San Gabriel Valley ★ 4.7
San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles holds the largest Chinese-American population in the country. Sichuan, Cantonese, Shanghai, Taiwanese and Hong Kong cooking.
More food day trips in Los Angeles
Temecula wine country ★ 4.2
Temecula is 90 minutes southeast of Los Angeles and holds 40 tasting rooms. The Pechanga Resort hosts the larger producers; Wilson Creek pours sparkling.
Santa Barbara ★ 4.6
Santa Barbara is a 90-minute coast drive from Los Angeles, with the city's best uni, spot prawns at the harbour and 30 tasting rooms in the downtown Funk Zone.
Santa Ynez Valley wine country ★ 4.6
Santa Ynez Valley is two hours from Los Angeles and holds 200 wineries. Sanford and Foxen are the canonical Pinot stops; Solvang holds Danish pastry traditions.
Ojai ★ 4.4
Ojai is 90 minutes from Los Angeles, with Pixie tangerine season February-May, olive oil tastings at Ojai Olive and Saturday farmers market under the oaks.
Palm Springs and Coachella Valley ★ 4.3
Palm Springs is two hours east of Los Angeles. Mid-century rooms like Workshop Kitchen and Mr Lyons, plus date shakes from Shields Date Garden on the way.