California Fool’s Gold

California Fool's Gold

I thought that it might be useful to publish an “episode guide” of my California Fool’s Gold series of explorations. When I explore a new community, I usually rely upon the vox populi which is why anyone may vote for what communities they’d like to become the subject of future articles. Just let me know which one(s) in the comments or by contacting me.

CALIFORNIA FOOL’S GOLD’S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Deep purple are communities that have been the subject of a California Fool’s Gold episode. Light purple communities are those that have received more than ten reader votes (but have not yet been covered).

I began California Fool’s Gold in 2007 out of both curiousity and a need to write about something for Amoeba Music‘s Blog, the now-defunct Amoeblog. Initially, I just wrote about places I happened to find myself on my days off, places I went with my then-girlfriend for weddings, a confirmation, and errands. They’re not that in depth and reading them now makes me squirm because that era of online writing was firmly in the Snark Ages. Since my girlfriend lived in the San Gabriel Valley, most of the places I covered were there or in Southeast Los Angeles. In 2008, I created a now-closed SurveyMonkey poll to help me determine where to go. The first community I explored as a result was Morningside Circle — a neighborhood in South Los Angeles that — at least then — lacked a Wikipedia entry or, for that matter, much online presence at all.

2009 was a hard year. My grandmother died in June and my partner left me. I spent time at Del Amo and was released in October. The following May, I expanded my explorations to Orange County. I opened a gentleman’s shop, Brightwell, in June. After my car died in 2011, I began relying solely on my bike, Cream Soda, and mass transit for explorations. In 2012, articles about my explorations and maps began appearing on sites like the Huffington Post and newspapers like The Los Angeles Times — something that informed my decision to close Brightwell in order to explore more often and more widely.

In 2012, I started writing for KCET — although “California Fool’s Gold” was vetoed so they were published as Block By Block. I, in turn, posted them on my website as Nobody Drives in LA — which finally became a podcast. in 2024. Today, I still believe that there is nothing–absolutely nothing–half so much worth doing as simply messing about with explorations and adventures — and my favorite way to decide where to go is for readers to tell me in the comments or by contacting me directly.

PLACES IN LOS ANGELES I’VE VISTED AND EXPLORED IN LOS ANGELES

I wrote primers of the regions of Los Angeles County (as well as a haiku/sijo-inspired guide, of sorts) in order to whet my own appetite as well as the readers. They are the Antelope Valley, the Channel Islands, Downtown Los Angeles, the Eastside, the Harbor, Hollywood, Mideast Los Angeles, Midtown, Northeast Los Angeles, Northwest County, the Pomona Valley, the San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Gabriel Valley, the Santa Monica Mountains, the South Bay, South Los Angeles’s Eastside, South Los Angeles’s Westside, Southeast Los Angeles, the Verdugos, and the Westside.

PLACES IN LOS ANGELES I’VE NOT YET COVERED

In interviews, people often say that I have explored most of Los Angeles. This is not actually true. The following have NOT yet been explored by me:

Academy Hill, Acton, Adams Square, Adams-Normandie, Addams, Agoura, Agoura Hills, Agua Dulce, Alamitos Beach, Alamitos Heights, Alondra Park, The Alphabet Streets, Alpine, Alsace, Alvarado Terrace, Andrade Corner, Angeles Crest, Angeles Mesa, Angelus Vista, Annandale, Antelope Acres, Arbor Village, Ard Eevin Highlands, Arden Road, Arleta, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights Terrace, Arlington Park, Arroyo, Arroyo del Mar, Arroyo Terrace, Arroyo View Estates, Artcraft Manor, Artesia, Athens, Athens on the Hill, Aubry at Alamitos Square, the Auto Glass District

Avocado Heights, Azusa, Azusa Island, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Hills Estates, Baldwin Park, Baldwin Village, Baldwin Vista, the Bánh Mì District, Banbury Oaks, Bassett, Bandini Islands, Bay Harbour, The Beach Cities, Beachwood Canyon, Bean Tract, Bel Air, Bel Air Crest, Bel Air Park, Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellefontaine, Bellflower, Bellehurst Park, Belmont Heights, Belmont Shore, Belvedere, Benedict Canyon, Beverly Crest, Beverly Glen, Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills Gateway, Beverly Park, Beverlyridge Estates, Beverlywood, Big Pines, Big Rock, Big Rock Springs, the Bird Streets, Bishop

