SoCal Close-ups

The tourists think big. Arriving in Southern California, they expect to conquer Disneyland and Hollywood, perhaps on the same day, in between the surfing and snowboarding.
The locals think small. Tracing tight little loops between home and work, they dodge freeways and alien neighborhoods. So whether you’re a tourist or a local in Southern California, you’re probably leaving some fun on the table.
This is our bid to fix that. This collection of play days is designed to give you hundreds of options, sprawling across seven counties. Nature, culture, show biz, kid stuff, you name it.
If you’re from far away, it could last you decades. If you’re local, think of this as three years and 11 months of weekends. By the time you’re done, I plan on being ready with more.
Updated with seven new chapters:
Joshua Tree and the Desert
Around San Diego
Around Santa Barbara
San Diego's North County
Santa Barbara Wine Country
Coachella Valley
Mountain Retreats
Twelve original chapters:
Downtown Los Angeles
Inland Orange County
Los Angeles Park Neighborhoods
San Fernando Valley
Coastal Orange County
Long Beach, San Pedro, Catalina
Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu
The South Bay
Westside Los Angeles
West Hollywood To Wilshire
Around Pasadena
Hollywood