will be there in aug some time will have around ten days to do and go where we want. budget is limited, would like to stretch it so not going 1st class. thanx ahead of time for any input. G.E.

SOOOooooo much to do in California! For a 17-yr old (mine is 16), you want the beach - definitely! Venice Beach is THE place to be - you can spend all day just staring at the odd assortment of people...rent skates or a bike as the skate/bike paths go way up and down the coast. The path runs along the Venice boardwalk where there is everything you can think of for sale at the booths. Santa Moncia beach (bike up from Venice - not far) is also great. The Santa Monica Place Mall is right next to the boardwalk where all the tourists go - great mall. Go inland from there straight down Wilshire Blvd. to Westwood. This is a definite place for teens to shop and walk. It's where UCLA is, and there are lots of college kids. See a movie, do the shops, have a coffee and sandwich, walk around the campus.Go south from there to Hollywood and drive down Hollywood Blvd. Universal Studios and City Walk are definitely an all day/all night affair. Get there early while it's cool, then sit down at a cafe on the City Walk for an early lunch. If you need more info, just email me.

two suggestions:
Take the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles at least as far as Santa Barbara. The drive is spectacular and there are a million things to see (Malibu and the beach homes of the stars, for instance) and great little places to eat.
Second, go to San Diego. Go to the San Diiego Zoo, Sea World, Old Town and Coronado. Be careful, though, teh drive from LA to San Diego can take from 90 minutes (normal) to three hours or more (if there's an accident).

Jane is so right! My brother and I did a similar trip with my dad when we were 16 and 19. Loved it! Also, if you have the opportunity, visit the desert -- If you're from the East coast like me, it is truly fascinating.

If you spend time in San Diego, head to Belmont Park (on the ocean). There's a nice, long boardwalk where you can just people-watch, and there's a pretty cool wooden roller coaster. From there, you can take Mission Boulevard and follow it up to La Jolla, where there are some more beautiful beaches, a Hard Rock Cafe, and some neat (but expensive) shops.