Bixby Hill, Bixby Knolls, Bixby Village, Blair Hills, Blanco-Culver Crest, Bluff Heights, Bluff Park, Boiling Point, the Bong District, Bonnell Park, Bowmont Estates, Bradbury, Brent’s Junction, Brentwood, Brentwood Circle, Brentwood Country Estates, Brentwood Glen, Brentwood Heights, Brentwood Park, Brentwood Terrace, Briarwood, the Bridal District, Brigden Ranch, Bristol-Cypress, the Broadway Corridor, Broadway Square, the Broadway Theater District, Brockmont, Brockmont Park, Bronzeville, Brooklyn Heights, Brookmere, Brookside, Bryant, Bungalow Heaven

the Burbank Media District, Burbank Rancho, Cahuenga Pass, Calabasas, Calabasas Adjacent, California Heights, California Rose Court, California State University, Long Beach, California Village, Camp Al Huey, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Carlton Square, Carmelitos, Carroll Park, Carson, Carson Park, Carthay Circle, Carthay Square, Casa Grande, Castaic, Castaic Canyons, Castaic Junction, Catalina Villas, Castle Heights, Castellammare, Center City, Centinela Heights, Central Hollywood, Central Long Beach, Central Los Angeles, Central-Alameda, Century City, Century Cover

Century Heights, Century Palms, Cerritos, Cerritos Island, Chapman Woods, Charter Oak, Chatelaine, Chatsworth, Cherry Manor, Cheviot Hills, Cheviotdale Heights, Chevy Chase, Chihuahuita, Chinatown [OLD], Citrus, Citrus Grove, Citrus Square, City Center, City West, Civic Center, Civic Center Financial District, Civic Support, Clarkdale, College Hills, College Park Estates, College Square, Commerce, Cornell, Cottage Grove, Country Club Heights, Country Club Park, Countryside Estates, Covina, Covina Islands, Crenshaw Manor, Crenshaw Seinan, Crenshaw-Imperial, Crescent Heights

Crescenta Highlands, Crescent Valley, Crestview, Crestwood Hills, Crown Hill, Crystal Lake, Crystalaire, Cudahy, Culver City Arts District, Culver-West, Cypress Grove, Dairy, Daisy Villa, Davenport Park, Dearborn Groves, Decker, Deer Lake Highlands, Deforest Park, Del Aire, Del Lago, Del Rey, Del Sur, Del Valle, Delthorne, Desert Relief, Desert View Highlands, Diamond Bar, Dodge City, Doheny, Dominquez, Downey, Downtown Burbank, Downtown Compton, Downtown Culver City, Downtown El Monte, Downtown Hollywood, Downtown Industrial District, Downtown Inglewood

Downtown Long Beach, Downtown Pasadena, Downtown Pomona, Downtown San Pedro, Downtown Santa Monica, Duarte, Dudmore, Dundee Heights, East Adams, East Arroyo, East Compton, East Eaton Wash, East Hollywood, East Orange Grove, East San Gabriel, East San Pedro, East Washington Village, East Whittier, Eastmont, Eastside [West Hollywood], Eaton Blanche Park, Eaton Canyon, El Dorado Lakes, El Dorado Park, El Dorado Park Estates, El Dorado Park North, El Dorado Park South, El Dorado Park West, El Medio Bluffs, El Miradero, El Molino Orchard, El Nido

El Pueblo [Los Angeles], El Pueblo [Long Beach], El Rio/Lake, El Salvador Community Corridor, El Segundo, Eldora Park, Eldoradoville, the Electronics District, Elizabeth Lake, Emerald Isle, Encino, Exposition Park, Faircrest Heights, Fairfax Village, Fairmont, Fairview Heights, Falling Springs, the Fashion District, the Financial District, Five Points, the Flats, Florence, the Flower District, Franklin, Franklin Canyon, Franklin Hills, Franklin Village, Freeway Circle, Freont Park, Frenchtown, the Furniture & Decorative Arts District, Furusato, Gallery Row, Garfield Heights, Glendora Island

Glenoaks Canyon, Glenview, Glenwood, Golden Triangle, Gorman, Graham, Gramercy Park, Grand Central, Grandview, Grant, Greek Town, Green Meadows, Green Valley, Greensbriar, Greenwood/Allen, Griffith Park, Hamilton, Hansen Dam, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, Harbor Pines, Harold, Harte, Harvard Heights, Hasley Canyon, Hathaway Hill Estates, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hayes, The Heights at Ladera, Hel-MEl, Hellman, Menninger Flats, Hermosa Beach, Hi-Vista, Hidden Hills, Hidden Valley Estates, Hillside, Holiday Valley, Hollypark Knolls, Hollywood Dell, Hollywood Heights

