Editing Los Angeles (section)

== Getting Away ==

=== Transportation ===

Flights to '''San Francisco''' or '''San Diego''' can easily be purchased online from various local carriers, most will match whatever bargain flights or discounts are currently being offered, with Southwest Airlines, Jet Blue and Alaska/Horizon Air being among the least expensive options in-state, although United Airlines and the other major carriers will, again, often match sales or prices on advance purchases for any route:  use an aggregator site like Kayak, or on-line travel agency site such as  Orbitz to compare prices - you can then either book directly from the carrier to avoid fees or get the best availability. Trains and connecting buses on [http://www.amtrak.com/ Amtrak] or Bus lines such as [http://www.greyhound.com/home/ Greyhound] are also options, and for limited destination like San Francisco or Los Vegas [https://us.megabus.com/journey-planner/map Megabus] is another option. You can also check the [http://losangeles.craigslist.org/rid/ Craigslist Rideshare page] or post a request on the [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=9077 CS California Ride Share Group].

=== Destinations Near Los Angeles ===

Los Angeles is a great launch pad for your next destination. [[Orange County]] is next to Los Angeles and home of Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and some of the most expensive real estate and coastline in the world. Other places to visit within 200 mile / 350 km is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Springs%2C_California Palm Springs], Coachella Valley and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Tree_National_Park Joshua Tree National Park] are '''east''' of Los Angeles and can be reached via Highway 10. Towards the '''northwest''', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Barbara%2C_California Santa Barbara] and Solvang can be reached via '''Pacific Coastal Highway 1'''. Also known as Highway 1, it is a famous scenic seaside route that extends into and through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Sur The Big Sur]. In the '''southeast''', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temecula Temecula] is a great place to go wine tasting. From there, you can visit the Salton Sea and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anza-Borrego_Desert_State_Park Anza-Borrego Desert State Park], close to San Diego. To reach San Diego directly from Los Angeles, you can drive '''south''' for two hours via Highway 5. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tijuana Tijuana], a small city on the border of '''Mexico''', is also popular with tourists.

Some of these places can be visited via Amtrak, which gives nice views of the Pacific Highway heading south to San Diego and also heading Northwest towards Santa Barbara. Couch bus service is also available but the train is reasonably and far more pleasant - remember to bring your own food, as the train offers limited, and overpriced options.