely a kid favorite! Afterwards, we headed to our next hike at Split Rock Loop Trail. This is a ~2.5 mile loop trail that cross a variety of terrains but definitely a bit less "alien" compared to Arch Rock. We finished around 1:30 PM and decided to head out of the park for lunch and ended up skipping a few other trails that we had on our Turas trip plan (Skull Rock and Boy Scout). There's more than enough hiking to spend 3 or 4 days here! We entered the park through the northeast entrance and exited via the northwest entrance. At the NW exit point is the small visitor's center where you can pick up some souvenirs, use the restroom, and grab a snack at the attached cafe. Or head just around the corner and across the street to Sky High Pie to get pizza and coffee next doors at Joshua Tree Coffee Company.
Visit
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Arch Rock Nature Trail
This was our first stop in Joshua Tree National Park. The park has an entry fee of $30 which is good for a week. Arch Rock Nature Trail is an easy, family friendly trail that has a lot of rocks for kids to scramble on. In the fall, the weather is mild but can be a bit chilly in the morning and in the shade so bring layers. Don't miss Heart Rock which is just a short hike from Arch Rock. We didn't plan to spend much time here, but ended up exploring for 2+ hours before heading to Split Rock Trail. -
Split Rock Loop Trail
This ~2.25 mile loop trail was an easy hike with varied terrain. The rock formations here were spectacular and reminded us a bit of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. While it's supposed to be a loop, it's easy to get off course here as the trail is not particularly well marked. Make sure to take note of your surroundings so you can find your way back to the parking lot! -
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
The visitor center is quite small but still a great place to stop and pick up stickers and souvenirs. -
Fortynine Palms Oasis
This hike is at the midpoint between the two northern entrances to Joshua Tree National Park. We didn't have time to do this hike, but it looks amazing if you're looking for more desert greenery. -
Barker Dam
Really cool rock formations and body of water. https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/barker-dam-trail.htm. Skipped this trail as we ran out of time! -
Skull Rock Trail
Skull Rock Trail was quite crowded so we ended skipping this for Split Rock instead. -
Boy Scout Trail
~6 mile in-out trail. We had to skip this trail due to lack of time.
Eat
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Joshua Tree Coffee Company
Right next door to Sky High Pie and just around the corner from the visitor's center, this is a must stop for some great coffee. -
El Guero Mexican Restaurant
Fantastic little hole in the wall type place serving delicious Mexican cuisine. We tried the molcajetes which was rich, flavorful, and absolutely delectable. The tacos Al Pastor were also delicious and savory. This was our favorite meal and conveniently located next to the supermarket. -
Sky High Pie
A pizza place located just around the corner from the visitor's center, this is a great place to stop for a meal after a day of hiking. You can pop out here for lunch and then go back into the park to hike the trails closer to the west entrance. -
Campbell Hill Bakery
We had planned to stop here to pick up some snacks for the day before heading into the park, but there was a line out the door! If you're coming in via the north east entrance, this seems like a great place to stop and pick up a snack.
Stay
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Airbnb - Bonanza Drive, Yucca Valley
Our Airbnb for this leg of the trip was located in Yucca Valley. We decided that since we would make a day trip in to Palm Springs, it wasn't worth it to pay extra to stay in Palm Springs (as there was a golf tournament as well as a film festival during this week). Yucca Valley is much quieter -- which was great for us -- but still conveniently located for our hikes and day trips. We'd recommend this area if you plan on heading out to JTNP or Palm Springs as it is lower cost but still very convenient.
