Southern CA

Larry Harrell wrote:
(Cindy Mao) wrote in message . com...

Hi everybody,

I am a new comer here (a "new" comer to USA too). Nice to meet you
guys.

I plan to have a trip in south CA in the upcoming winter holiday. Can
anybody recommend some nice places in LA and San Diego? Since I've
only been in the US for one year, actually I have not ideas about what
places to visit.

I really appreciate your responses. Thanks. :-)

Cindy Mao


I tend to focus on the natural beauty of an area and many people don't
think there is much to find in the LA/San Diego areas. However, there
ARE some nice places to go but they are somewhat hard to find. There
are also some places you might want to avoid if you are looking for
scenic value.

Mt. Palomar is quite a unique place, offering an "island" of a
"remnant forest" with old growth bigcone Douglas fir (which look like
dwarf coast redwoods G ) and the famous Mt. Palomar space
observatory.

Great views from the state park on the north end too.

The other mountains surrounding the LA basin have some
wonderful places but they are in the midst of an ongoing man-enhanced
disaster, with MILLIONS of dead trees just waiting for a spark to
torch them into oblivion. Big Bear and Idyllwild still have some nice
places and the Angeles National Forest does too. You might get a laugh
out of the big green cell phone towers that stand out like a sore
thumb in the middle of the burned landscapes. And, watch out for the
crazies in their Hummers, hogging the roads and flaunting their
wealth. Joshua Tree National Monument is a haven for winter climbing
enthusiasts, attracting world-class folks who need a climbing fix.

Also, Torrey Pines State Reserve and Beach at the north end
of San Diego city. Picturesque pines on a mesa overlooking
beach and ocean. http://www.torreypine.org