Southern California Hostels
As the southernmost quarter of California, Southern California – often called SoCal – is the entertainment capital of the world, home to the motion picture industry center known as Hollywood. SoCal is the second largest urbanized region in the United States (second to the Washington DC/Philadelphia/New York/Boston corridor) and is home to a diverse cultural scene that never seems to sleep. The LA – Santa Monica hostel is located in west Los Angeles along the Pacific coast, near the beaches of Santa Monica, Malibu, and Venice. Popular attractions in Santa Monica include the Third Street Promenade, a three-block-long upscale shopping destination. As a pedestrian-only area, shoppers are welcome to stroll among the stores and watch the street performers. Also popular is the Santa Monica Pier, site of the family amusement park Pacific Park, with its famous Ferris wheel. The pier also features an aquarium, a 1920s carousel, arcades, and countless restaurants – visitors will probably spot a few skateboarders, as Santa Monica is known for its prominent skateboarding culture.
To the southeast of Santa Monica is the LA – San Pedro hostel, located in the quiet Angels Gate Park on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. San Pedro is home to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, the largest maritime museum in the state. The Point Fermin Lighthouse, built in 1874, is open for tours and a great place to snap pictures of the Pacific and its coast. Another San Pedro highlight is the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium; free to the public, the aquarium focuses on the conservation of Southern California marine life. The tide pool touch tank allows visitors to touch live animals, including sea stars and sea anemones.
Directly north of San Pedro is the LA – Fullerton hostel, located in north Orange County. Downtown Fullerton offers an excellent nighttime live music scene, while the Fullerton Arboretum is a prime daytime activity. The arboretum contains 26 acres of rare plants from around the world, sectioned into four areas: cultivated, Mediterranean, woodlands, and desert. The hostel is located just a few miles away from Anaheim, the home of Disneyland. Opened in 1955, the family theme park features 57 attraction, including Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and many others.
Just north of the Mexican border is San Diego, the home of a growing arts scene, international cuisine, and beautiful beaches. San Diego is located just north of Mexico and shares a border with Tijuana. With more than 4,000 animals, the famed San Diego Zoo is one the largest in the world, as well as one of San Diego’s most popular attractions. The zoo’s “Skyfari” takes visitors on a gondola lift that overlooks the zoo grounds, split into habitats including the savanna, desert, tropical rain forest, tundra, just to name a few. The San Diego Zoo is located within San Diego’s Balboa Park, a cultural complex of museums, shops, restaurants, theaters, a golf course, and gardens. Museums include the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Man, and the Museum of Photographic Arts, as well as the Old Globe Theatre, a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Another popular – and unique – San Diego attraction is Legoland California, which features rides and attractions, including the can’t miss Miniland USA. A dedication to the Lego artform, Miniland USA includes reproductions of seven areas of the United States, all constructed with 20 million Lego bricks – reproductions include the White House, Las Vegas strip, New York City, and San Francisco, among others.
The Downtown San Diego hostel is located in the city’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, known for its sidewalk cafes, nightclubs, shops, and Victorian architecture. The San Diego – Point Loma hostel is located in a residential community close to Ocean Beach, a casual bohemian locale with excellent vintage shopping, a delicious farmers market, and a laid-back beach lifestyle. San Diego hosts several annual festivals, including the famous Street Scene Music Festival, one of America’s largest annual music festivals. Held each summer in the Gaslamp Quarter, the Street Scene Music Festival includes many performances showcasing several genres and top-rated musicians.
Southern California coastal climate consists of mild, wet winters and warm to hot summers. Daytime summer temperatures average in the low 80s, but can climb well over the 90 degree mark; the warmest months are August, July, and then September. Winter daytime temperatures average in the mid 60s. The greatest amount of rainfall occurs in February, with little to no precipitation in the summer months.
