11 Ideal Southern California Destinations for a 3-Day Weekend in 2025
When it comes to exploring California, tourists flock to Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Diego, and Santa Barbara for incredible experiences, glorious beaches, and iconic landmarks. However, if you have got your heart set on some “California dreaming,” the southern part of the state is well worth visiting for extended weekends, bachelor or bachelorette parties, or a mental escape from the reality of the day-to-day grind. Southern California towns are the perfect destination for an unforgettable three-day weekend, providing an abundance of history, charm, endless amenities, beach access, and access to hiking, whether they're located on the coastline or near the Inland Empire.
Laguna Beach
On the coastline of Orange County is the iconic Laguna Beach, a coastal city renowned for its beaches and breathtaking views. The best beaches to visit are the Main Beach in the heart of downtown, which is filled with plenty of incredible amenities to access, the Victoria Beach, which is more secluded and has a 60-foot concrete Pirate Tower of Laguna, and the Thousand Steps Beach for those looking to explore caves and natural coves in the area.
Other than the beaches, the community has wonderful landmarks to explore inland, such as the Laguna Art Museum, the Las Laguna Art Gallery, and the Vladimir Kush Fine Art Gallery. Fine art is showcased here in jewelry, drawings, paintings, handmade drawings, and much more for those who enjoy charming artwork created by talented artists. Not too far from the art galleries, restaurants, and shops is the Casa Loma Beach Hotel, where its guests are treated to breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and have easy access to the beaches for the perfect three-day weekend.
Avalon
Just a ferry ride away from the mainland is Catalina Island and the seaside city of Avalon, an incredible beach town filled with endless views and adventures, just perfect for a three-day weekend. A great start in the city is playing a round of golf on the Catalina Island Golf Course, a historic course that began as a three-hole course and was later converted to a nine-hole course. The course gives golfers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the cityscape below, where the adventure continues.
When in the city, visitors and residents can enjoy the Green Pleasure Pier, where they'll find an endless variety of restaurants and shops, along with the ocean and the beaches like Middle Beach and South Beach for soaking up the sun and crisp blue water. Further north, right on the cliffs, is the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel. The eponymous hotel was built in 1926 as Mr. Grey’s vacation home, and has since been offering its guests some of the best views of the city, and amenities galore for an incredible three-day weekend, fit for any California dreamer.
Idyllwild-Pine Cove
Just tucked away in the San Jacinto Mountains is the community of Idyllwild-Pine Cove, where visitors and residents can enjoy an endless number of outdoor activities throughout the town. Visitors can start their mornings exploring the Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, a 4.8-mile-long trail filled with wildflowers, small creeks, and stunning views of the scenery. Dogs are allowed on the trail, but must be leashed at all times. Just outside of town is the more challenging Devils Slide Trail, which is 5.1 miles long, giving people an uphill climb to see breathtaking views of San Jacinto Peak and Palm Springs for an incredible hiking experience.
Further in the community, visitors are treated to wonderful shops and restaurants like Earth Elements, a gift shop selling rocks, sprays, candles, crystals, and much more. Lumber Mill Bar and Grill is within walking distance of Earth Elements and is an excellent place for lunch and dinner. The Idyllwild Inn, is one of the town’s gems, where guests are treated to private cabins that provide their own decks and fireplaces, adding to the warm-welcoming charm for the long weekend in the mountains.
Borrego Springs
On the northeastern corner of San Diego County is the desert town of Borrego Springs, which is surrounded by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Similar to Idyllwild-Pine Cove, visitors to the town are treated to wonderful hiking spots like the Borrego Palm Canyon Trailhead, a 2.8-mile-long loop that takes people to a hidden desert oasis by a rocky gorge, while the rest of the trail is surrounded by wildflowers, palm trees, and bighorn sheep passing by.
Another great place to visit in the morning, before the heat increases, is the Rams Hill Golf Club, which is open year-round. It offers golfers stunning views of the mountain and the adjacent desert, and features numerous amenities to keep the weekend exciting. Not far from Rams Hill is the La Casa del Zorro Desert Resort, where guests are treated to a luxurious resort with amazing amenities, including swimming pools, tennis courts, and a spa, perfect for relaxing and recharging.
Lake Arrowhead
Further inland in the San Bernardino Mountains is the mountain community of Lake Arrowhead, which is surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest and an endless amount of natural beauty. The Lake Arrowhead Reservoir sits in the center of town, giving residents and visitors access to adventurous water activities like boating, fishing, and boat tours via the Lake Arrowhead Queen Tours, which can be accessed through local marinas near resorts and marinas found at Peninsula Park, where people can enjoy the scenic views of the lake with plenty of activities to keep everyone occupied.
Right on the lake is the Arrowhead Lake Inn, a three-star hotel renowned for its cozy setting, vast amenities for guests to enjoy, and it is within walking distance of numerous restaurants, shops, and clubs, like the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club. Another wonder to explore inland is the Rim of the World Highway, a scenic roadway that runs through the community, giving drivers incredible views of the mountainous valley and breathtaking scenery all around.
Joshua Tree
Further east from Lake Arrowhead, in the desert, is the iconic community of Joshua Tree. The town is home to the Joshua Tree National Park, which attracts two to three million visitors a year who venture from far and wide to see the scenic beauty of the Mojave Desert, the unique Joshua trees growing, and breathtaking Skull Rock found within the park, formed by natural erosion throughout the centuries. Visitors to Joshua Tree are treated to rock climbing, hiking over 300 miles of trails, and camping, with the Jumbo Rocks Campground nearby.
