The small community of San Marino, California, offers its residents a wide variety of cultural and recreation opportunities for a city of its size. The 12,000+ suburb of Los Angeles is perhaps best known for the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, a sprawling series of complexes that covers nearly 150 acres. The oldest commercial building in Southern California, El Molino Viejo, is a former grist mill that attracts locals and tourists alike for facility tours and live music performances. These options, paired with the wide variety of great restaurants and nightlife spots, make San Marino a great place to visit or call home. But for those who might want to venture out of town for the day, you’ll find terrific options only a short drive away.
Sequoia National Park
Nature lovers will revel in the fact that they are mere hours from the natural beauty of Sequoia National Park. Less than five hours north of San Marino, you’ll find this popular tourist spot that boasts the world’s tallest trees, wonderful nature hikes, and majestic wildlife. While a day trip here is doable, you may find that one afternoon at the park is not nearly enough. Look into the various camping options available, ranging from roughing to modern glamping.
There are also four quaint lodges to choose from for those who might want to stay in the wilderness without leaving the comforts of home behind.
Joshua Tree National Park
For a shorter trip to see the wonders of nature, San Marino is a little more than two hours away from the desert beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. In what might be one of the most popular day trips from San Marino, this park offers a long, relaxing, winding journey you can take by car. There are multiple spots to hike, backpack, horseback ride, or simply take leisurely strolls and observe the scores of flora and fauna that populate the massive grounds.
The park also offers field trip opportunities for students of all ages. Schools from the region coordinate excursions into Joshua Tree, which are led by park rangers that educate youth on the different wildlife and plantlife in the park and the importance of conservation.
Palm Springs
The city of Palm Springs is the perfect day trip from San Marino for anyone wanting to explore a small but bustling city. There, you can take drives to admire the numerous mid-century modern architecture, ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to see the city and valley from above, or dine in one of the many highly rated restaurants popular in town. The shopping options are abundant, with multiple districts comprising unique shops and boutiques you’ll only find in Palm Springs.
And if you love golf, you’ll find that the valley is a golfer’s paradise. The area is host to nearly 140 courses, many of them open to the public. Palm Springs itself has nine courses, two of which are municipal properties. The courses here range from beginner to challenging, giving golfers of all skill levels a fun afternoon on the links.
Disneyland
The ultimate day trip from San Marino for families involves an excursion only 35 miles away. You can easily plan a visit to the most popular theme park on the west coast, enjoying the various rides and seeing the familiar cartoon characters come to life in this must-do for Disney lovers. Since 1955, Disneyland has hosted more than 15 million visitors from around the globe each year, making it one of the most popular attractions on Earth.
Newport Beach
The beach isn’t too far away from San Marino, either. Many in the community will make the short trek to Newport Beach, a lovely seaside community that offers great retail shopping, many varieties of dining, and a terrific public beach.
The beach encompasses 10 miles of shoreline, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and more. Here, you’ll find multiple places to picnic, throw up a volleyball net, or just lounge in a beach chair and soak up some of the sun’s rays.
Venice Beach
For a culturally unique experience, consider the drive to the community of Venice Beach. The pier extends far out into the ocean, hosting a variety of local entertainers to amuse you while you take in a fantastic view of the Southern California coastline.
Be sure to take a stroll down Abbot Kinney Boulevard, where you’ll find shopping options that are every bit as unusual as they are unique. From carefully curated vintage clothing to boho-chic furniture and decor, you’ll find great treasures along this one-mile stretch of shops and boutiques.
San Diego Zoo
Finally, you can take a two-and-a-half-hour drive south to the North Park neighborhood of San Diego and visit one of the most popular zoos in the world. The San Diego Zoo sees several million visitors every year, who come from all over the world to view more than 650 species of animals in a massive indoor/outdoor complex.
The zoo offers special experiences for visitors of all ages, including the early morning Cheetah Experience and exclusive VIP offerings that allow you to customize your visit with more options than you can count.
A guided tour by cart is also available, giving visitors a chance to take in their day at the zoo with the narration of one of the many professionals on staff.
Your next steps
The decision to relocate isn’t one to be taken lightly, the stress of which can be greatly alleviated by employing the skills of a local real estate professional. If you are considering a
home in San Marino, consider a consultation with
Gordon Wang. Throughout Gordon’s years of experience in the industry, he has helped many locals and transplants find their dream homes in this beautiful and popular Southern California town.
