Within only two hours’ drive of Los Angeles, just about any landscape, diversion, or culture you can imagine is, quite literally, in reach—SoCal is so cool! Great Escapes: Southern California offers a collection of exceptional and varied road trips for residents and visitors alike, from San Diego’s revitalized Gaslamp District to the unspoiled Gaviota Coast, and from the crystaline waters of Catalina Island’s wild side to the hideaways and hot springs of the Mojave Desert.  In this easy-reading, easy to use guide, you’ll find places to relax and reinvigorate your creative spirit, even if—especially if—you don’t have time to take a two-week vacation.

Go “Sideways” along the backroads of the Santa Ynez Valley; imbibe the rich cultures of Little India and Little Saigon; sink your toes into the deep ivory shag of a retro retreat in the new/old Palm Springs; stay right on the sand in a freshly restored vintage beach cottage in the old California enclave of Crystal Cove. Each chapter offers a fresh take on some of Southern California’s best-loved destinations and little-known treasures, with everything you need to plan and savor your trips, including great reads by California authors to take along.

Author Donna Wares is editor of the Los Angeles Times bestseller My California: Journeys by Great Writers, and an award-winning journalist who has worked for the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register.Visit the author's blog at http://socalsocool.wordpress.com