One Tank Trips from Los Angeles

It is interesting how, in times of financial difficulty, money saving becomes something of a competitive sport for the resourceful. Whether it is on food, entertainment or travel, individuals and families will seek to get the best deal that they can in order to make money go that little bit further and help the savings fund. This even extends to holidays – from day trips to short three-day spells away you can really have a good, fun holiday and see a lot of things you might never have thought to visit if it were not for the changed financial realities. 

If you live in LA or the surrounding area, you could easily be forgiven for thinking that there is nothing beyond the city boundaries that is particularly worth seeing. This is, after all, the part of the world which is home to the biggest movie industry in the Western world. It may not be the only thing of interest in the world, but when you have seen Hollywood you might well be of a mind to view anything else as a little bit passé. To improve, or even challenge that, you would surely have to leave the country altogether? 

Well, no. in fact, you do not even have to leave the state. Let us go further here, and say that if you have a tank full of gas, or even nearly full, then there is plenty to see and do in the surrounds of Los Angeles. Things that do not involve movie stars and musicians, and do not even necessitate a mention of the entertainment industry which at least in part calls this city “home”.  Things which you may very well take for granted given their proximity to Tinseltown, but which have a lot about them which could interest both the resident and the visitor. 

With a full tank of gas, depending on what kind of car you drive, you can go a surprisingly long way. In the average car you will have a range of at least 200 miles on a full tank of gas. In a more economic car you could get a lot further, although if you have a gas-guzzling sports car you will probably get a couple of blocks away before needing to refuel. But for the most part, you can take yourself out of the city and all that it entails and move towards spots like Santa Barbara, filled as they are with more serene pleasures than those offered by the city of Angels. 

There are wonderful tours that can be taken – from the comfort of your own car – which have excellent stopping off points that allow you to sample some of the delights of the less beaten track of California. Vineyards proliferate in this area, and for the adults in the party there is the option of a few wine tasting sessions – although if you are driving you must spit it out. A good many culinary destinations are also available on the roads less traveled, so why not take up the challenge and see where you can go?