When 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
• Hollywood and Highland, Hollywood:Shopping, dining, movies and people-watching. You can watch the street performers for hours!