Leisure

Started from the Autumn

Your Autumnal Weekend Escape Routes

With that beautiful three-day weekend in your rearview mirror, it’s time to move on... to planning another three-day weekend. (A rooftop massage probably wouldn’t hurt.) Here are your best new road trip go-tos this fall.

A Rooftop Seaside Massage
DISTANCE: 121 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN

A Rooftop Seaside Massage

You and your copilot have almost hit wine country when a funny thought enters your head. “Let’s pull over at Bacara and get our bodies rubbed with grape-seed extract while staring at the sea from their new rooftop spa.” It’s not funny ha-ha so much as a really good thought.

A San Diego Oyster Stronghold
DISTANCE: 119 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN

A San Diego Oyster Stronghold

Next time your scenic 405 tour concludes in San Diego, jump into this rather stunning 1920s warehouse that’s now a palace of fresh oysters, crab claws and 50 serious cocktails from a Michelin-starred chef. Nice job, San Diego.

Patio. Sazeracs. Crab Risotto.
DISTANCE: 43 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN

Patio. Sazeracs. Crab Risotto.

Saturdays were made for short jaunts down to Newport for sun, surf... and giant, tree-covered patios like the one at Oak Grill, filled with Sazeracs, crab risotto and a disproportionate amount of blondeness all around you. You remember. Saturdays.

Beer with Cactus and Chocolate
DISTANCE: 27 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN

Beer with Cactus and Chocolate

Pacoima has so much to offer. Like the giant mural of Danny Trejo.
...
No, wait. There’s also Pac City Brewery, a new outfit making smoked-barley wine, Belgian beer with prickly pear cactus and a brown ale with baking chocolate. That one’s called Zombie Slobber. Let’s all just move on.

Tasting room now open Fri-Sun, Pac City Brewery, 12780 Pierce St #5, Pacoima, 818-272-3661

Catch Your Lunch. On a Boat.
DISTANCE: 16 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN + 10 MILES AT SEA

Catch Your Lunch. On a Boat.

Maybe you just have time for a quick trip to... Marina del Rey. That’s where you can board a sportfishing boat for a five-hour voyage with Cafe del Rey’s chef. You’ll catch some sea bass, halibut or sculpin, and the chef’ll make lunch out of it. Seems fair.

Now taking reservations for Oct 4, $110, Cafe del Rey, 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, 310-823-6395

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