I want to go to California for the first time in June. But have no idea where to go, please help! We're in our late 20's, want to party and surf, don't mind staying in a hostel or whatever. And what's the june gloom? Any suggestions appreciated.

Uh-oh, be prepared to be chided for using the dreaded "Cali".

late 20's, want to party and surf. Sounds like Hermosa Beach (just south of LAX) would be the place. google Surf City youth hostel. There is also a youth hostel in Santa Monica.

Orange County is south of LA county and is the home to Huntington Beach, the (now) official "Surf City". Not sure about inexpensive lodging in that area though.

The San Diego beaches might also be good for you, but I'll let our resident SD experts help you with that.

"June Gloom" is a thick cloud layer that hangs over the coast for most of the day. It can be sunny just 3-4 miles inland, but gray and cool over the coast. Some years it is worse than others. There's just no telling.

Someone please tell me where this "Cali" thing started. In Flori? Pennsyl? Illi?

Hey Jean,

Maybe it was in "afri" (see OP's screen name)

I think it started in Frisco

Here's the real culprit:

LL COOL J LYRICS
"Going Back To Cali"
Chorus:
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali.. hmm, I don't think so
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali.. I don't think so

"Cali" the dreaded "C" word..
Party and Surf..my kind of people!
Orange County or San Diego would be a perfect fit for you..
SD, I would suggest Pacific Beach/Mission Beach/Ocean Beach..
June Gloom is where the deserts are really hot and the ocean is still cool so it creates a marine layer..
sometimes we have it, sometimes not.
Great hostel in OB a block from the beach and great surf and excellent partying options..love Pac Shores!
Scroll down to OB Hostel.

www.oceanbeach.com

There is a city in Columbia you might enjoy - but dangerous I hear

I'm sorry about the "Cali" - didn't know I'd get torn apart by it...

Afri- Don't worry, my daughter calls it Cali and she's 5th generation native Californian. Actually, she didn't start calling it Cali till she moved to Texi (Texas). ;-)

And another thing -- at least this poster didn't use the dreaded term "The OC". As a native Angeleno who lived the first forty-five years of my life within 50 miles of Orange County, I can say positively that we NEVER called it "The OC"!!!

afri: Great suggestion of Ocean Beach. The further south you go, the better for your purposes.

Lots of surfer dudes and ex-surfer dudes (hey! that's what they called themselves!) in San Diego area.

Have fun! Hope you'll have a car.

trippinkpj: Is it really "Texi"? I thought it was "Te-ha"! Silly me!

Azzure.. I live in OC and call it that all the time . No different then when I lived in P.B. or O.B... I never called La Jolla - L.J. though <grin>

Te-ha is a good one easytraveler! I just made up Texi as an antedote to Cali. ;-)

I like Ocean Beach too. I think it would fit your criteria.

I live in S. CA (actually in OC) and think most Californians don't care if you call it Cali - this state is pretty laid back. I think a few just like to be difficult. Don't let them bother you. Yes, my real name is Cali. They also don't care if you call Orange County OC or the Inland Empire IE.

Can we answer the question? Where to stay at the beach in June? (From a 3rd-generation Californian who doesn't live there any more AND doesn't care if you call it Cali).

don't think I've ever heard anyone say "I live in IE".

Let's see, 17 responses and only three of us actually answered the OP's question. Very helpful.

afri_can - you might also try the lonely planet thorntree board: http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/
There is more information on low-cost lodging there. Hopefully you will get better answers. Good luck.

I second what TahitiTams said. I think SD would be great for you and the beaches she mentioned are awesome!
She gave me a good tip on a hotel in La Jolla last year