About 30 miles East of Los Angeles, sits the picturesque town of Claremont. Brimming with tree-lined streets and grand historical buildings, a day trip to Claremont will make you completely forget that you’re still in Los Angeles County.
The City’s Oldest Bakery
The cornerstone to any quality day trip is delish eats, of course! Plus, you gotta have proper fuel for a day of good times. Some Crust Bakery serves up exceptional gourmet baked goods and some mighty-fine java. You can nibble on a Breakfast Egg Slider – served all day – an apple-cheese danish, or an Ortega chili cheese croissant while gawking at the gorgeous mountain-studded panorama.
Get Your Boutiquing On
Some Crust Bakery is conveniently located in the heart of the Claremont Village, where quaint boutique shops with fab finds abound. So after noshing, you’ll be well positioned to get your boutiquing on!
At Heirloom, you’ll find one-of-a-kind gifts – often distinguished by hilarity – and hand-crafted glass bottle chandeliers. A Shop Called Quest houses comic books, art books, graphic novels, and action figures. Music lovers will find rows of classic vinyl, CDs and memorabilia at Rhino Records. Across the street, musicians can admire or play the magical musical instruments for sale that line the walls of the Folk Music Center. 
Botanic Garden
If you have a penchant for plants, you’ll want to spend time at California Botanic Garden, the largest botanic garden dedicated to California native plants, spread across 86 acres and offering beautiful vistas of the San Gabriel Mountains – you can’t really escape the mountain views in Claremont. If you’re a butterfly lover, be sure to come to the Garden in late Spring or Summer so you can walk among the beautiful butterflies at the Butterfly Pavilion.
Dinner Choices
For dinner, you can chomp on goat cheese lollipops and delectable dishes such as Black Cod with Miso at Bardot, where chic atmosphere meets a casual elegance. If you prefer a little bocce ball with your meal, Union on Yale, offering gourmet fare prepared with fresh, local ingredients, has a regulation court on its patio.
After a delectable meal and a healthy heaping of the quirky and the quaint, it may be hard to leave Claremont. But the good news is that if you live in LA, day trips can be made frequently.
