When organizing a corporate retreat, we know that the location is one of, if not the most important feature to choose. 

Today’s area of exploration is sunny LA, and we’ll be breaking down 12 of the most unforgettable locations for team building near Los Angeles, filled with places to take your teams and activities that will create memories to last a lifetime.

So with no further ado, let’s look at the U.S’ stunning west coast and highlight the best places to organize your next retreat.

Why choose a work retreat near Los Angeles?

Following on from our recent blog on corporate retreats near New York City, the opposite coast of the US brings some of the best retreat locations found anywhere in the world. 

The ‘City of Angels’ hosts no shortage of outstanding locations that are set to inspire and morph your teams into real powerhouses.

Our list starts nearer to LA City proper, then heads further out, but all are still within driving distance. Let’s get into it.

Our top 12 retreat locations near Los Angeles

Here is our cherry-picked list of the best places to organize your next corporate retreat:

Ojai, Ventura County

Sitting right in the heart of Ventura County, Ojai is only a 90-minute drive Northwest of Los Angeles. Ojai Valley sunsets are capped by a phenomenon called “the pink moment,” which is when the light hits the Topatopa Mountains in a way that makes the Valley glow with a pinkish hue.

Its majestic sights create a beautiful backdrop for evening sessions full of reflective moments. The town has a growing emphasis on wellness and sustainable business practices, which can fit into your corporate practices neatly.

The Ojai Valley Trail is great for group hikes or bike rides, which is a surefire way to build up those team-building skills. There’s the Ojai Art Center to check out, California’s oldest multi-disciplinary art center, with creative workshops for team inspiration. Ojai really is a must for a workplace retreat.

Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara County

Santa Ynez is a census-designated locale in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara. The first words that come to mind in Santa Ynez are tranquil and charming, filled with sights that must have been lifted from a book, all within a short 2-hour drive from Los Angeles.

A short trip just a stone’s throw away is the unique and charming town of Solvang, often referred to as the “Danish Capital of America.” It’s filled with windmills, half-timbered houses, and authentic Danish bakeries. Solvang offers a cultural experience fit for some unique team-building sessions.

Santa Ynez’s refreshing blend of beauty and recreation makes it an ideal location for a memorable and productive retreat. So let the output of your ideation sessions flow as freely as Santa Ynez’s wine, and enjoy the fruits of your labor in a setting that is sure to inspire each and every member.

San Luis Obispo

A 4-hour drive or hour-long flight from LA lies the beautiful San Luis Obispo. It’s a great choice for a company retreat due to its standout scenery. Its mild climate means fantastic retreats can be planned here at any time of the year, with no worries about extreme weather. 

There’s intellectual weight under San Luis’ beautiful surface, so get into some constructive team-building activities at California Polytechnic State University. San Luis’ downtown is a solid mix of old charm and modern flair. Outdoor activities like hiking Bishop’s Peak or kayaking in Morro Bay await, which come with some of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world.

San Luis Obispo is just a beautiful place to hold a work retreat. Let your teams step out of breakneck-speed cityscapes and reconnect with each other. They’ll return to work feeling refreshed and inspired. 

Palm Springs, Riverside County

A location sure to get the most out of your teams for a work retreat is the world-renowned Palm Springs. With over 350 days of sunshine each year, your retreat will be graced with a perfect climate. 2 hours drive out of LA gets you into truly stunning scenery. Deserts and hot springs are great locations for productive team sessions.

Holistic wellness and relaxation are the best things Palm Springs has to offer.  World-famous spas are dotted all around, so after a productive day of brainstorming, your team can recharge in serenity. Outdoor teambuilding activities can be carried out in unforgettable environments, like the Indian Canyons and Joshua Tree National Park.

So consider Palm Springs as the next setting for your work retreat. Whether it’s aimed towards creativity or team-building, this gem of a location will have your teams rested and rejuvenated, ready to conquer the world (or at least their Monday morning meetings)!

Encinitas, San Diego

Keeping things laid back and coastal is the gorgeous city of Encinitas in San Diego. At around 2 hours drive south along the coast, Encinitas is an exceptional choice for a work getaway. A brainstorming session against the backdrop of a stunning sunset over the Pacific is sure to go down wonderfully for a productive and constructive work retreat. 

There’s a great mix of laidback and dynamic environments, and the beach is always a great place to get some team games organized. With an average year-round temperature of 70 °F (21 °C), the climate is something you never need to worry about. 

Try throwing a professional development workshop into the mix of activities in a work retreat at Encinitas. The results will be as grand and inspiring as the surrounding scenery. Choose Encinates as your next ideal work retreat location!

Joshua Tree National Park

Slightly further out than our Palm Springs recommendation, but still within just a few hours' drive from LA, is the world-famous Joshua Tree National Park. A few of the locations on our list have been inspiring enough to have songs and even entire albums written about them, and Joshua Tree stands tall among them.

Squeezed between the Mojave Desert to the north and the Colorado Desert to the east, Joshua Tree National Park offers a unique backdrop that’s sure to be remembered by every team member. There’s a whole host of great hotels on offer that function particularly well for business events. 

Bring in the Joshua Tree National Park as your choice of workplace retreat for a standout experience. Strengthen your teams’ bonds in a serene environment with an atmosphere of focus and productivity. Unwinding after under the night sky views of the Milky Way make a memory of a lifetime.

