Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Lived here in SoCal 60+ years. I would suggest heading west to Solvang, Santa Ynez Valley, and then further west to Jalama Beach (the J pronounced like a H). These are all in Santa Barbara County.

Solvang is a Danish town with all the trimmings, food, shopping. In the area is Chumash Casino for fun. Also a California mission is there.

Jalama Beach is about 17 miles off of Highway 1. It is remote, gorgeous and home of the famous Jalama burger. So many hidden jewels in that part of Santa Barbara County.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

There's been a problem with that.
The people who live on the *good* roads to the sign are really POed at all the people who show up, park and block access, knock and want to borrow the bathroom, and litter the place. Because of this, the Sunset Ranch or Beechwood Drive routes are gated; no more daytrippers.
1 rule in LA for *anything* good- NOT on weekends, NOT on holidays, NOT after dark.
THAT said, go real early for the Griffith Park tour, then take the Hollywood sign hike from there. Bring a bottle of water, charged camera and some power bars. Good safe parking until dark.
From Griffith in the AM you can see the city. Then that air down there gets a bit yellowish. Then brownish. Then kinda thick. Ish.

Solvang. Remember that 1 rule. Otherwise that's a great cute place to go. Wifee always gets clogs there.
Going "up" (northerly) to get there is nice and scenic. Do NOT go over the speed limit- you won't see the plane that sees the distance markers in the hills that tell that cop up ahead what ticket you'll get.
Leaving westerly you'll see an interesting farm on the left. Anderson's Split Pea Soup is up ahead @ 15 minutes. And you'll be on PCH- more places to discover.

martin211275

Both Getty Museums are amazing places for photography

martin211275

Both Getty Museums are amazing places for photography

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

tripadvisor.com

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Because photographers can make a difference by making others aware of the problem.

It is an unfortunate but ubiquitous realistic part of LA. And the problem is getting worse by the day. It is a problem that is largely ignored by the “big media”, and other than opportunities for sound bites, also ignored by politicians.

People visiting LA should take pictures and show others their experiences in LA. This will be one of those experiences.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

If you don’t go anywhere after dark how can you see the city at night from Griffith Park? How will you see the views through the telescopes at Griffith Park? Crowds are part of LA and the LA experience. If you prefer to avoid people then maybe LA is not the right place. If you don’t go anywhere on weekends what will you do? Loose two days of visiting?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

That was my first thought when reading the title.
--Bob

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Wow, the OP is really getting sent far from his relatives in Helendale (that was page 1 first post and by the OP). It is near Barstow, CA. I had him go north on I-395 to as far as Lone Pine. But Solvang, Lompoc, and Jalama Beach so far from the Mojave Desert. He might as well then drive to Pismo Beach to go to a beach as he originally asked. I own another home in Grover Beach, just South of Pismo Beach, CA, so I thought of there. Even Grover Beach is packed on July 4.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

No, not is Helendale (Silver Lakes). Squaters perhaps.

Selene03

I, too, am a native Californian and had no clue where Helenville was. I looked it up on the map and found it is north of Victorville. You are miles from any California beaches. As others have pointed out, they are crowded now and it will take you at least two hours each way probably to get to any of them depending on traffic. You are much closer to either Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear Lake, which are in the mountains a bit south of where you will be. I don't know what all you are interested in photographing but Lone Pine might make more sense. It is north of where you are on 395. It is in the Sierras, and you can get to the Mt Whitney portal (though will probably be crowded). The Alabama Hills are also very interesting. This is assuming you want to do landscapes. Joshua Tree is also one of my favorite places. The problem with all of these areas except maybe Big Bear is that it is very hot right now.

Good luck in finding places you want to see. Just remember that traffic on the freeways can be brutal as can the weather at this time of year.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

History. Like the depression era migrants from the plains to Kansas were homeless and those photos are famous and in history books now.
I usually look at opportunities that could be historical. Like when I took shots of the burning of the Avianca building that became inspiration for a movie later.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

I depends on how wide you define LA. If just the metropolitan area, Hollywood, Griffith Park, LA Zoo, Downtown, the Harbor area, the Getty museum, Museum of Natural History and the surrounding park including the Science Center, Disney center, parts of LAX etc. If you include a lot of Southern California, (as other posts have done) Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, etc. If you are a member of the Automobile Club get the guide for Southern California. There is enough for a couple of weeks at least. California drivers define how far something is by how much time it takes to get there. This being a holiday week, you can probably double those times. (Have lived in So. Cal. since 1954-- was 6 when moved from Indiana)

willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California

willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California