California Dreamin'
One of the attractions of America as a country is there are so many diverse places to visit. Santa Monica has a continental feel to it, it's reasonably easy to get by without needing a car, particularly if you're in one of the central hotels; the fantastic beach with its world-famous pier, shopping on 3rd Street and a superb variety of bars and restaurants are all on hand. Close to Venice Beach, Malibu, Rodeo Drive and Hollywood, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Santa Monica as a great base if you're planning to spend time in L.A. (an underrated city often overlooked in Californian itineraries).
A couple of hours drive down the road, my other mate Michael has been living in the La Jolla suburb of San Diego for fifteen years. With its stunning coastline location, San Diego is one of America's most beautiful cities. Check out the Gaslamp District for buzzing bars and restaurants and the great beach at Coronado Bay. The city is also very close to the Mexican border if you fancy a visit to the tourist town of Tijuana for cheap bargains. La Jolla, no more than half an hour's drive from the centre of San Diego, is a smart beach town with a great choice of eateries, some good hotel choices and great beach complete with its own seal colony!
My last visit to San Diego was also my first experience of having dinner in two venues, one for your first courses before moving on to another establishment for dessert. A great idea, you get a bit of exercise to make room for your pudding whilst you walk on to the next restaurant! I find having friends living in the area is a real plus for me as it means I can keep abreast of new developments in these cities and give recommendations to my clients on what to see and do, where to eat - and also where to avoid!
If you want the perfect Californian itinerary arranging just let me know!
