Living in Los Angeles has its costs — traffic, crowds, and a price tag that has driven many to wonder if the city's energy is worth it. But one thing that makes the sacrifice worthwhile: you're sitting at the center of one of America's most geographically diverse regions.

Within a three-hour radius of downtown LA, you can find yourself in the Mojave Desert, the Big Bear mountains, the rolling vineyards of Santa Barbara wine country, or the dramatic Pacific Coast of San Luis Obispo. Here are our editors' top picks for a weekend reset.