Just an hour's drive north of San Francisco, lies a vast stretch of Northern California coastline that offers countless, sweeping views of the rugged terrain, pounding waves, and the occasional unique looking rocks (see my tortoise look-a-like rock below). The lack of crowds and people is an added bonus. If possible, spend a weekend at a Sea Ranch vacation rental. This community originally idealized and built in the 1960s has one-of-a-kind architecture that blends into the natural landscape.

This stretch of Pearblossom Highway in Littlerock (just east of Palmdale) had all the quintessential fixings of a dusty, two-lane highway in the middle of the SoCal desert: deserted, vacant gas station; shiny, new McDonald's; Western gift store; and a Charlie Brown's market.

A local fisherman's bar + a bunch of gals on a photo shoot + a kite tied to a fishing pole = September fun on one of the last days of summer.  

I've driven by Santa Monica pier countless times but hadn't walked it since I was a child. Amongst floods of tourists, I was entertained by this quintessential SoCal destination with its anti-war (but peaceful) demonstrations, money-collection street musicians and of course the Terminator, er—our California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger leaving celebrity restaurant staple, The Ivy. In his brand new Porsche. Recession, what?