San Diego

Forget the pace and pollution of LA - if you want to wet your feet in the So-Cal beach scene, pull on your kneebangers and start styling with the boardheads or shopping for rugs and real estate in affluent, conservative, blessed-by-nature, merging-with-Mexico San Diego.

San Diego's superb coastline, near-perfect climate and Mediterranean facade make it the quintessential Southern California beach city, and there are plenty of sights and activities - museums, zoos, animal parks, beaches and more - to keep you busy for a few days.