Three day side trip from LA in December?

[Anonymous]

We'll have 3 days to do a side trip outside LA in December- I'm hoping to do something nature oriented (so not San Diego). Is Joshua Tree doable? We have a 2.5 and 6.5 YO.
Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Sequoia King Canyon National Park (google Sequoia National Park to get drive time)

I haven't been to Joshua Tree (my dad loved it) but fyi Palm Springs has an areal tram that will be super-fun for the 6 y.o.

You could go to Catalina Island but that's obviously more complicated; hesitant to recommend that with the 2 y.o.

fyi not many non-locals know this, but LA has great hiking areas. Look into Malibu Canyon, Santa Monica mountains, San Gabriel mountains. Malibu Canyon has a great hike--not too hard, either--to the old M*A*S*H set.

[Anonymous]

What about skiing? You could get to Big Bear in 2 hours.

If you want hiking, I agree with the previous poster--the LA foothills have lots going on.

Sorry, despite living in So Cal for 20 years, I've never done Joshua Tree.

[Anonymous]

Palm Springs is PERFECT that time of year. You can do the aerial tramway and hike. Hit the Living Desert. Check out the botanical gardens. Go to the date palm farm and get a vanilla date shake after walking around. Just so much to do and take in there, and there's no better time to be in the desert!

[Anonymous]

Go to this place and take riding lessons nearby

http://www.ojairesort.com

so amazing.

[Anonymous]

Joshua tree is an easy drive and you can do palms spring. You can also do Death Valley or Kings canyon sequoia. It depends on where you are staying in la on how long of a drive it is and you can run into snow at SKC. Lots of the park is above 8,000 ft. The lodging is better at sequoia and Kings. Kids that age can appreciate big tree vs scenery at Death Valley. With kids your age do kings canyon sequoia. Get the junior ranger books for the older. Stay at Wuksachi Lodge. Make reservations at the restaurant the fist night. You don't want to wait till 8 pm local time time eat with kids after a 5 hour car ride.

[Anonymous]

15:45 here yes +1 to 21:37--Wuksachi Lodge or however you spell it--I was going to recommend there in my previous post, but couldn't remember the name.

[Anonymous]

Joshua Tree is great, but would also suggest Anza-Borrego, although in both cases if you want to stay in a motel, you have to do it outside (although close) to the park. If you want to stay in a lodge instead of camping, Death Valley has a very high end lodge and some "motels" in the park which are not bad.