The wondrous charm continues with the World Famous Crochet Museum, a roadside attraction showcasing an impeccable collection of crocheted stuffed animals for visitors and locals to enjoy, and it was founded by singer Shari Elf. Just west of the museum is the Joshua Tree Inn, a hotel situated on the Palms Highway, filled with historical charm, modern amenities, and a musical legacy connected to musician Gram Parsons, who tragically died in the hotel in 1973, and has a hotel room dedicated to his legacy. Joshua Tree Inn is also within walking distance of the Hi-Desert Cultural Center, a non-profit supporting performing and visual arts, which hosts concerts in the region, adding to the artsy charm of the community.
San Juan Capistrano
Just south of Laguna Beach is the city of San Juan Capistrano, or SJC for short, which was founded in 1776 by the Spaniards, making it one of the oldest settled cities in the state. SJC was incorporated in 1961. Visitors are treated to the Los Rios Historical District, a historical neighborhood in the heart of downtown, with preserved adobes and historical homes, along with local restaurants and the O'Neill Museum, a historic home built in the 1870s serving as the headquarters of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society, which depicts what a home was like in the late 19th century.
Adding to the community's history is the Mission San Juan Capistrano, which was founded in 1776 by Spanish Catholic missionaries and features the Serra Chapel, still standing, and attracts over 300,000 visitors from around the world. Within walking distance of the Mission is the Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. The luxury hotel offers a mix of luxurious charm and modern amenities in a building whose architecture is inspired by the nearby Mission, making it a perfect spot to enjoy the long weekend in style, especially if coordinating a visit to coincide with St. Joseph’s Day and the return of the Return of the Swallows Consecration, annually held on March 19th.
Solvang
Just over 30 miles west of Santa Barbara is the Danish-style community of Solvang, a city that feels like a European village in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden rather than a community in Southern California. A wonderful place to begin a three-day weekend adventure is to explore Copenhagen Drive in the heart of downtown, with incredible European-style restaurants, shops, and museums like Copenhagen Sausage Garden for German-inspired meals. If the menu calls for a trip to Denmark, then the Red Viking Restaurant is just the spot. Just in between the restaurants is the wonderful Solvang Amber Museum, showcasing the city's ties to Denmark and the formation of amber.
Another entertaining place to visit is the Solvang Festival Theater, a 700-seat amphitheater owned and operated by the Solvang Theaterfest, showing live music and plays in a charming outdoor setting. The Wine Valley Inn and Cottages is an excellent place to unwind, recharge, and enjoy the city during the extra-long weekend, and is within walking distance from Copenhagen Drive and all of the European-style amenities for everyone to enjoy until it is time to say “aufiderzein.”
Solana Beach
Between Carlsbad and Del Mar is the coastal city of Solana Beach, filled with pristine beaches and the home of a lively music scene. An incredible beach to visit to begin the long weekend is Fletcher Cove Beach Park, where visitors and residents are treated to gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean, and those who linger until the day's end are treated to immaculate views of the sunset. There are also playgrounds and basketball courts, and the Naked Cafe is right at the entrance, giving people a nice warm coffee and meal after exploring the beach.
Just on the south end of town is the Winners Circle Resort, a lovely hotel with charming amenities like a swimming pool in the center and Red Tracton's Steakhouse within the resort for incredible dinners. The coup de gras of the city is the Belly Up Tavern, where its visitors can enjoy live music in a casual and laid-back setting, along with a tavern next door serving food and drinks for an incredible wrap-up to the three-day weekend experience.
Carpinteria
An amazing beach community to visit on the eastern end of Santa Barbara County is the seaside city of Carpinteria. The city, nicknamed the "World's Safest Beach," offers visitors and residents beaches with calmer waves and fewer storm currents at Carpinteria City Beach. The beach avoids strong currents thanks to the Channel Islands protecting swimmers and beachgoers. Volleyball can be played on the beach, and visitors also have access to the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Preserve, where they can explore a peaceful one-mile trail and enjoy birdwatching for the day.
In the heart of downtown is the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, where visitors learn more about the history of the community, what homes were like in bygone years, and see artifacts from the community displayed throughout the exhibits. The Carpinteria Beach Cottages offer people small cottages to rent for a maximum of 31 days with a choice between one or two-bedroom cottages, and they're pet-friendly.
Coronado
Just south of downtown San Diego is the resort city of Coronado, renowned for its immaculate beaches, charming downtown, and resort-like atmosphere. The Coronado Beach is a must-visit to begin the extended weekend, as the beach is 1.75 miles long of gorgeous, beautiful sand and gentle waves. Free parking is available, and the Hotel del Coronado is right on the beach, giving its guests breathtaking views of the ocean. The hotel has incredible amenities like three swimming pools, and a couple of diverse restaurant options for guests to choose from, like Sereca Coastal, which serves incredible seafood, Nobu Del Coronado, serving guests iconic sushi, and a Beach and Taco Shack, to name a few of the tasty options to try.
Adding to the charm of the resort city, there are two golf courses for golfers to choose from: the Sea 'N Air Golf Course and the Coronado Golf Course. Sea 'N Air is a military-affiliated golf course due to the Naval Air Station North Island is next to the course. The course gives golfers impeccable views of the Pacific Ocean and the beaches on a semi-challenging course for golfers of all skill levels. The Coronado Course also gives golfers impressive views of the ocean and San Diego, and is considered one of the best public golf courses in the region. This course is within a short driving distance of the iconic Coronado Ferry Landing and other incredible amenities.
Incredible Long Weekends in Southern California
While Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, San Diego, and the many other larger coastal cities attract more attention, for the adventurous traveler who is ready for some "California dreamin’," these incredible communities give visitors and residents alike wonderful local options to explore. Whether hiking deserts or mountains, recharging at impeccable resorts, or lounging on iconic beaches with their breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Southern California is home to incredible communities for unforgettable three-day weekends and potential second, third, or more visits in the months and years ahead.
