Sara Benson - Los Angeles San Diego & Southern California

In all of your California daydreaming, palm trees, golden sands and Pacific sunsets beckon, right? The good news: SoCal is where those cinematic fantasies really can come true.

Surf, sand and sex will always sell SoCal. Even though you wont find many real-life stars in Hollywood these days, you might spot celebs shopping at LAs boutiques or walking along the beach in Malibu. Or just take a sneak peek behind the scenes on a movie studio tour ( ). Then round up the whole family to see where Hollywoods high-tech magic really happens at SoCals theme parks. Universal Studios Hollywood and Orange Countys Disneyland and Disneys California Adventure, with their cartoon characters and adventure rides, are all classic choices. Or take a walk on the wild side at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, where giraffes and zebras roam. Loosen up, and live a little.

SoCal may be best known for its artificial beauty (whoa, botox and silicone!), but its beaches ( ) are really an ace in the hole. Whether youre a punk surfer, aspiring pro volleyball nut or new-agey bohemian, SoCals beach towns, each with its own idiosyncratic personality, give you a perfect excuse to take a vacation. Then hop a boat out to the Channel Islands, a jewel-like archipelago encompassing civilized Catalina and a truly wild national park. If you can tear yourself away from the ocean, more adventures await on land. Escape to the cooler alpine climes of Big Bear Lake or turn up the heat in SoCals deserts with a getaway to retro-modern Palm Springs. Then gear up to dig deeper into the desert: Death Valley, Joshua Tree or Anza-Borrego, where dusty 4WD roads and hiking trails lead to hidden canyons and native fan-palm oases.

Or maybe your SoCal sojourn will be an epicurean quest ( ). Finding the most killer fish tacos in San Diego alone could take days. Meanwhile, LA is an all-around foodie winner, where denizens passionately argue about where the best sushi bar, gourmet food truck or underground supper club is. LA is also a melting pot of ethnic cooking, from Little Tokyo and Thai Town to the tamale shops of East LA. Jam up the Pacific Coast Hwy to Malibu, stopping at seafood shacks, then follow back roads through the fog-kissed vineyards of Santa Barbaras wine country.

CURRENCY

US dollars ($)

LANGUAGE

English

MONEY

ATMs are widely available. Credit cards are usually required for hotel reservations. Out-of-state checks are rarely accepted. Tipping is customary, not optional.

VISAS

Generally not required for citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, but only with ESTA approval (apply online at least 72 hours in advance).

CELL PHONES

Cell-phone coverage is spotty in the deserts. The only foreign phones that will work in the USA are GSM multiband models.

DRIVING

Traffic in cities and coastal areas can be nightmarish. Avoid weekday rush hours (roughly 7am to 10am and 3pm and 7pm).

Your Daily Budget

BUDGET LESS THAN $75

Dorm beds $25-40

Find farmers markets and taqueras for cheap eats

Skip theme parks, hit the beaches and plan around free admission days at museums

MIDRANGE $75-$200

Two-star inland motel or hotel double room $75-150

Rental car from $30 per day, excluding insurance and gas

TOP END OVER $200

Three-star coastal lodging from $150 per night in summer high season

Three-course meal in top restaurant: $75 plus wine

When to Go

HIGH SEASON (JUNAUG)

Accommodation prices up 50100%

Major holidays are even busier and more expensive

Thick clouds may blanket the coast during June gloom

Coincides with low season in the desert

SHOULDER (APRMAY & SEPNOV)

Crowds and prices drop off, especially along the coast

Temperatures remain mild, with sunny cloudless days in September and October

Weather typically wetter in spring, drier in autumn

LOW SEASON (DECMAR)

Accommodation rates drop near the coast, but not always in cities

Chillier temperatures, more frequent rainstorms and mountain snow

Coincides with peak season in the desert regions

Websites

CalTrans ( www.dot.ca.gov ) Current highway conditions and construction updates.

California Tourism ( www.visitcalifornia.com ) Multilingual trip-planning guides.

LA Times Travel ( www.latimes.com.travel ) Daily news, SoCal travel deals and theme-park blogs.

Lonely Planet ( www.lonelyplanet.com/california ) Destination info, hotel bookings, travelers forums and more.

Theme Park Insider ( www.themeparkinsider.com ) Reviews and discussion boards.

Exchange Rates

Australia	A$1	$0.95
Canada	C$1	$0.97
Euro zone		$1.31
China	Y10	$1.49
Japan		$1.06
Mexico	MXN10	$0.78
New Zealand	NZ$1	$0.73
UK		$1.56

For current exchange rates see www.xe.com .

Important Numbers

All phone numbers have a three-digit area code followed by a seven-digit local number. For long-distance and toll-free calls, dial 1 plus all 10 digits.

Country code	1
International dialing code	011
Operator	0
Emergency (ambulance, fire & police)	911
Directory assistance (local)	411

Arriving in Southern California

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX; )

Taxis $30-50, 30 minutes to one hour

Door-to-door shuttles $15-26, operate 24 hours

Bus & Metro FlyAway bus ($7) to downtown LA or free Shuttle C to LAX Transit Center

San Diego International Airport (SAN; )

Taxis $10-25, 15 to 30 minutes

Door-to-door shuttles $8-20, operate 24 hours

Bus No 992 the Flyer ($2.25) to downtown San Diego every 15 minutes from 5am to 11pm

Earthquakes

Earthquakes occur almost daily in SoCal, but most are so tiny you wont feel them. If youre caught in a serious shaker, stay indoors, get under a desk or table or stand in a doorway, and protect your head. If outdoors, get away from buildings, trees and power lines. If youre driving, pull over to the side of the road away from bridges, overpasses and power lines. Turn on the radio and listen for bulletins. For more earthquake safety tips, .