Fill your creative well with eye-candy inspiration on this art-centric pilgrimage from Los Angeles to the desert and back again. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of bustling cities, serene landscapes, and iconic landmarks that have sparked creativity for generations. Starting in Burbank and ending in Los Angeles, this 5-day journey covers 10 exciting stops over 368 miles.
Day 1
Stop 1: Burbank
Depart the airport and explore Burbank, the “city of studios” where movie executives take meetings, live TV shows are taped, and Disney animators give life to the Little Mermaid and Lion King. Tour the Warner Bros. Studio backlot to see where Friends, ER, and The Big Bang Theory were filmed. Shop for the ultimate Hollywood souvenir at It’s a Wrap, a 7,000-square-foot shop that sells wardrobes and props from movie sets. Stop by Porto’s Bakery for savoury and sweet Cuban pastries, Tonir Café for Mediterranean kabobs, and Café de Olla for enchiladas and chile rellenos. Other natural attractions include hiking from Stough Canyon Nature Center to the top of Verdugo Peak or walking the two-mile loop in Wildwood Canyon.
Stop 2: Glendale
On the southeast edge of San Fernando Valley, Glendale is one of 88 unique cities that make up greater Los Angeles. It is home to the Museum of Neon Art, a storehouse of 20th-century neon signs from motels, gas stations, dive bars, and more. Glendale attracts shoppers and strollers with Americana at Brand, an upscale outdoor mall featuring bars, restaurants, a movie theatre, a musical fountain, and free yoga. Across the street, Glendale Galleria offers over 200 stores, from Apple to Zara. For an only-in-L.A. experience, get a look at the celebrity afterlife at Glendale’s branch of Forest Lawn Cemetery. Tour the lavishly landscaped grounds and final resting place of Sammy Davis Jr., Errol Flynn, Walt Disney, and Michael Jackson as well as the stained-glass recreation of The Last Supper in the Great Mausoleum.
Stop 3: Pasadena
Start your tour at eye-catching City Hall, an ornate structure with a dome-topped, six-story bell tower built in 1927. Visit the city’s prestigious museums like The Norton Simon Museum housing works by Picasso, Rembrandt, Goya, and Degas. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens features 31 American art galleries and 16 themed gardens, including lily-covered koi ponds at Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden and water-wise Arlington Garden. Rest for the night at The Langham Huntington, a rosy-pink Italianate structure flanked by manicured lawns, heirloom roses, and citrus trees.
Day 2
Stop 4: Claremont
The ivy-covered Claremont Colleges are bordered by Claremont’s pedestrian-friendly village, a grid of tidy streets that overflow with small-town appeal. Stroll along oak- and sycamore-dotted Harvard and Yale avenues to explore boutiques and cafés. Enjoy pastries at Some Crust or Crème Bakery, shop for cheese at Cheese Cave, browse Cloud Nine Paper, and sip an “affirmation latte” from Iron and Kin. Swing into the Folk Music Center to check out the guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, and more. At sunrise or sunset, visit Pomona College’s campus to see James Turrell’s Skyspace, an architectural light installation that glows with changing colours.
Stop 5: Twentynine Palms
Twentynine Palms is aquiet desert town on Joshua Tree National Park‘s northeast edge. The new National Park Visitor Center at Freedom Plaza offers visitor information and Native American culture exhibits a few blocks from the city’s newest restaurants. Enjoy burgers, house-pickled vegetables, and craft beer at gastropub Grnd Sqrl. Nearby, Kitchen in the Desert serves Caribbean jerk chicken and dan dan noodles. Art lovers can check out 26 desert-themed murals on buildings throughout town and local artists’ works in the rustic 29 Palms Art Gallery. Stop in to chat with Shari Elf, aka the Art Queen, who operates the World-Famous Crochet Museum. Later, stay overnight in an adobe bungalow at the 29 Palms Inn amongst nature.
Day 3
Stop 6: Joshua Tree National Park
Take a slow-going day to explore Joshua Tree National Park‘s assemblage of spindly Joshua trees, massive granite boulders, and fuzzy-looking cholla cactus. “J-Tree” offers a broad canvas for the imagination, so head to Keys View or the Wonderland of Rocks to meditate, photograph, and marvel at the desert landscape. Take a walk at Hidden Valley. Gaze at the graceful curve of Arch Rock. Then steer along Pinto Basin Road through smoke-tree-dotted washes to Cottonwood Spring, where you can hike to the summit of Mastodon Peak or take a longer trek to Lost Palms Oasis to see the park’s largest stand of native fan palms.
Stop 7: Palm Desert
In swanky Palm Desert, regal palm trees border wide streets populated with chic galleries, upscale boutiques, and lavish resorts. Get your style on at El Paseo, a stylish open-air shopping district where storefronts bear names like Saks Fifth Avenue and Ralph Lauren. Peruse the paintings and sculpture garden at Imago Galleries, which inhabits one of Palm Desert’s most strikingly modern buildings. At day’s end, sip cocktails and descend into dreamland at desert-chic Hotel Paseo, a midcentury-styled property with 150 rooms. Sleep late the next morning, then brunch at cult-favorite Wilma and Frieda, where comfort food is elevated to art in the form of blackberry custard French toast and short-rib scrambles.
Day 4
Stop 8: Palm Springs
With 54,000 pools against 48,000 people, swimming and sunning are top activities in Palm Springs. Additionally, with a rich art scene, a wealth of mid-century modern architecture is visible on almost every block. The four-level Palm Springs Art Museum houses an enticing mix of contemporary and modern art including works by Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall. The Uptown Design District’s time-capsule shops sell mid-century furnishings and retro clothing. For a memorable night out, the supper club PS Underground hosts theatrically themed evenings from 1920s speakeasy to 1970s disco.
Stop 9: Riverside
The sun-drenched city of Riverside, which made its fortune on sweet navel oranges, was the wealthiest city per capita in 1893. Learn how the orange became king at California Citrus State Historic Park, then wander the meandering trails at UCR Botanic Gardens, 39 acres of gardens, woodlands, and horticultural wonders. Visit the outstanding Latinx art at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture. When hunger strikes, graze at Riverside Food Lab’s 13 eateries, where chefs cook up Cajun seafood, Lebanese fare, plant-based burgers, and more. Visit Tio’s Tacos, where owner Martin Sanchez, a chef and sculptor, decorates the patio with whimsical creations. Enjoy an agua fresca while admiring his art.
Day 5
Stop 10: Arts & Culture in Los Angeles
In downtown Los Angeles, take your pick from imaginative destinations: At The Broad, step into the illusion of infinite space in Yayoi Kusama’s kaleidoscopic “infinity mirror room.” Try out lip-smacking cooking at Smorgasburg, a Sunday-only open-air market with nearly 100 vendors. Tour the studios or shop the gallery store at the crafter’s dream space, The Makery. Zip over to Universal Studios Hollywood for a glimpse at how silver-screen magic is made. On the World-Famous Studio Tour, see actual sets from Jaws, Psycho, and other Hollywood films and experience the thrills of special effects and animatronics.
As you come to the end of this epic road trip, carry with you the vivid impressions that define California, and let them inspire your own creative pursuits long after your journey ends.
For latest travel news and updates, food and drink journeys, restaurant features, and more, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram. Read more on Travel and Food Network
Related Coverage
Discovering Those Eastern Sierra Wonders: Road Trip Routes to Mammoth Lakes
