LA - When to go between now and August?
 

We've never been to LA. Are interested in the beach. When would be a good time to go between now and August?

July or August would be the best, there is a reason those of us in California talk about "May Grey" and "June Gloom" regarding Southern California coastal weather although sometimes you will get lucky.

The Pacific Ocean in Southern California is pretty cold all year, it does get a little warmer (think a couple of degrees) around Labor Day.

Thanks for replying. We are not that intested in "swimming" in the water, necessarily, but would like warm enough weather to walk along and take in the view. Is it too cold in Feb, March or even April if May and June are too grey and gloomy? Thought maybe July, August would be more crowded?

As jamie99 says, May and June tend to be cloudy, overcast and not great for theviews. My experience is that if you don't mind chilly weather and some wind, mid-March to mid-April can be nice from Santa Barbara south to San Diego.

Thanks... We won the trip at work and they are putting us up in Hollywood (don't know where). The trip includes a rental car, so we'd be able to drive. Is Santa Barbara close enough?

Santa Barbara from Hollywood can be 90 minutes or 3 hours. Most likely a bit under two hours. You go through the Valley (San Fernando Valley) on the 101, it is labelled 101 North but runs more or less east-west at that point.

If you leave early, you go against traffic, it will be worth your while, it's a nice place. Go down to the Santa Barbara harbor and park and walk out on the long angled jetty.

Have lunch at the fish restaurant in the harbor.

Drive up to the mission on 2201 Laguna St..

If the day is clear and you want to have a grand view, take either State St. all the way uptown and heading west to highway 154, or take the 101 through town, get off at the highway 154/State St. exit and head for the hills. Take a look and some pictures from up there wherever you feel like pulling out, then come back down, it's not far.

On the way back, if you have time, get off the 101 in Oxnard, take the Pacific Coast Highway exit, also labelled Highway 1 and N. Oxnard Boulevard, swing right (south) at the exit and head into Oxnard, through Oxnard following the signs ( 1 ), take a half-left at (but not into) cross street Wooley - just follow ( 1 ) Pacific Coast Highway signs.

It becomes open country, and when you have a beach on your right and a monster big rock ahead where the road turns around the head and goes east, you'll soon have Neptune's Net on your left, a cool seafood pub for local beach bums and for movie stars who come up from Malibu (and regular folks like you...).

Then the road takes you through Malibu, for a good 20 miles - nice sunsets etc., (watch your speed, the limit keeps changing) and when you get to the Topanga Canyon, take it, join the 101 South (really East) and head down into Hollywood.

Check a map, it will all make sense. You can do that Malibu drive on its own another day, too.

I would go in late April, or early May. It should be pleasantly warm, not much chance of rain, but not yet too foggy, hot or smoggy.

Thanks all for the info. I'm leaning toward March or April. Too windy in March? I'll save your intinerary, DalaiLlama, and map it out. Sounds exciting.

Ditto to mlgb....we were there last year from Jan to third week in March. By the time we left, weather was gorgeous and getting better each day. It would seem to be that by April it would be ideal. I like that time b/c as it is just at the end of rainy season, the air is clear, hillsides are green and you have lovely views of the mountains. We were back in late June and what a difference! While we did not have any June gloom, the months of dryness had taken their toll and the "freshness" of all was noticeably gone.....smog rendered the previous views of the mountains all but invisible.

OK, thanks! :)

As others have said, April weather is really nice in Southern California. DalaiLlama has given you a great itinerary for a day exploring Santa Barbara and the Malibu coast area. If you'd like to take another driving day out of L.A., April is the best time to see poppies and other wildflowers in the Antelope Valley.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...66437262nNixbh

Thank you for the links. It looks lovely! I'll add that to my wish list of things to do. :)

Another idea for a lunch stop in DalaiLlama's routing is the Cold Spring Tavern off of highway 154 in the mountains above Santa Barbara. It's an old stage coach stop, tucked into a wooded ravine on the old stagecoach route. The food is actually very good, and on weekends they have BBQ tri-tip sandwiches.

http://www.coldspringtavern.com/

Another vote for April, the hills are at their best green and the wildflowers are out, usually no smog, if you get lucky there will be a heat wave.