Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [5]
Overlook (2007) Michael Connolly
ROAD-TRIPPING TUNES
Create a SoCal playlist for your iPod, grab a convertible, crank up the volume and get drivin’. SoCal, so cool!
‘California Dreaming’ – The Mamas and the Papas
‘Straight Outta Compton’ – NWA
‘Los Angeles’ – X
‘Hollywood Swingin’ – Kool & the Gang
‘Come a Long Way’ – Michelle Shocked
‘City of Angels’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers
‘Ventura Highway’ – America
‘California’ – Phantom Planet
‘All I Wanna Do’ – Sheryl Crow
‘Surfin’ USA’ – Beach Boys
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
Itineraries
* * *
CLASSIC ROUTES
THE GRAND CIRCLE
COASTAL DELIGHTS
NO CAR? NO PROBLEM!
DESERT RAMBLINGS
TAILORED TRIPS
IT’S KIDDIE TIME
SIDE-TRACKING SIDEWAYS
MAY THE SPIRIT MOVE YOU
MODERNIST MASTERPIECES
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
ROAD RAVES
GREEN GETAWAYS
CAMP, KITSCH & CULTURE
* * *
CLASSIC ROUTES
THE GRAND CIRCLE Two to Three Weeks
* * *
Southern California is a rich quilt of spirit-lifting coast, mystical deserts, bustling cities and impressive mountains, as you will discover on this 900-mile loop. Take your sweet time to fully immerse yourself in this banquet of treats, treasures and temptations.
* * *
Kick off in Los Angeles, where top-notch sights, beautiful beaches and terrific food form a trifecta of treats. Follow up with a date with Mickey at Disneyland and a day of pleasure-filled downtime in Laguna Beach before heading south to San Diego for culture in Balboa Park and animal encounters at the zoo and SeaWorld. Escaping civilization, head to starkly beautiful Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the eerie Salton Sea, which is a major migratory bird refuge, and to Joshua Tree National Park with its whimsical trees. Squeeze in a day of margarita-sipping and golfing in nearby Palm Springs before climbing from palms to pines en route to alpine Big Bear Lake for biking, hiking, fishing and skiing. From here it’s west via the scenic Rim of the World Dr to Ventura for some great thrifting and an excursion to the Channel Islands National Park. The final stop is Santa Barbara, whose gorgeous Spanish-Mediterranean downtown has fun shopping and dining. Before heading back south to LA, stock up on fine pinots in Santa Barbara Wine Country.
Return to beginning of chapter
COASTAL DELIGHTS One Week
* * *
Southern California’s coast is a ribbon of myth and legend, immortalized in film, television, song and word. This 240-mile route reveals eye candy at every bend of the road. Resist the temptation to race through it: its true charms want to be savored.
* * *
Book-ended by San Diego and Santa Barbara, this route hugs the Pacific for most of its 240 miles. Before steering northward, admire fine art in Balboa Park, leaping killer whales at SeaWorld and buff dudes in Mission Beach, all in San Diego. Legoland California in Carlsbad gets a thumbs up from the preteen set while, further north, history buffs salivate over the beautifully restored Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Our vote for prettiest OC town is artsy Laguna Beach whose secluded coves, craggy cliffs and azure waves create a Riviera-like feel. Want ritzy? Plow on to Newport Beach, still reveling in its post-The OC glow, where bobbing yachts, the giant Fashion Island mall and dare-devil surfers are prevailing presences. Speaking of surfing, the official ‘Surf City USA’ – Huntington Beach – is just up the road and truly epitomizes the surf-sand-sex way of life. Still, to party big-city style, Huntingtonians head across the LA County border to Pine Ave in Long Beach, while families find plenty of stimulus at the Queen Mary ocean liner and the state-of-the-art Aquarium of the Pacific.
Continue with a meander along surreally beautiful Palos Verdes Dr before plunging headlong into the South Bay towns of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Their American-as-apple-pie vibe contrasts sharply with boho-chic (but wacky) Venice. Increasingly sophisticated Santa Monica beckons with a lively pier, fun shopping and excellent restaurants. The busy