Santa Monica is known as a “beachopolis”—part city and part beach town. This city has the beach, shopping at its best, and culture. On the beach, you can sunbathe, surf, bike, rollerblade, or jog. For more fun, there's Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier with amusements in a carnival atmosphere, including a towering Ferris wheel. Admission is free, but if you choose to park under the pier, there is a charge. The rides and games are pay as you go. The park is open every day and is located at Colorado Blvd. and Ocean Ave. The Third Street Promenade is a three-block, pedestrian-only shopping and dining district with a variety of street performers, pushcarts, kiosks, and colorful individuals. Here you will find some of Los Angeles’ finest restaurants—this could be your best bet to spot a celebrity. The Promenade is located between Wilshire and Broadway.

The Getty Center is one of the best museums in California. This complex of five interconnected buildings, with courtyards and terraces, contains European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs. Admission is free, parking is $15/car ($10 after 4:00 pm) and also includes parking at the nearby Getty Villa. The museum (which is closed on Mondays and major holidays) is located at 1220 Getty Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049.

Venice is home to the world-famous “Muscle Beach.” The phenomenon of Muscle Beach began a long time ago in Santa Monica. It started out in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s with acrobats—young men and women doing somersaults and handstands and building human towers. Later, Muscle Beach moved to Venice with the focus on bodybuilding. Large crowds gather particularly in the summer months to watch the muscle men and women conduct their workouts. Known for its eccentricity, Ocean Front Walk is home to many shops and street performers. In the summer months, crowds gather along the promenade to watch the various unscheduled activities by local street performers.

Marina del Rey is a community with a small beach, but it has the largest man-made marina in the world. Marina del Rey’s identity is tied to boating. It also boasts more restaurants in one square mile than any other city except New York City. Visit Fisherman’s Village at 13715 Fiji Way for shopping, eateries, boat rentals/tours, and sport fishing.

Newport Beach is generally considered to be the closest beach to Disneyland, just a half-hour drive south of the parks. Newport offers visitors a nine-mile stretch of sandy beaches, piers, and lovely views. Newport Beach has small community beaches for swimming or sunbathing, and it is the “in” place to go. The Newport Municipal Beach at the Newport Pier is open 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, with metered street parking available. Newport is one of the largest small-boat harbors in the world, and you can go sport fishing or rent boats, skates, bikes, and boards. A jetty called “The Wedge” makes the surfing awesome. You can get a real feel for how the “rich and famous” live on a narrated boat tour around Newport, sailing by homes previously owned by John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and George Burns. The Balboa Fun Zone is a small pay-as-you-go amusement area. Fashion Island Shopping Center is one of the nicest outdoor malls in Southern California. The Newport Beach Ferry will take you between Newport Beach Peninsula and Balboa Island. Part of Newport Beach, Balboa is man-made and jam-packed with quaint homes and unique shopping on Marine Avenue. To get here from Disneyland, just take I-5 south to CA 55 south until you reach the coast.