Photo op places in SoCal?

Other than the zoos in LA and San Diego, what are the other places between LA and San Diego for good photo ops. My primary interests are birds, wildlife and scenic landscapes. I'd also be interested in learning about any motor sporting events (road course car and motorcycle races) and/or air shows happening the last week of October and the first week of November in the SoCal area.

Thanks.

Leo:
Just about anywhere near the water (read: ocean) there are almost always lots of birds.

If you come to the desert, I'll wear my feather suit for you.

Highway 101 runs along the coast.
Any of the roads going up in the mountains.
Big Bear Lake
The desert
Coronado Bridge in SD
The Salton Sea 2 hrs east of SD (look for me, I'm always there!)
Bolsa Chica, Huntington Beach

http://www.signonsandi​ego.com/
http://www.sunnywalter​.com …View-WNW-BirdLinksCA.html
http://www.amigosdebol​sachica.org/
http://www.birdingamer​ica.com/California/ind​ex.html
http://rsakamoto.home.​mindspring.com/ventura​.html
http://www.audubon-ca.org/sanctuaries.htm
http://sdbirds.basicli​nk.com …n_diego_birding​_local.htm
http://www.seaandsagea​udubon.org/
http://www.southwestbi​rders.com/saltonsea.ht​m
http://parks.ca.gov/
http://ceres.ca.gov/na​tural_resources/index.​html
http://miriameaglemon.​com …20Pages/Sites/b​y_site.htm

Lazy is right about Huntington Beach and Bolsa Chica Beach which is just north of HB. Besides birds, the pier is always great and the waves are pretty awesome. Have fun!

I would agree with the mountains around Big Bear, the Salton Sea and the coast. Santa Barbara and Solvang are pretty nice too, if you want to head a little further north. It looks like you'll just miss the Indy 400 at the California Speedway. That's on October 15th, and it looks like that's the last race there for this year. The next one they have listed on the schedule it for next year.

Thanks, folks, I'll be sure to check each one of your suggestions out. I'll see how many of these places I can hit in two weeks.

OK, Tom. Get your feather suit out and have it ready.

Thanks for the links Lazy. I'll be sure to go over each one and compile a list of places to hit.
If I do make it over to the Salton Sea area, how will I be able to recognize you. Do I just look for a blond(?) lady with a 100-400L mounted on a 1DmkII?

Lonnie, how far north are these places from LA (Glendale area)?

When pressed for a good place to shoot, there's always the desert. I've never been disappointed out there...

Steve

Actually, we've been covering a pretty big area here, and I think Santa Barbara might be one of the closest places (from the Los Angeles area) mentioned... Santa Barbara is about 100 miles north of Glendale. Solvang is another 50 miles further northish. The Salton Sea is some 120 or so miles east of Glendale. Big Bear Lake is also about a hundred mile drive from Glendale. To us Southern Californios, this is considered close...

Bolsa Chica in Huntington Beach and the Coronado Bridge in San Diego really fit the "between LA and San Diego" criteria in your initial post better.

Are you staying in Glendale somewhere? We'll be neighbors for a short while! I'm about five miles away from Glendale...

If your coming this far then at least hit Joshua Tree. The rock formations are amazing.

Technically you don't have to go far for any photo ops. Hit the 101 in either direction for unbelievable views - along the way stop at any marina, lagoon, or beach.

But, if you're looking for some field trips then all the suggestions are great. It's such a diverse ecosystem out here that you can hit tropical, desert, and mountain environments all in the same day if you're willing to drive. Yes - sand, sea, & snow all in the same day!

The expression "it's the journey, not the destination" is sooo true here. You don't have to "go" anywhere - just start travelling the roads and you will see so many different things than what you're used to on the East side of the country. Trust me, I'm from NY originally and have been out here maybe 8 yrs and I am still amazed every day at what I can see.

I still vote you try to squeeze in a jaunt to the Salton Sea. Migration has already started and by the time you get here there should be, literally, a bazillion birds. On your way there you will travel up & over the mountains and through the desert.

thomascanty wrote:
Actually, we've been covering a pretty big area here, and I think Santa Barbara might be one of the closest places (from the Los Angeles area) mentioned... Santa Barbara is about 100 miles north of Glendale. Solvang is another 50 miles further northish. The Salton Sea is some 120 or so miles east of Glendale. Big Bear Lake is also about a hundred mile drive from Glendale. To us Southern Californios, this is considered close...

Bolsa Chica in Huntington Beach and the Coronado Bridge in San Diego really fit the "between LA and San Diego" criteria in your initial post better.

Are you staying in Glendale somewhere? We'll be neighbors for a short while! I'm about five miles away from Glendale...

I'm going to be visiting my brother for about two week at the end of October and the beginning of November. Maybe we can get together sometime, even if it's just for coffee. At this point, I have no idea what I'm going to be doing other than knowing that I'm going to be renting a car and driving around all by my lonesome looking for places where I can take some pictures.

If I can swing it, I may just do that. Maybe I'll come across a giant Dodo bird in a Tommy Bahama Hawaiian shirt out there.

PacAce wrote:
If I can swing it, I may just do that. Maybe I'll come across a giant Dodo bird in a Tommy Bahama Hawaiian shirt out there.

I just got two new ones today!! We're all set for you , Leo.

There is much to see and do in the desert. Several people have mentioned many of them, and even though we are 2 1/2 miles east of Los Angeles, most of the things discussed are within an hour or so of our house once you get there. October/November are nearly ideal times to be there.

Keep it in mind.


Tom

Scratch Bolsa Chica for birding. Most of it is closed for 'upgrading' and adding a housing tract. The 'upgrade' won't be finished for another couple of years. The inland trail was closed about 6-9 months ago and the south entrance (the bridge) was entirely closed a couple of weeks ago. You can now only enter at the north entrance on Warner. The birding on the north end has never been that good.

Dana Point.... Hills, Grass, trees, overlooking the ocean.... Check it out.