Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [1]
The current mayor of Los Angeles – Antonio Villaraigosa, himself of Mexican descent – is a fellow with bold ideas about social initiatives and it’s extremely difficult to envision a return to the infamous ‘Zoot Suit Riots’ of the ’40s or the uproar that followed the ‘all-white jury’ verdict in the Rodney King beating case. You may be astonished to see the ethnic and racial mix of colleagues and friends walking along boulevards and beaches or gathering for meals together in SoCal’s plethora of world cuisine restaurants. As we joke locally, ‘Whatever happens in SoCal today will happen to the rest of the world a few years later.’ We can only hope that, in terms of race and ethnic relations, this timetable speeds up enormously. Time and again, SoCal has proven itself to be resourceful, resilient, adaptive and innovative. With global warming threatening, you can bet the bank that Caltech, UCLA and other universities are directing their brains toward solving the issues.
The myths surrounding SoCal have somehow come true. You truly can surf in the morning in pleasant climes, spend the afternoon skiing down alpine slopes and end the day with alfresco dinner in the desert. Who wouldn’t want to live here, even with the horrifying commuting times? Who wouldn’t want to visit, or perhaps become a part of, one of the world’s greatest and most successful natural and social experiments?
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Getting Started
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WHEN TO GO
COSTS & MONEY
TRAVEL LITERATURE
INTERNET RESOURCES
TRAVELING RESPONSIBLY
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Southern California (SoCal) has excellent tourism infrastructure, and backpackers, families and urban nomads will all find their needs and expectations met. Room and travel reservations are a good idea between June and early September and around major holidays, but otherwise you can keep your advance planning to a minimum. Traffic in the heavily congested coastal areas can be a nightmare at times. Avoid traveling between 3pm and 7pm on weekdays or, in the spirit of slow travel, consider using alternative transportation – such as the train or bus – for at least part of your trip.
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WHEN TO GO
SoCal’s a great destination year-round, but most people visit in July and August when cloudless skies and high temperatures are pretty much guaranteed. This is the best time for frolicking on the beach, enjoying alfresco dinners and attending festivals and other open-air events. The mountains are gorgeous, especially if you’re into hiking, biking or other outdoor pursuits. Summer is not ideal for exploring the desert, where the mercury can soar as high as 120°F. In all areas the desert lodging is scarce and costly during these months and you’ll be jostling for space at major attractions. Note that in June thick clouds often blanket the beach towns, but by July the coast is usually clear, so to speak.
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See Climate Charts Click here for more information.
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The shoulder seasons (March to May and September to November) bring smaller crowds, lower prices and more temperate weather. In spring wildflowers often brighten meadows, mountains and deserts, while in fall it can still be warm enough to swim in the Pacific.
Unless you’re planning a beach vacation, winter (December to February) is a great time to visit, despite the greater chance of rain. It’s ideal for exploring the desert, when temperatures are