See how the city really works... and other Los Angeles, CA Off The Beaten Path Tips

Experience Los Angeles the way so many working class Angelenos live, day to day. Ride the Metro. The Subway and light rails are fast, efficient, cheap; and diversions in themselves. Even distant locations are connected via Metrolink trains. And, downtown is better travelled via the Red Line than can be said for automobiles.

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Phone: 1.800.COMMUTE

Arrive in Los Angeles on a moderate smog day, and you will be stunned to find a major mountain range backs right up to the city limits. The San Bernardino Mountains help and hurt LA, simultaneously. They protect the city from the harsh desert climate to their East, but also trap in air masses - playing the largest hand in LA's poor air quality. Nevertheless, a jaunt up into the Angeles National Forest is exhilarating. It's bewildering to depart Mt. Wilson(5,710'), cling to the curves and dips, and arrive back in the city limits in twenty minutes. Who cares if gang members dump bodies in the canyons late at night. It's pretty!

The best approach is to ascend Big Tujunga Canyon Road from Tujunga/Sunland and descend via the Angeles Crest to La Canada. However, finding the former will be tough if you're not adept with maps. In this case, simply follow the 2 Fwy to "Mountain Ave", turn right at the end of ramp, and then left onto the Angeles Crest. Travel as far as you wish. Mt. Wilson is, I believe, nineteen miles from this intersection. Disclaimer: This road is not for the faint of heart!

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Pasadena is a large, independant city just Northeast of Los Angeles. Affluent, and known for its famous Rose Bowl, and parade, most visitors make the trip. Personally, I think Pasadena is overblown. The revamped "Old Town" is little more than an outdoor mall, and the area becomes a "drunk & stumble" district on weekends. However, with the completion of the new Metro Goldline, Pasadena is a great afternoon destination - especially if you combine it with any trip downtown. The light rail will get you to Old Town faster than you could possibly make it by car, and is a surprisingly scenic ride. You won't need a car unless you seek to tour the old Gamble homes or similar Craftsman gems. Make sure you don't miss the Pasadena City Hall, an incredible monument often overlooked, and an easy walk from the main shopping district. This civic center is worth the trip in itself.

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Phone: Metro: 1.800.COMMUTE

Santa Barbara wine country became public knowledge with the movie "Sideways", but the history of growing grapes began long before the buzz. Approximately 130 miles north of Los Angeles, the wineries of Santa Barbara County offer a fantastic day or weekend getaway. Spend the morning in the Mediterranean charm of the city of Santa Barbara, and then wind your way to the tiny villages of Los Olivos and Santa Ynez and visit the many tasting rooms along the way. You'll encounter incredible mountain vistas and dazzling panoramics of the Pacific Ocean - oh, and some good wine, too.

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Website: www.santabarbara.winecountry.com

To my mind, there are two main "destination" beaches for those visiting Los Angeles:

1. Malibu
2. Laguna

I'm partial to the latter. Malibu backs against some stark mountains, and the approach from the Eastern passes is mindblowing. However, it's tough to compare the "highway village" of Malibu to the charming, riviera ambience of Laguna.

An artistic oasis in stoic Orange County, Laguna Beach is a laid back - albeit wealthy - community whose village sidewalks run right to the sand. The beaches are clean and gorgeous and the rolling green hills that slope to the sea frame a glamourous panorama. There are famous art festivals, year-round galleries, reasonable restaurants and a wealth of accomodations. It's a great day or overnight trip.

Laguna is only 55miles from Los Angeles International Airport, though traffic can make the trip grueling, at times.

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Phone: 1.800.877.1115
Website: www.lagunabeachinfo.org

Few people realize that Los Angeles has the second busiest maritime port in the World. Can you dig it? Number one is Seoul, and number two is Los Angeles. Who knew?

Well, true to LA, the port situation is as unnatural as the city itself. Los Angeles got a lock on drinking water from the Owens River Valley and then blackmailed neighboring cities to "consolidate" or die of thirst. San Pedro was no exception. Los Angeles annexed a twenty mile long, one mile wide corridor that leads from Downtown to the sea. It creates a rather bizarre city boundary, but the deal is done...and let me tell ya, the combined ports of Long Beach and San Pedro are a sight to see! Tremendous span bridges, piping smokestacks, and endless piles of shipping containers piled to the sky, the port is a fascinating sidetrip.

The town of San Pedro retains it's longshoremen character and is anything but a tourist attraction. However, I highly recommend a visit to the area for those fascinated by social structure and industry. Combine the trip with a visit to the nearby crashing cliffs of Palos Verdes(reminiscent of Ireland on a wet day), or a sidetrip to the cozy city of Long Beach and it's world class aquarium.

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Newcomb's Ranch is a historic roadhouse oasis, 27 miles up the Angeles Crest Highway from Los Angeles.

The first time I drove this far up the crest and saw the lonely "food ahead" sign aside the road, I thought I must have altitude sickness. But, no, here in the middle of the Angeles National Forest is a historic diner, popular with bikers in the summer, and oftentimes snowed-in during the unpredictable winter.

An Asian couple recently purchased Newcomb's and cleaned it up...in fact, they polished a little more of the charm out of the old shack than I would approve of. Still, it's a sweet little getaway, with pool tables, nachos and a few beers on tap.

Take the Angeles Crest from La Canada Flintridge, past Mt. Wilson. Straight shot, and related to my Mountains tip in this same section.

Definitely a unique experience in Metro Los Angeles.

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Phone: 1.626.440.1001
Website: www.newcombsranch.com