Southern California Hot Spots & Places to Hang Out

Disneyland, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Mann's Chinese Theatre...Ya, ya, you say, tell me something I don't know. Hey, how about something a little spicier, a little more dangerous? You see, the people of SoCal love their food, their drink and their nightlife. And that can be to your advantage when you're passing through on vacation. Because no matter where you are, you're probably near some kind of nightlife, something that's more exotic than Disneyland's Main Street Parade.

So if your hotel concierge says the only entertainment around is the movie theatre down the street, try asking about these Southern California hot spots:

State Street, Santa Barbara: Dance clubs, restaurants, bars, pubs, billiards, live music and some artsy stuff too

Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica: Restaurants, shops, street performers, bars, live music, theatre, lots of fashionable and not-so-fashionable people to watch

Universal CityWalk, Universal City: Live blues, adult arcades, bowling, virtual race car driving, dance clubs, restaurants

Old Pasadena (Colorado Boulevard): Restaurants, coffee houses, live jazz, sports bars, dance clubs, billiards, poetry readings, diverse crowd

Belmont Shore (2nd Street), Long Beach: Restaurants, shops, coffee houses, live music, dancing and an always casual college crowd

Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego: Restaurants, bars, lounges, nightclubs, live music and dance clubs

Surely we've left something important off this list, so feel free to drop us a note and tell us what we missed.