Ventura (San Buenaventura)

Officially named San Buenaventura, this city lies an hour’s drive northwest along the coast, and it stands out as a solid candidate for the best work retreat location near LA. Kick the retreat off perfectly with a look into the city’s name and Spanish heritage. Mission San Buenaventura shows off the city’s fascinating history, with its stunning parish and basilica.

Ventura’s botanical gardens offer a wonderfully natural location for some team-building activities. Local guides ramp the experience up to the next level, with tours for your teams through some of Ventura’s best-known spots. Watersports are offered on the coast too, with Surfer’s Point and Ventura Keys standing out as great choices for team games.

No matter how you choose to spend your time in Ventura, one thing is for certain. A work retreat here is sure to stay in the minds of everyone attending long after it finishes. Ventura awaits to inspire and rejuvenate your teams.

Carpinteria, Santa Barbara

Following on a little further northwest out of LA and past Ventura is the lush and scenic Carpinteria. It still brandishes its slogan from 1912, which is the “World’s Safest Beach.” But there’s a lot more to see and do here in this peaceful city. 

As the pace of life slows down, let creativity flourish by assigning your teams to the Carpinteria Arts Center. Have them immersed in the local art scene and some workshops run by local artisans. Organize a hike through the gorgeous hills of Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve, topped off by sweeping ocean views at the top.

At only 2 hours drive from LA, you could even consider using Carpinteria as a weekend stopover while moving around other areas of LA’s well-connected highways. Creativity and inspiration await in Carpinteria, so why delay? Escape the ordinary and elevate your teams to the next level!

Lake Arrowhead, San Bernadino County

Heading east out of LA for 80 miles brings you to a stunning location, perfectly set up for a workplace retreat, in Lake Arrowhead. It feels like a world apart from the breakneck speeds of city life in busy hubs like LA. This alpine lake getaway offers corporate teams the chance to recharge and rekindle their creative fires. 

Crisp mountain air blowing through towering pines and across clear blue waters sets the scene for morning team-building sessions. The hikes here are unmatched, leading to streams for kayaking and returning to your lodgings in the leafy forests. Get the spirit of your teams connected with nature, using the beautiful namesake lake as your backdrop to hos your team-building sessions. 

There’s a diverse range of activities on offer at Lake Arrowhead, so do your teams a favor and choose it as your next corporate retreat location. We know they’ll thank you for it!

Monterey, Monterey County

Monterey County is a fantastic choice for a corporate retreat. The scenic features of Monterey County include Carmel-by-the-Sea, State Route 1, and the 17 Mile Drive, which have all made the county a world-famous location.

Getting here is a straightforward coastal drive northwest of LA City, with stunning Pacific views as far as the eye can see. Organize a day out to Monterey Bay Aquarium for an unforgettable experience for your teams. Spanish and Mexican-era buildings are a good choice of exploration for the history buffs in your teams too, found at the famous Monterey State Historic Park.

So give Monterey some serious consideration for your next work retreat. We know that a getaway here is sure to be one of the most productive environments possible for your team-building needs.

Santa Cruz

Continuing our trail slightly further out from LA city brings us to Santa Cruz, a jaw-dropping city just waiting to be explored as part of a work retreat. At roughly 350 miles from LA, the journey there is as effortless as it is scenic. Just over 6 hours of driving, or a one-hour flight, gets you to this must-see city.

There’s so much to see and do in its vibrant downtown, giving it a fast-paced energy from its tourism and trade. Outdoor team games work wonderfully at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, one of its standout landmarks. More outdoor activities and guaranteed to bring results in the city’s Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. The gigantic redwood trees are an awe-inspiring sight to behold.

So choose Santa Cruz for a workplace retreat filled with productivity and inspiration. Elevate your teams to extraordinary heights and have them soaring in the top branches of Santa Cruz’s sequoia trees. They won’t be able to forget it.

San Francisco

Topping our list for the furthest distance from LA is the fantastic city of San Francisco. Still accessible in a 6-hour drive or 1.5-hour flight, San Francisco holds its own with any city in the world for things to see and do. As a workplace retreat, it’s one of the most fun and productive places you could take your teams. So let’s explore it. 

A day trip filled with activities near the Golden Gate Bridge or on Alcatraz Island will create long-lasting memories. Being a major city, each neighborhood offers something different, from the eclectic Mission District to the historic Fisherman’s Wharf, there’s no shortage of locations for networking events and team-building activities.

San Francisco is a golden choice for a memorable work retreat near LA. Take the time to explore the city with your teams and give them the trip of a lifetime!

Wait no longer. Use Surf Office to reward your teams with one of our retreats!

Here at Surf Office, our business is getting the most out of your teams, and we’ve got everything needed for a work retreat they won’t forget.

Imagine the usual confines of your office settings melting away on a sandy beach or taking the time to appreciate nature along LA’s coast. A quick change of environment can be as revitalizing as a complete office overhaul.

Like this idea but not sure how to put it all together? No problem, this is where Surf Office comes in.

We've had the pleasure of organizing over 700+ retreat experiences, including remote teams, for many different companies. Here’s how what we offer:

• Stress-free transfers? We got you! ✅
• Quality-assured accommodations? Check! ✅
• Engaging team-building activities? Our speciality ✅
• Restaurant reservations? That's on us! ✅
• Expert retreat planning assistance? Of course, we have this covered! ✅
• Onsite support, tailored to your needs? Absolutely ✅

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Not only this but we also have access to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America and now Africa, meaning the sky is your limit when it comes to choosing the right location for you and your team.

Organize your next retreat near LA, and let us take the driving seat to get you there. Get in touch now to organize your next work getaway.