Orange County

No place in Southern California evokes the stereotype of California's good life quite like Orange County. Million-dollar mansions dot the coastline, lush golf courses line beaches and meander through inland hills, and residents in late-model convertibles glide down Pacific Coast Highway. But while visitors and locals are adept at relaxing under swaying palm trees and lounging beachfront, the inland cities are alive with amusement parks, professional sporting events and dozens of hotels and restaurants, all within minutes of each other.

The theme parks of Anaheim lure hordes of visitors. The Nixon presidential library and the Crystal Cathedral are two major inland draws, along with several shopping and entertainment complexes. As for the coast, exclusive Newport Beach, artsy Laguna Beach and the up-and-coming surf town of Huntington Beach are the stars.