Ojai
On the run from summer’s triple-threat of smog, traffic, and hundred-degree heat, Angelenos have long escaped to southern California's idyllic Ojai Valley for its cool collection of New Age spirituality centers and luxe spa facilities (highlighted by the famed 31,000-square-foot spa village at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa). Factor in sparkling white Spanish architecture, fragrant citrus groves, and a heavenly Mediterranean climate (the ocean is only 20 minutes away) and you have the perfect recipe for a relaxing and rejuvenating retreat. Fire up your pocket lighter in July for the Ojai Classic Rock Festival, with tributes to such legends as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and the Grateful Dead.
How: Fly direct to Los Angeles (LAX) from major cities across the U.S.; it's an 80-mile drive from L.A. to Ojai.
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$525/nt+: Luxe Santa Monica resort w/$50 nightly credit Shutters on the Beach
$99/nt+: Palm Springs stay w/25% off spa, golf, food JW Marriott Desert Springs
$238/nt+: Coastal California resort w/room upgrade Perfect Escapes
$600/nt+: San Diego beach bungalows w/daily brkfst Perfect Escapes
$169/nt+: LA resort w/3rd nt free & $25 spa credit Perfect Escapes
$249/nt+: Coronado island resort on San Diego Bay Marriott Coronado Island
$89+: Indian Wells resort w/25% off spa, golf, food Marriott Esmeralda Renaissance
$159/nt+: Tranquil downtown LA hotel w/roof garden Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens
$159/nt+: Low summer rates at chic LA hotel Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens
$210+: Palos Verdes, CA resort w/free kids brkfst Terranea Resort
$209+: Lake Tahoe family suite w/brkfst & dinner Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe Hotel & Ski Resort
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Urban Hotel Pool Packages from $149/Night Editors' Review
Into the Wild - National Park Lodges from $128/Night Editors' Review
Reinvented Roadside Motels from $99/Night Editors' Review
Guys-Only Getaways from $139/Night Editors' Review
No Boys Allowed - Girlfriend Getaways from $120 Editors' Review
Cheap close-to-home getaways from $64/day Editors' Review
25% off: Meditteranean-style resort in Southern Cali Terranea Resort
$1466+: Riviera 7-nt cruise on Mariner of the Seas Royal Caribbean
$924+: Mexican Riviera 7-nt summer cruise w/Cabo Royal Caribbean
$487+: Mexican Riviera 7-night cruise this fall Royal Caribbean
$649+: 11-day Mexico cruise from/to San Francisco Online Vacation Center
$279+: 6-nt NCL cruise from Vancouver to LA Norweigan
$299+: 4-nt Holland America cruise to San Diego Holland America
Under $20: Cheap car rentals in major cities CarRentals.com
$10/day+: Airport pickup & dropoff car rental deals CarRentals.com
$9+: Cheap car rentals - valid over July 4th Hotwire.com
Solo Travel Packages from $528 Editors' Review
Baseball Packages from $225 Editors' Review
$250+: Getaways to 3.5-4 star hotels in SF w/air Expedia
$400+: Palm Springs getaway w/air; 30 % off Desert Oasis Resort
$685+: 20 % off LA resort stay for 3-nts with air Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
$462+: 3-nt historic Pasadena hotel stay w/spa & air Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa
$415+: Eco-friendly hotel nr SF Chinatown w/air Orchard Garden Hotel
$505+: High-rise hotel on San Diego Bay w/airfare Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
$395+: 4-nt San Diego escape w/flight & hotel Travelocity
$616+: 4-night Anaheim jaunt w/flight & hotel Travelocity
$298+: San Francisco 4-nt escape w/flight & hotel Travelocity
$560+: 4-nt San Francisco getaway w/flight & hotel Travelocity
$128+: Low round-trip Los Angeles fares w/taxes CheapOair
$168+: Fly to top cities from midwest (round-trip) Midwest Airlines
$119+: Fares to Vegas, Seattle & more (round-trip) Expedia
$119+: Round-trip SF flights from Boston & more Major Airlines
$179+: Summer flights to Los Angeles (round-trip) Major Airlines
$179+: Low round-trip flights to sunny San Diego Major Airlines
$39+: Low fares to/from major US cities (one way) Southwest Airlines