Transit
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Joshua Tree Airbnb → Arch Rock Nature Trail → Split Rock Loop Trail → Skul
Estimated 2 hours by driving
Photos
Day 4: Transit Day and The Getty Museum
Flea market finds to rare masterpieces
We started this final day in Yucca Valley with a visit to the Sky Village Outdoor Marketplace. This moderate sized flea market has some interesting stalls if you take the time to explore. Our girls each picked up some secondhand treasures. Coming a bit later in the morning is advised as stalls were still setting up at 9:30 AM. Lunch was a pitstop at Cup Noodle Shop in Rancho Cucamonga. This little noodle shop featured delicious noodles served with a novel motif (giant cup bowls). The shopping center also has various authentic Chinese dining options and a 99 Ranch Market if you need to resupply. We ended our day at the iconic Getty Museum. Perched atop the hills overlooking Los Angeles, the Getty Museum features fine art collected from around the world in an absolutely stunning architectural delight. We've always loved wandering through the various halls and passages that connect the galleries in the Getty both inside and out. Watching the sun set from here is an absolute must! Entry is free with a reservation and $20 parking fee ($15 after 3 PM). Be sure to reserve in advance. From here, visiting Sawtelle Japantown is a great option for dining. Since this was a long transit day, we headed to Torrence where our hotel was located and ate nearby at King's which features some unique mochi doughnut flavors.
Visit
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Sky Village Outdoor Marketplace
This is a neat little flea market to wander and find random trinkets and items. The girls found some second hand jewellery and lapis lazuli. Keep an open mind and it's worth a visit! -
J. Paul Getty Museum
The Getty Museum is free with a reservation; you only pay $20 for parking. The museum itself is simply a gorgeous architectural delight offering panoramic views of Los Angeles below. The view is especially gorgeous at sunset as you look out to the horizon and watch the orange glow over the Pacific coast. Of course, the museum also features a large selection of fine arts spread across multiple floors and multiple buildings to explore. An absolute visual delight! Closed on Monday; Sunday night closes at 5:30 PM -
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
This was a fantastic free hike. Watching the sun stream through the trees casting an emerald glow was just mesmerizing. Ducking between the mesquite shrubs was an enchanting experience as if in a secret world. We really enjoyed this short, easy hike!
Eat
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Cup Noodle Shop
We stopped here on our way to the Getty from Morongo Preserve. We loved the concept and the noodles were delicious. If you're looking for Asian dining options, an easy way to find places where there are lots of Asian restaurants is to search for an H-Mart of 99 Ranch Market an look nearby. -
King's Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant
King's Hawaiian offers generous plates of Hawaiian/Asian options as well as all-day breakfast. Best of all is the bakery which has a variety of chewy mochi doughnuts to choose from! We recommend sharing plates as the servings are quite large -- especially if you want to save room for dessert! -
Jelly Donut
We originally planned to stop here to try the donuts, but ended up skipping due to time. -
Daikokuya Sawtelle
Use this as a guide point for Sawtelle Japantown. This ramen shop is located just around the corner from the free parking deck. If you walk up the street, there are dozens of amazing restaurants to choose from!
Stay
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Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Torrance/Palos Verdes
This Courtyard has been recently updated and features clean, spacious rooms. For us, it was conveniently located between LA and southern destinations like Dana Point. -
Airbnb - Bonanza Drive, Yucca Valley
Our Airbnb for this leg of the trip was located in Yucca Valley. We decided that since we would make a day trip in to Palm Springs, it wasn't worth it to pay extra to stay in Palm Springs (as there was a golf tournament as well as a film festival during this week). Yucca Valley is much quieter -- which was great for us -- but still conveniently located for our hikes and day trips. We'd recommend this area if you plan on heading out to JTNP or Palm Springs as it is lower cost but still very convenient.
Photos
Day 5: Ocean Kayaking and Exploring Tide Pools
Dana Point and Crystal Cove State Park
Dana Point is one of our favorite places to kayak, period. The ease of rental, the calm waters behind the breakwater, and the wildlife in the area make for a great time kayaking on the ocean. We started our day with two tandem kayaks and on this particular day, headed straight out into the ocean as the waters were unusually calm. You'll almost always see some seals on a buoy, on the rocks at the edge of the breakwater, or even on the docks around Dana Point. Afterwards, we headed north past Laguna to visit Crystal Cove State Park. If you're more interested in browsing or shopping, then bustling downtown Laguna is a great place to stop instead as it offers a variety of tony shops and dining along the PCH. We were more interested in the more "remote" experience of Crystal Cover State Park. While just a few minutes north of Laguna, it feels worlds away once you descend from the bluffs; like an isolated wilderness -- even though Trader Joe's is just across the street. This is a great place to leave the rest of your world behind and just relax, explore the tide pools, and watch the waves!
