Los Angeles: Day Trips

Disneyland The “Happiest Place on Earth” celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 2005 with new and spruced up attractions, including the reopening of Space Mountain, with all-new special effects. 19 miles south of Los Angeles; www.disneyland.com
family | theme park

Laguna Beach Spectacular cliffs, coves, and canyons envelop this charming art colony (over 100 galleries at last count), the birthplace of “California Impressionism” in the ’20s. 57 miles southeast of Los Angeles; www.lagunabeachinfo.org
beach | art

Long Beach Beachfront attractions include the Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way; daily 9am-6pm; $19.95) and the permanently docked, historic ocean liner, Queen Mary, which features a great dinner and ghost tour (1126 Queens Hwy; Fri 8pm, Sat 7pm, Sun 5pm; $109). 25 miles south of Los Angeles; www.visitlongbeach.com
beach | family | aquarium

Palm Springs Golf courses, martini lounges, and mid-century desert ranch homes (including Frank Sinatra’s former hideaway) compete for attention, but desert-heated poolside idleness is the de facto mode. 114 miles east of Los Angeles; www.palm-springs.org
golf | architecture | spas

Pasadena Rich in historic architecture, incredible gardens, and great museums, not to mention superb shopping and dining, Pasadena is a compact town loaded with elegant Spanish-revival architecture. 10 miles northeast of Los Angeles; www.pasadenacal.com
architecture | art

Ventura Its historic main street is packed with charming restaurants, galleries, thrift stores, and antique shops; its thriving waterfront is the launching pad for Channel Island National Park, home to over 2,000 plant and animal species. 68 miles north of Los Angeles; www.ventura-usa.com
beach | adventure