Hollywood Hills East, Hollywood Hills West, Hollywood Knolls, Hollywood Manor, Hollywood Oasis, Hollywood Riviera, Hollywood Studio District, Hollywood-Highland, Hollywoodland, Holmby Hills, Houghton Manor, Howard Street, Hungtington Park, Hyde Park, Idlewood Canyon, Imperial Estates, Inceville, Indian Springs, Industrial, Inglewood, Inglewood Knolls, Irwindale, Island Village, Ivanhoe, Jackson, Jefferson Park [Los Angeles], Jefferson Park [Pasadena], the Jewelry District, Juniper Hills, Kagel Canyon, Kenneth Village, King Estates, Kingsley Vista, Kinneloa Mesa

Knob Hill, Koreatown [Old], La Brea-Hancock, La Brea Terrace, La Cañada Flintridge, La Cienega Heights, La Cienega Park, La Crescent, La Habra Heights, La Loma, La Mirada, La Pintoresca, La Puente, La Rambla, La Terrazzo, La Tuna Canyon, La Verne, Ladera Heights, Lafayette Square, Lake Balboa, Lake Hollywood, Lake Hollywood Estates, Lake Hughes, Lake Los Angeles, Lakeridge Estates, Lakeview, Lake View Terrace, Lakewood, Lakewood Village, Lamanda Park, Lancaster, Lang, Larchmont, Larchmont Village, Largo Vista, Las Flores, Las Flores Heights, Laughlin Park

Laurel Hills, Lawndale, Leimert Park, Lennox, Leona Valley, Lexington Heights, the Lincoln Heights Business District, Lincoln Heights Industrial Zone, Lincoln-Howard-Arroyo-Freeway, Lincoln-Villa, Linda Vista, Lindbergh, Little Belize, Little Brazil, Little Britain, Little Central America, Little Havana, Little Manila [Long Beach], Little Manila [West Covina], Little Odessa, Little Taipei, Littlerock, Llano, Lockhaven, Loma Vista, Lomita, Long Beach Airport, Longview, Longwood, Lookout Mountain, Lopez Canyon, Los Altos, Los Cerritos, Los Feliz Estates, Los Feliz Village, Los Niters

Lower Arroyo Seco, Lower Hastings Ranch, Lower Westside, Lucern-Higuera, Lynnwood, Madison, Madrona, Magnolia District, Magnolia Park, Magnolia Square, Malibu Lake, Malibu, Malibu Bowl, Malibu Colony, Malibu Mar Vista, Malibu Vista, Manchester Square [South Los Angeles], Manchester Square [South Bay], Mandeville Canyon, Manhattan Beach, Maravilla, Marble Estates, Marceline, Marguerita Lane, Marina Pacifica, Marina Peninsula, Marina del Rey, Marion Avenue, Mariposa, Markham Place, Maxson, Mayflower Village, Maywood, McKinley, McLaughlin, McManus, Melrose

Melrose Hill, Memorial Heights, Mentor Catalina, Mentryville, Mid-Central Pasadena, Mid-City [Los Angeles], Mid-City [Santa Monica], Mid-City Heights, Mid-City West, Mid-Wilshire, Midwick, Mile High, Mint Canyon, Miramar Estates, Mission, Mission Hills, Moneta, Monk’s Hill, Monrovia, Monte Mar Vista, Monte Nido, Montebello Park, Montrose, Montrose-Verdugo City, Moorpark, Moraga Estates, Morningside Park, Mount Olympus, Mountaingate, Mullholland Estates, Muir Heights, Naples, Naples Island, Neenach, New Horizons, Newhall, Nichols Canyon, 99 Oaks, Niodrara Drive

