Looking for a weekend getaway in Claremont? Just 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Claremont is close enough for an escape, with plenty to fill a couple of days once you arrive.
Locally owned restaurants and shops, museums and galleries, gardens, live music, and a walkable Village make it easy to build a weekend around whatever catches your interest.
Here’s one way to spend a weekend in Claremont.
Check In and Make It an Overnight Trip
Start by making it an overnight trip.
Claremont has several hotel options, including the new Residence Inn by Marriott on Indian Hill. The hotel offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens, complimentary breakfast, an outdoor pool and spa, and easy access to the Claremont Village and Claremont Colleges.
You’ll also find longtime Claremont favorites including Hotel Casa 425, located right in the Village, and the DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont along historic Route 66.
It’s always worth checking Discover Claremont’s current hotel offers when planning your trip. Specials are available at different times throughout the year.
Start in the Claremont Village
Once you’ve checked in, head for the Claremont Village.
This is the part of the weekend that doesn’t need much of a plan. Grab a coffee, walk a few blocks, and see what catches your attention.
When it’s time for lunch, Dr. Grubb’s is a casual option in the Village for a quick bite before you keep exploring.
The Village mixes longtime Claremont businesses with boutiques, bookstores, cafes and restaurants, along with unexpected stops tucked into courtyards and side streets. The nearby Claremont Packing House adds another collection of places to eat, shop, and explore just a short walk away.
Give yourself some time here. Claremont is better when you’re not rushing through it.
Spend the Afternoon with Art and Nature
After lunch, there are plenty of ways to spend the afternoon.
The California Botanic Garden showcases California native plants across 86 acres and offers a change of pace just minutes from the Village.
You can also explore the iconic Claremont Colleges. The tree-lined campuses, architecture and cultural spaces are part of the character of the city and worth experiencing even if you’re long past your college years.
For art, stop by the Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College or explore more of Claremont’s galleries and cultural spaces.
Or do a little of both.
That’s one of the advantages of a weekend in Claremont. Food, art, shopping and the outdoors aren’t separate itineraries. They’re close enough to mix together as you go.
Back to the Village for Dinner
By evening, head back toward the Village.
For a sit-down dinner, Union on Yale is a good place to settle in for the evening. The restaurant pairs a spacious outdoor patio with wood-fired pizza, pastas, dinner plates, cocktails and wine.
After dinner, don’t be too quick to call it a night.
Depending on when you visit, you might catch Friday Nights Live, the First Saturday Art Walk, or another event happening around town. Or keep it simple and walk through the Village and Packing House at sunset, stop somewhere for dessert or a drink, and enjoy the fact that your hotel is nearby.
Take Your Time Sunday Morning
One of the best reasons to stay overnight is that you don’t have to fit everything into Saturday.
If you’re here on Sunday, start at the Claremont Farmers & Artisans Market, held each Sunday morning in the Village. Pick up fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, or something you didn’t know you were looking for.
Then grab brunch, revisit a shop you spotted the day before, or spend another hour exploring before heading home.
No complicated itinerary required.
Make a Weekend of It
Claremont works because so much of the experience fits naturally together.
A garden in the morning can turn into lunch in the Village. Lunch can turn into shopping, a museum, dinner, live music, and another walk after dark.
And when you stay overnight, there’s no need to squeeze it all into a few hours.
Start planning your weekend getaway in Claremont and see what’s happening while you’re here at DiscoverClaremont.com.