If you don't want tourists to say something annoying, then don't annoy tourists with some idiotic obsession about an abbreviation.

In other words....who gave the natives a free pass to be the annoying ones?

It's bad enough that tourists have to put up with your idiotic habit of driving around one-person per vehicle all day and night, and never using a turn signal until after you've already merged.

clarkgriswold - I agree. California would be a much better place without the tourists.

Only tourists don't use their turn signal? Our local Roadshow person has a bumper sticker that effectively says "I can't read your mind, Dammit - use your turn signal".

Or as Cuzin' Al has said, when asked about earthquakes and people being afraid to come to California... "thank you".

One of our local sports (in SF) is to count how many tourists are wearing shorts and Alcatraz sweatshirts because it's cold in the summer. Schadenfreude lives.

Wow! I can't believe my little posted question created all this chitter-chatter! It's been fun though! Thank you everyone for your tips on coming to California for the first time, I appreciate it! I did not mean any disrespect for mentioning Cali or San Fran! And yes, I call them highways also! We don't have freeways in Boston!
I cannot wait to come a visit your beautiful state! My son is a Marine stationed in San Diego and I am sure he will correct my slang terms also when I visit! Thanks everyone!

You're most welcome. And don't worry about standing out like a "tourist" when you're in California. I have no idea why that would be a problem. It's not like they throw tourists into the ocean and feed them to the sea lions.

Iroche, is your son stationed at Camp Pendleton (Oceanside) or the MC Recruit Depot (San Diego)? I was born on Camp Pendleton and lived in So Cal until I was 40. All my husband's family live in Oceanside, La Jolla and Escondido. Wonderful place to visit(hehe). I live in Nor Cal now.

Have a wonderful time visiting your son and California.

Please give your son my thanks for his service to our country.

clark, << If you don't want tourists to say something annoying, then don't annoy tourists with some idiotic obsession about an abbreviation. >>

Clark, for me it has nothing to do with being annoyed at tourists - so much as it I would think tourist would appreciate knowing the correct spellings, prounounciation, and proper use of city & street names rather than to sound foolish or uninformed.

It's kinda like people who say Illinois and pronounce the S at the end.

Anyway, Iroche, I'd also like to give a special thank you to your son for his service.

Thanks everyone, BarbAnn my son is stationed at Miramar. He's been out there for almost a year now. He said the weather is so beautiful. I cannot wait to visit! Any suggestions on what to do while we are there? We are staying on Coronardo Beach and I certainly want to see the zoo!

I don't think it's "foolish" not to know how to say "Los Feliz". It's hard to tell the difference between a tourist and a resident in California anyway. The residens use GPS to travel locally, and the tourists seem to know more about what each city has to offer than the residents do (Fodorites are exceptions, of course).

As for Santa Barbara, it's getting to that time of year where it will be hard to book a "one-nighter", so don't wait too long. Marina Beach Motel will do in a pinch, and the Hyatt has just been renovated.

thanks joesorce

Have fun in Cali. It's really different from Beantown.

As I said above:
PeaceOut on May 30, 12 at 8:30am
http://www.sbcastilloinn.com/

This is a very nice little motel, right by the water.