Noho Arts District, Norma Triangle, Normandie Heights, North Central, North Claremont Islands, North Cumberland Heights, North El Monte, North Hills, North of Montana, North Pasadena, North Pasadena Heights, North Pomona, North University Park, North Village Westwood, North Whittier, North Wrigley, Northeast San Dimas, Northeast [Santa Monica], Northeast Torracnce, Northeast Whittier Islands, Northridge, Northwest Torrance, Northwest Whittier, Nortwalk, Oak Hill, Oak Knoll, Oak Pass Road, Oakmont, The Oaks [Los Angeles], The Oaks [Pasadena]

the Oaks of Calabasas, Oakwood, Oaxacatown, Oban, Ocean Park, the Old Bank District, Old Lakewood City, Old Post Office, Old Topanga, Old Town [Pasadena], Old Town [Torrance], Olive Heigths, Olympic Park, Orange Grove Village, Orange Heights, Outpost Estates, Oxford Square, Pacific Palisades, Pacific Villas, Pacific-Edison, Pacific South Bay, Pacific View Estates, Pacoima, Palisades Highlands, Palmdale, Palo Verde [Long Beach], Palo Verde [Los Angeles], Palos Verdes Estates, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Panama Acres, Panorama City, Paradise Springs, Paramount, Park Estates, Park La Brea

Park Mile, Park Plaza Estates, Park West, Pasadena Civic Center, Pearblossom, Pelanconi, Pellissier Village, the Peninsula, Phillips Ranch, Picfair Village, Pico, Pico del Mar, Pico Heights, Pico Park, Pico Rivera, Pico-Robertson, Pico-Union, Pine Store, the Piñata District, Playa Vista, the Playhouse District, Plaza, Pleasant View, Poly High, Pomona, Poppy Peak, Port of Long Beach, Porter Ranch, the Produce District, Prospect Park, Quail Lake, Quartz Hill, Queensway Bay, Ramona [Alhambra], Ramona [Unincorporated], Rancho Dominguez, Rancho Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Park

Ranch San Rafael, Ravenna, Recreation Park, Redman, Redondo Beach, Redondo-Sycamore, Renaissance, Renaissance Square, Reseda, Reseda Ranch, Reyner Village, Richland Farms, Ridge Route, Ridgeview Country Estates, Riverside Rancho, the Rivera, Rollying Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Roosevelt, Rose Park, Rose Park South, Rosedale, Rosewood, Rossmoyne, Rossmoyne Historic District, Roxbury Park, Royal Bouelvard, Runyon Canyon, Russian Flats, Rustric Canyon, Saint Andrews Square, Saint Francis, Saint Mary’s, San Clemente Island, San Dimas, San Fernando

the San Gabriel Mountains [Glendale], San Pasqual, San Rafael Heights, San Rafael Hills, Sand Canyon, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Maria, Santa Monica, Saugus, Sawtelle, Scholl Canyon, Seadip, the Seafood District, Seaside, Seinan, Seminole Hot Springs, 7 Streets East, Shadow Hills, Sherman Village, Sherwood Forest, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, Sleepy Valley, Slips, Smith, Solano Canyon, Somerset, Sonoratonw [Los Angeles], Sonoratown [Pasadena], South Arroyo, South Bayport, South Carthay, South Diamond Bar, South El Monte, South Gate, South Lake District

South Monrovia Island, South Park [South Los Angeles], South Park [Downtown]. South San Gabriel, South San Jose Hills, South Serrano Avenue, South Whittier, South Wrigley, South of Conant, Southeast Torrance, Southwest Village, Southwood, Southwood Riviera, Southwood Sunray, Sparr Heights, Spaulding Square, Spinnaker Bay, Sports Village, Springwood, Stearns Park, Stevenson Ranch, Stonehurst, Stoneman, Stoneybrook Villas, Stratford Square, Strawberry Park, Studio City, Studio Village, Sugar Hill, Sulphur Springs, Summerwind, the Summit, Sun Valley, Sun Village

Sunkist Park, Sunland, Sunny Cove, Sunnyslope, Sunrise, Sunset Hills, Sunset Junctions, Sunset Mesa, Sunset Oaks, Sunset Park, Sunset Plaza, Sunset Square, Sunshine Acres, Surfridge, Sutter, Switzer, Sycamore Grove, Sycamore Square, Sylmar, Sylmar Island, Sylvia Park, Tarzana, Tehrangeles, Temple City, Temple-Beaudry, Theatre Row, Three Points, THUMS Islands, Toluca Lake, Toluca Terrace, Toluca Woods, Topanga, Topanga Oaks, Topanga Woods, Torrance Refinery, the Toy District, Traffic Circle, Treasure Island, Triunfo Canyon, Tropico, Trousdale Estates, Tujunga

