{"id":2726,"date":"2019-04-17T14:21:46","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T14:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/com.sx-magazine-wp.sixt.io\/magazine\/?p=2726"},"modified":"2022-12-06T08:48:34","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T08:48:34","slug":"best-small-towns-near-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/travel\/best-small-towns-near-los-angeles\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Small Towns Near Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s more to Los Angeles<\/a> than its sprawling freeways and\u00a0red carpet\u00a0photo shoots. Within a short drive from Hollywood<\/a> or Downtown LA<\/a>, you can find yourself surrounded by mountains, desert or breathtaking ocean shoreline. There is no lack of small adventures to be had a short drive away from Los Angeles. Here are five of our favorite small town getaways.<\/p>\n

Book LA Car Rental<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Claremont<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sitting in the Pomona Valley, east of Los Angeles, is Claremont, with a population of approximately 35,000. Claremont is a typical California town, yet it also has gems for you to explore. Get a rare glimpse into California architecture dating from the late 19th\u00a0century through the mid-20th\u00a0century with a walking or self-guided tour of the village. Visit the\u00a0Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, an 86-acre park that is home to\u00a0native\u00a0California plants.\u00a0At Scripps College, take a break in the Margaret Fowler Garden, with its fragrant olive and orange trees\u00a0and purple wisteria. Dating back to 1937, the garden features a 1946 fresco by\u00a0Mexican muralist Alfredo Ramos Martinez.<\/p>\n

2. Hermosa Beach<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s hard to choose a favorite\u00a0South Bay\u00a0beach town. Bordered by Manhattan Beach to the north\u00a0and Redondo Beach to the south,\u00a0Hermosa\u00a0offers laid back, SoCal surfer style.\u00a0Skate, bike, run\u00a0or walk along the water\u00a0on a path\u00a0that\u00a0starts south in\u00a0Torrance\u00a0and extends north\u00a0to Santa Monica.\u00a0Stroll\u00a0the\u00a0scenic\u00a0Hermosa Beach Pier\u00a0for a dazzling ocean view. Visit\u00a0The\u00a0Lighthouse Caf\u00e9, which\u00a0has been offering live jazz since 1940 and helped put West Coast Jazz on the musical map.\u00a0Artists like\u00a0Art Pepper,\u00a0Art Blakey,\u00a0and Cannonball Adderley made live recordings there and it was featured in the movie\u00a0LaLa\u00a0Land.<\/p>\n

\"Hermosa
Near the coast at Hermosa Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Joshua Tree<\/b><\/h2>\n

East of Los Angeles, not far from San Bernardino and Palm Springs is Joshua Tree National Park. Stunning rock formations, open sky, and Joshua Trees, members of the Yucca family, create an arresting landscape. The park spans 790,737 acres and is larger than the US state of Rhode Island. Drive through and take in the natural beauty, hike one of the trails or try rock climbing. There are camping areas and stargazers are always welcome. For food and lodging, try nearby Twenty-Nine Palms or Pioneertown on Highway 62. Don\u2019t miss a chance to go to beloved Pappy and Harriet\u2019s. Originally a movie-set cantina, it is now a restaurant and renowned intimate live concert venue.<\/p>\n

\"Joshua
Some of the scenery at Joshua Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Malibu<\/b><\/h2>\n

Yes, that Malibu. It may seem clich\u00e9, but this is one of the most beautiful small towns in the world. It\u2019s a short drive up\u00a0the\u00a0Pacific Coast Highway to this residential enclave of 12,000. Along the way, you can\u00a0see\u00a0Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities at the\u00a0Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades. Check out the beach at Point Dume or stroll through Malibu Creek State Park. When you get hungry, pull into the Malibu Country Mart for a range of dining and shopping options. You can also try a yoga class, get pampered at a salon and maybe even do some celebrity watching.<\/p>\n

\"Malibu
Houses on the coast at Malibu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Ojai<\/b><\/h2>\n

Located in Ventura County, Ojai is a quaint town with a population of 7,500. Inland from Santa Barbara, it offers hiking, horseback riding, golf, tennis, and small-town flavor. Known for its wellness culture, there are several spas in the area to choose from. The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts houses a permanent collection of the artist\u2019s work and insight into her long life, as well as rotating exhibits and events. A must for every visit is a stop at Ojai Ice Cream for kids and adult kids alike. It offers homemade ice creams, homemade fudge, candies and lots of old-fashioned charm.<\/p>\n

Book LA Car Rental<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Ojai
A view of Ojai from afar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those were 5 small towns near Los Angeles, however if you have a couple more days on hand, you can also plan a road trip to the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Your journey will become comfortable and memorable with an exotic car<\/a> or an SUV<\/a>. With SIXT, it is easy to rent your favorite car. To enjoy your trip with your dream car for a long time, try out the weekly car rental<\/a> packages of SIXT.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s more to Los Angeles than its sprawling freeways and\u00a0red carpet\u00a0photo shoots. Within a short drive from Hollywood or Downtown LA, you can find yourself surrounded by mountains, desert or breathtaking ocean shoreline. There is no lack of small adventures to be had a short drive away from Los Angeles. Here are five of our…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":2730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2726","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nTop 5 Small Towns Near Los Angeles | SIXT rent a car Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There is no lack of small adventures to be had a short drive away from Los Angeles. 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