Visit
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Pure Watersports - Dana Point
Dana Point is a great area to rent kayaks because of the calm waters behind the breakwater. For the more adventurous, it's also possible to head out into the ocean which can be quite thrilling when there are waves present. Our day out, the waters were unusually calm so it was easy to head out to the ocean and explore a bit further out than we have previously (usually behind the breakwater). The total for two tandem kayaks for just over an hour was only $50. -
Crystal Cove State Park - Reef Point
Crystal Cove State Park is one of our favorite beaches to visit in SoCal. While it's just off of the Pacific Coast Highway and across from a shopping center, the large expanse of beach backed by a high bluff feels remote and isolated. It's a great place to get away from life whether you're exploring the tide pools or just watching the boats at the horizon. The entry fee is $15 per car for the day and well worth the price.
Eat
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Torrance Bakery
A wonderful stop for assorted pastries and coffee in the morning. We stopped here to pick up breakfast and enjoyed the various baked goods. -
Gelson's Dana Point
We planned on eating a light lunch along the way and stopped here to pick up hot food a la carte. Stopping in super markets like this can be a good option when you're on the go since it gives you the opportunity to pick up supplies as well. -
Tasty Noodle House - Irvine
One of our favorites in the area, Tasty Noodle House offers a variety of Chinese dishes. Our go-to are a few items on their dim sum menu including the pan fried pork buns which have a sesame seed crust on the bottom. The noodles are indeed tasty and hot to be missed!
Stay
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Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Torrance/Palos Verdes
This Courtyard has been recently updated and features clean, spacious rooms. For us, it was conveniently located between LA and southern destinations like Dana Point.
Photos
Day 6: Getty Villa and Malibu Beaches
Priceless artifacts and remote beaches
The Getty Villa, unlike the Museum, focuses more on sculptures and artifacts. Set in the hills on the edges of Malibu, the Getty Villa is much smaller in scale, but packed with awe inspiring pieces dating back to 6000 BCE. The gorgeous architecture and understated landscaping make it a wonderful place to stroll and take it all in. From the Villa, we made a quick pit stop at Whole Foods to pick up some supplies and a quick box lunch from the hot bar. The shopping center here offers a variety of fare if you have more time to spare. Our next stop for the day was Leo Carillo State Beach. While you can't go wrong with any of the numerous beaches in Malibu, Leo Carillo State Beach features some unique rock formations that we enjoyed climbing in and around. The beach is reminiscent of the one at Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur which has a section littered with small boulders. However, Leo Carillo State Beach is a bit different in that the beach has a gentle slope going out several meters. This creates a very unique experience for exploring the extended tide pools. To cap the night, we booked a 1 hour session at CatCafe Lounge which is a non-profit cat adoption center/cafe. Both girls loved the experience here and it's easy to tell that the staff really enjoy their work. The cats were well cared for, playful, friendly, and enjoyed the company of visitors. Just around the corner is Sawtelle Japantown which features a smorgasbord of dining options. We stopped at Marugame Udon for their generous servings of fresh, handmade udon noodles. If you have room afterwards, there are a variety of options for desserts! Parking can be tricky on weekends so we skipped Sawtelle on Sunday and visited this Monday instead. The Olympic Boulevard Garage had plenty of free parking available.
Visit
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Getty Villa
The Getty Villa offers visitors a completely different vibe from the Getty Museum. Much smaller in scale than the Museum, the Villa features more statues, sculptures, and artifacts compared to the Museum's focus on artwork. Like the Museum, entry is free with a reservation and a $20 parking fee. Open on Monday; closed Tuesday. -
Leo Carrillo State Beach
While there are numerous beaches and pull-offs along PCH in Malibu, this west Malibu beach was definitely the most unique! Reminiscent of Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur, one part of the beach featured a large rock field. Quite unique is that the field is shallow and extends quite a bit out. There are also numerous alcoves which feature caves and arches to explore. This is a really neat beach and very unique. On a Monday, it was pretty much deserted with only a few people around. Parking is $3/hour or $12 per day. -
CatCafe Lounge | Cats + Kittens + Catio
The CatCafe is a non-profit adoption center that lets visitors come and interact with both cats and kittens. The staff were incredibly friendly and caring for the cats; you can tell that they are passionate about caring for these animals. The facilities are clean and well-kept and had many play structures for the cats to interact with. This is a great place to visit whether you're adopting or just need some purr time. By appointment only so be sure to book ahead of time!
