If you're trying to get away from the noise of city life and are looking for an exciting mountain escape, Wrightwood is an idyllic town to visit. Just 77 miles outside the big city you'll find this cozy, picture-perfect mountain town, nestled in the pine trees. Its charm, beautiful scenery, and abundance of family-friendly activities will lure you any time of the year, but my personal favorite season to visit Wrightwood is in winter. Read on to discover what my family loves to do when we visit this charming little piece of the Universe. 

For more mountain day trips from Los Angeles, like Lake Arrowhead, or weekend getaways, like Lake Tahoe—check out our Weekend Getaway Guide and Day Trips from Los Angeles.

One of the best things about living in Southern California is the endless supply of year-round adventures that are just a short drive from home. While summer is the perfect time for a day trip to one of our favorite beach towns and  fall offers the chance for a road trip to see foliage, winter day trips from Los Angeles offer up some unique opportunities. It's actually the best time to explore the area— coastal locales are sleepier in the cooler months, desert towns are more bearable when it’s not in the triple digits, and there are even snowy winter wonderlands. Southern California has it all, and here we’ve collected the 20 best winter day trips from Los Angeles.

Check out other favorite day trips from LA, local weekend getaways, and the best family travel spots in the country (and beyond) in our Family Travel Guide.

Christmas light displays are one of the highlights of the holiday season, and while we love the Elf on the Shelf Experience, the Dodger Holiday Festival, and other walk and drive-thru light adventures, there's something special about wandering through gardens that are decked for the holidays, with nary a commercial tie-in in sight. These holiday light shows at four of our favorite enchanted and enchanting gardens near Los Angeles delight kids with interactive features, and parents with spectacular natural beauty. Dig out those mittens, make a thermos of hot chocolate, and get in the holiday spirit as you soak up the incandescent glow of the holidays at these stunning botanic lighting displays.

For more holiday fun, be sure to check out our complete Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Los Angeles Families.

Dodger fans must have been very, very good this year, because Santa has a surprise: for the first time ever, there will be an ice skating rink for the public to skate on out in center field! The Los Angeles Dodgers are hosting a holiday festival with music and entertainment, the ice skating rink, holiday and Christmas light displays, holiday-themed snacks, photos with Santa (and the elves), and more. Read on for the scoop on this exciting new holiday festival in Los Angeles.

For more Christmas light displays, holiday festivals, ice skating rinks in Los Angeles, and more check out our complete Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities in Los Angeles in 2021.

Los Angeles is all about outdoor activities at Christmastime—and nothing says "This is why I moved to Southern California" quite like a Christmas boat parade. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, boat owners gussy up their crafts and parade them up and down waterways for applauding spectators, who line the harbors and marinas from Dana Point to Ventura. Driving around looking at holiday lights is great; letting them float by you at one of these dozen sailing holiday parades is even better.

Most kids learn about California history by visiting the gorgeous California Missions that dot the Southland. However, you don't have to hop a flight to Gettysburg for some Civil War-era history. An easy day trip from LA is Fort Tejon State Park, where visitors get a look at a day in the life of a 19^th-century soldier from the time of the Civil War. It's a unique and fascinating glimpse of lesser-known local history. So pack a picnic and head over the Grapevine to explore this hidden historic gem.

Exploring the La Brea Tar Pits is one of the best free things to do in Los Angeles with kids of all ages. But did you know that there's also an incredible museum just a few yards from the famous tar lake? The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits gives an inside look at the city's prehistoric past and explains why that sticky black tar is seeping up all over the Miracle Mile. With a small footprint compared to the Natural History Museum or California Science Center, the Page Museum is easy to explore in a day—in fact, you'll have plenty of time to check out other sites along LA's "Museum Row," like the brand new Academy Museum.

Here's a detailed look at highlights of the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum, plus tips on where to eat, where to park, and what to explore in the area.

North Hollywood, better known as NoHo to the locals, is a wonderful place to live, and if you're not lucky enough to live here, it's a great place to bring your kids and explore for a day. I moved to NoHo from Hancock Park a couple of years ago and it didn't take long for me to discover all the wonders this eccentric, vibrant, and charming neighborhood has to offer. My five-year-old and I love exploring new places—below I'll share with you the favorites we've discovered, and why I haven't regretted moving to this side of the hill for a second.

Not only are there tons of things to do in North Hollywood with kids, but its location makes it a great base to also explore nearby towns like Burbank, Toluca Lake, Valley Village, and Studio City. So don't just spend one day exploring these neighborhoods, plan on spending several!