Tujunga Canyons, Twin Lakes, Two Harbors, Unincorporated Calabasas, Unincorporated  Claremont, Unincorporated Hawthorne, Unincorporated La Verne, Unincorporated Lancaster-West, Unincorporated Long Beach, Unincorporated Palmdale, Unincorporated South El Monte, Unincorporated Valencia, Unincorporated Watts, Unincorporated West Hills, Universal City, University Expo Park West, University Park, University Park Estates, Upper Hastings Ranch, Upper Westside, Uwamachi, Val Verde, Valencia, Valinda, Valley Glen, Valley Village, Valyermo, Van Nuys, Venice Canals

Vera Canyon, Verdugo Mountains [Glendale], Vermont Knolls, Vermont Square, Vermont Vista, Vermont-Slauson, Vernon, Victoria Park, Victory, Victory Park, Victory Rose, View Heights, View Park, Villa Parke, Villa Vista, Village Green, Vincent, Vinegar Hill, Vineyard [Los Angeles], Vineyard [Glendale], Virgil Village, Wallingford Estates, Walnut Park, Walteria, Warner Center, Washington Culver, Washington School, Washignton Square, Waterfront, Weho Heights, Wellington Square, West Adams [Historic], West Adams, West Adams Heights, West Adams Terrace, West Athens

West Carson, West Chastworth, West Compton, West Covina, West Gateway, West Hills, West Hollywood, West Hollywood North, West Hollywodo West, West Los Angeles, West Los Angeles Civic Center, West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center, West Park Terrace, West Pasadena, West Puente Valley, West San Dimas, West Toluca Lake, West Torrance, West Whittier, Westchester, Westdale, Western Heights, Western Malibu, Westfield, Westlake Village, Westmont, the Westside [Long Beach], Westside South, Westside Village, Westwood Hills, Westwood Village

White City, White Fence Farms, White Heahter, Whiting Woods, Whitely Heights, Whittier Narrows, the Wholesale District, Willmore, Willowbrook, Wilmington, Wilshire Center, Wilshire Highlands, Wilshire Park, Wilshire Vista, Wilshire Vista Heights, Wilshire-Montana, Wilson Cove, Wilsona Gardens, Wilton, Windmere-on-the-Green, Windsong, Winsdor Hills, Windsor Square, Windsor Village, Winnetka, Winona-Cypress, Wiseburn, Woodbury, Woodland Hills, Wrightwood, Wrigley Heights, York Valley, Zaferia, Zamperini Fields. 

The Los Angeles communities that currently have the most reader votes are Exposition Park, Los Angeles International Airport, Monrovia, Pico-Union, Sierra Madre, Studio City, the Toy District, and West Covina

ORANGE COUNTY

Home to 3.1 million people, Orange County is the third-most populous county in California. Nearly a third of residents were born outside of the US. Orange County is highly diverse — there hasn’t been a “racial” majority in about a quarter-century and it’s home to several ethnic enclaves (Little Arabia, Little Saigon, and Little Seoul). As its white population shrinks as both a percentage and total number, Orange County’s reputation as a Republic stronghold grows increasingly counterfactual… but you’d never know any of that if you just relied on Angelenos to inform your impressions.

In order better inform and arouse your Orange County requests, I’ve written primers for the county’s two regions: North Orange County and South County. So far, I have visited and explored Anaheim (2015), Costa Mesa (2010), Fullerton (2010), Garden Grove (2010), Huntington Beach (2011), Irvine (2013), La Habra (2019), Laguna Beach (2013), Little Arabia (2014), Little Saigon (2014), Little Seoul (2014), Newport Beach (2019), Orange (2010), San Clemente (2013), Santa Ana (2010), Tustin (2011), and Yorba Linda (2016).

Orange County communities I haven’t covered include Aliso Viejo, Balboa Island, Brea, Buena Park, Corona del Mar, Coto de Caza, Cypress, Dana Point, El Modena, Fountain Valley, La Palma, Ladera Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Las Flores, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Mission Viejo, Modjeska Canyon, North Tustin, Orange Park Acres, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rossmoor, San Juan Capistrano, Santiago Canyon, Seal Beach, Silverado, Stanton, Sunset Beach, Tonner Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, Villa Park, and Westminster.

