Lining the Santa Monica Bay north of the Los Angeles Airport, the towns of Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Marina Del Rey offer a wide variety of things to do and a range of environments from funky Venice Beach to the high-end hotels lining the marina.
Ready to Go? Use our Beach Weekend Getaway Planner and you'll be ready in no time.
The beach towns are Popular For: Beach play, shopping, water sports and amusements.
How Far? Check the map at the beginning of this gallery to see which getaways are closest to your starting point. Most weekend-trippers limit their adventures to about three hours' travel time and most drive there. If you're going by car, Los Angeles is Within 200 Miles of Bakersfield, Orange County, San Bernardino and San Diego.
If you don't mind flying, you can expand your range by winging it to Los Angeles (LAX) or Burbank (BUR). Compare airfare prices at Kayak.com or check for last-minute specials at lastminute.com