Eat
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JJ Bakery
Just near our hotel, JJ Bakery offers a variety of Asian-style baked goods whether you're picking up breakfast or for a daytime treat. We picked up our breakfast here and ate in the car due to an unexpected delay on our route to The Getty Villa! -
Whole Foods Market
We stopped here along the way up from The Getty Villa to Leo Carillo State Beach. This was a nice little pit-stop to pick up food at the hot bar and salad bar. Great for picky eaters (like our kids) since there's something for everyone. -
Marugame Udon
Featuring fresh, house-made udon noodles with a variety of toppings, this was a great place to end our day. The hot broth was perfect for the chilly evening temps! The servings are generous so if you're ordering for kids, consider ordering a single large "Kake" (udon in simple dashi broth) and splitting it. The regular size was more than enough for us!
Stay
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Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Torrance/Palos Verdes
This Courtyard has been recently updated and features clean, spacious rooms. For us, it was conveniently located between LA and southern destinations like Dana Point.
Transit
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11270 W Olympic Blvd Garage
Free 2hr parking available here when visiting Sawtelle Blvd.
Photos
Day 7: Depart LAX Early
Saying goodbye to SoCal
Our final day was a transit day from LAX. Traffic in LA can be quite unpredictable so we chose to stay near the airport (Torrence) to reduce travel times. Even at 6 AM, there was quite a bit of traffic on the 405 and a 15 minute delay! Always be prepared for traffic in SoCal! If you can, fill your tank the night before to save time when returning your rental car.
Stay
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Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Torrance/Palos Verdes
This Courtyard has been recently updated and features clean, spacious rooms. For us, it was conveniently located between LA and southern destinations like Dana Point.
Transit
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LAX airport (LAX)
Target 6:30 AM arrival; 8:15 AM departure -
Dollar Rental Car LAX
Return rental car; 6:30 AM
Checklists
Checklist: Joshua Tree
- Flashlights for night time exploration
- A light, packable jacket for cooler seasons as the nights are quite cold
- Tweezers! If you accidentally bump some cactus, you'll be glad
- Snacks; pick up local dates along the way
- Plenty of water
- Long sleeve coverups
- Sun block
Checklist: Coastal SoCal
- Swimwear for kayaking
- Sunblock and/or long sleeve coverups
- Shorts, skirts - the coastal weather in fall is warmer than in the desert
- Lip balm with UV protectant
FAQ
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Should I pack a jacket when visiting SoCal in fall?
Yes. SoCal's temperatures can swing significantly between day and night in the fall -- whether you're inland or along the coast. Packing a fleece or down jacket is a great idea. If you plan on visiting Mt. San Jacinto, you'll definitely need to pack a jacket as the temperatures can be freezing at the top even though day-time temps a the base could be in the mid 70's.
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How bad does the traffic get in SoCal?
Bad! Our drive out to Yucca Valley had a total of a 1h 15m delay due to traffic...on a random Wednesday afternoon! I recommend always checking Google Maps with traffic and departure times to get estimates.
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Is it worth visiting both the Getty Museum and the Getty Villa?
Yes! The two museums offer totally different vibes and works of art on display with the Villa focusing more on statues and artifacts while the Museum focusing more on artwork. They are different enough that both warrant a visit. Additionally, visiting the Villa works great if you can plan a day out in the beaches of Malibu.
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What's the best time of year to visit southern California?
The mild weather in SoCal means that any time of year is a great time to visit! Be aware that the ocean waters here are cold year round so swimming in any season other than summer can be quite an experience! While summers are warmer, it doesn't get very humid so it's always pleasant.
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