It’s not that easy to get to Orange County and worse, once there, many of the communities are large and sprawling, making exploring them a challenge. However, I love visiting Orange County and, hopefully, challenging the stereotypes to which many with limited firsthand experience of the place stubbornly cling. Brea is currently the Orange County community with the most votes from readers.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

I wrote a primer to San Diego neighborhoods as well as one for San Diego County communities. So far, the only San Deigo neighborhood I’ve written about is Little Italy, which I explored in 2014 when someone commissioned me to make a map of that neighborhood. It was after that, in 2015, that I opened up my explorations to San Diego. San Diego, like Orange County, is often still stereotyped with tropes that made more sense in the past. Once a Republican stronghold, no Republicans have run for city-wide office in recent years, more than one-in-four residents was born abroad, and nearly half of all households speak a language other than English at home. Even more distant from Los Angeles than Orange County, though, getting there takes time — although, as the second-most populous city in the state, it has more developed mass transit making it easier to explore once there.

San Diego places I haven’t covered include Allied Gardens, Alpine, Alta Vista, Balboa Park, Ballena, Bankers Hills (Park West), Barona Indian Reservation, Barrio Logan, Bay Ho, Bay Park, Bay Terraces, Birdland, Black Mountain Beach, Bonita, Bonsall, Border, Borrego Springs, Bostonia, Boulevard, Broadway Heights, Burlingame, Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton North, Camp Pendleton South, Campo, Campo Indian Reservation, Capita. Grande Reservation, Caramel Mountain Ranch, Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, Chollas Creek, Chollas View, Chula Vista, City Heights, Civita, Colina del Sol, College Area, Columbia, Core, Coronado, Cortez Hill, Del Cerro, Crest, De Luz, Dehesa, Del Dios, Del Mar, Del Mar Heights, Del Mar Mesa, East Elliott, Descanso, Dulzura, East Village, Egger Highlands, El Cajon, El Cerrito, Elfin Forest, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Encinitas, Escala, Escondido, Eucalyptus Hills, Ewiiaapaayp Indian Reservation, Fairbanks Ranch, Fallbrook, Fernbrook, Fleetridge, Flinn Springs, Four Corners, 45 Ranch, Fox Canyon, Gaslamp Quarter, Gateway, Golden Hill, Granite Hills, Grant Hill, Grantville, Guatay, Harbor Island, Harbison Canyon, Harborview, Hidden Meadows, Hillcrest, Horton, Imperial Beach, Inaja and Cosmit Indian Reservation, Islenair, Jacumba Hot Springs, Jamacha, Jamul, Julian, Kearny Mesa, Kensington, Kentwood-in-the-Pines, La Jolla, La Jolla Indian Reservation, La Jolla Village, La Mesa, La Playa, La Posta Indian Reservation, La Presa, Lake Murray, Lake San Marcos, Lakeside, Lemon Grove, Lincoln Acres, Lincoln Park, Linda Vista, Logan Heights, Loma Portal, Lomita, Los Coyotes Indian Reservation, Manzanita Indian Reservation, Marina, Marston Hills, Memorial, Mesa Grande Indian Reservation, Midtown, Midway, Mira Mesa, Miramar, Miramar Ranch North, Mission Bay Park, Mission Beach, Mission City, Mission Hills, Mission Trails Regional Park, Mission Valley, Morena, Mount Laguna, Mountain View, Mount Hop, National City, Nestor, Normal Heights, North City, North Park, Oak Grove, Oak Park, Ocean Beach, Ocean View Hills, Oceanside, Ocotillo Wells, Old Town, Otay Mesa, Otay Mesa West, Pacific Beach, Pacific Highlands Ranch, Pala Indian Reservation, Palm City, Paradise Hills, Pauma Valley, Pine Hills, Pine Valley, Point Loma, Point Loma Heights, Potrero, Poway, Rainbow, Ramona, Ranchita, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Encatada, Rancho Peñasquitos, Rancho San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Redwood Village, Rincon, Rincon Indian Reservation, Rolando, Roseville, Sabre Springs, San Carlos, San Diego, San Diego County Estates, San Luis Rey, San Marcos, San Pasqual Valley, San Ysidro, Santa Ysabel, Santee, Scripp’s Ranch, Serra Mesa, Shelltown, Shelter Island, Shelter Valley, Sherman Heigthts, Skyline, Solana Beach, Sorrento Mesa, Sorrento Valley, South Park, Southcrest, Spring Valley, Stockton, Sunset Cliffs, Talmadge, Tecate, Tierrasanta, Tierra del Sol, Tijuana River Valley, Torrey Highlands, Torrey Hills, Torrey Pines, University City, University Heights, Valencia Park, Valley Center, Village of La Jolla, Vista, Warner Springs, Webster, Whispering Pines, Winter Gardens, Wooded Area, and Wynola.

