Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Southern California question

Methinks you will get a wide variety of responses here. You could do day trips to the north (towards Santa Barbara) or to the south (towards San Diego). I'll leave such to others, and will instead recommend a good driving tour of LA proper. From Anaheim, I'd head to the 405 freeway and take it north, into LA. Then take the 10 west towards Santa Monica, which goes through a tunnel and whoom you are instantly transported from urban freeway to gorgeous sight of the Pacific with the Santa Monica Mountains as a backdrop. You could stop IN Santa Monica for lunch, stroll the shops and restaurants on 3rd Street, or perhaps take lunch further up the coast on Pacific Coast Highway at the seaside establishments of Gladstones or the Chart House. You could take PCH further up to Malibu and then back if you like the seaside scenery, or just turn around and get back to the 10 east. From 10 east, I'd rejoin the 405 and continue on 405 north to Sunset blvd. Get off at Sunset and take it east as it meanders through the hilly estates of pricey Bel Air, by UCLA, and then into Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Perhaps shoot down south to Santa Monica blvd and continue on SM Blvd out of West Hollywood, through Hollywood, until you hit the 101. This drive should give you a nice tour of some of the diversity of neighborhoods in LA. At the 101, you could take it north and a few miles up is Universal Studios and Citywalk, another open air-type mall. Or you could head south on 101 to downtown LA, and take the 110 south to drive through the city center which is impressive at night. Perhaps, if you have daylight left, you could stop and visit Olvera Street, LA's oldest block which is right next to Union Station. Or, you could find a restaurant that interests you in this area, or head further down south, past the Staples Center, towards San Pedro. About 15 miles south of downtown LA the 110 reconnects with the 405. Take the 405 south, and again you have some more choices. If you still have time, you could take the 710 south and have dinner in Long Beach aboard the Queen Mary? Then take Ocean Blvd east, through Long Beach and Belmont Shore then make a right turn on Pacific Coast Highway and drive through the quaint Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, Huntington... all the way down to Newport or Laguna if you desire albeit this would make a VERY long day. If you are out of time, you could skip the 710 detour and stay on 405 south, head directly back to Anaheim, and do the OC coastal neighborhoods another day. Just one option. I'm sure that others will have many more for you. Happy travels, welcome to So Cal!