Although not a community, I also wrote about exploring Palomar Mountain after camping there in 2021. Right now, Balboa Park and Kensington are the most-requested communities in San Diego County to be the subject of an exploration.

THE REST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

It was also in 2015 that I decided to open up my explorations to all of Southern California. One of the most diverse places on earth, it is home to both the most populous county in the county as well as ghost towns; and people representing more than 1,270 ethnicities. It’s a biodiversity hotspot, a region of vertical extremes, and a place with vastly different microclimates.

IMPERIAL COUNTY

I haven’t visited and explored any of the communites of Imperial County yet, although Calexico has the most reader requests. It’s California’s newest county (founded in 1907), has the lowest elevation in the Americas, is home to the most populous below-sea level town in the US, and boasts the tallest flagpole. It’s home to Salvation Mountain, the Cloud Museum, Slab City, and the Ski Inn.

There’s Algodones Sand Dunes, Andrade, Bard, Bombay Beach, Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, Desert Shores, El Centro, Felicity, Glamis, Heber, Holtville, Imperial, Imperial Oasis, Niland, Ocotillo, Ogilby, Palo Verde, Picacho, Plaster City, Salton City, Salton Sea Beach, Seeley, Slab City, Westmorland, and Winterhaven

KERN COUNTY

Kern County is the leading agricultural county in the US, mostly Latino, home to an inland space port, and the birthplace of the Bakersfield Sound.

I haven’t yet explored and Kern County but Inyokern, Taft, Tehachapi, and Wasco each have two reader requests. Other Kern County communities include Arvin, Bakersfield, Bear Valley Springs, Bodfish, Boron, Buttonwillow, California City, China Lake, Delano, Dustin Acres, Edwards AFB, Frazier Park, Golden Hills, Johannesburg, Keene, Kernville, Lake Isabella, Lamont, Lost Hills, Maricopa, McFarland, McKittrick, Mettler, Mojave, Mountain Mesa, North Edwards, Oildale, Onyx, Pine Mountain Club, Randsburg, Ridgecrest, Rosamond, Shafter, South Taft, Stallion Springs, Taft Heights, Tupman, Valley Acres, Weldon, and Wofford Heights.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Riverside County is a mostly Latino county and home to numerous tribal reservations. It’s home to San Jacinto — known to the ʼÍvil̃uqaletem as I a kitch and, traditionally, believed to be the home of Dakush — the meteor and creator of their people. Currently, the most voted-for destination in Riverside County is Moreno Valley.

Other communities in Riverside County include Aguanga, Anza, Banning, Beaumont, Bermuda Dunes, Blythe, Cabazon, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Cherry Valley, Chiriaco Summit, Coachella, Corona, Desert Center, Desert Hot Springs, Eastvale, Garnet, Good Hope, Green Acres, Hemet, Highgrove, Home Gardens, Idyllwild, Indian Wells, Indio, Jurupa Valley, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Lakeland Village, Lakeview, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook, Menifee, Mountain Center, Murrieta, Norco, Nuevo, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Pine Cove, Rancho Mirage, Riverside, San Jacinto, Sky Valley, Sun City, Temecula, Temescal Valley, Thermal, Thousand Palms, Valle Vista, Wildomar, and Winchester.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Mostly Latino San Bernardino County is the largest county in the contiguous US — and 81% of it is owned by federal entities. It is home to more official wilderness areas than any other county in the US. It’s home to San Giogino Mountain — the tallest in Southern California. I have explored and written about Big Bear City (2018) and Pioneertown (2022). The most voted for community, currently, is the county seat — San Bernardino.

Other San Bernardino County communities include: Adelanto, Alta Loma, Apple Valley, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Bloomington, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Crestline, Etiwanda, Fontana, Forest Falls, Grand Terrace, Hesperia, Highland, Joshua Tree, Lake Arrowhead, Loma Linda, Lucerne Valley, Mentone, Montclair, Morongo Valley, Muscoy, Needles, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, Running Springs, San Bernardino, Trona, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Victorville, Wrightwood, Yucaipa, and Yucca Valley.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

Santa Barbara County is known for its reputation as part of the American Riviera and wine production — although much of it is defined by broader agriculture, aerospace, and oil. So far, the only community I’ve explored for the site is Santa Barbara (2020).

Communities of Santa Barbara County include: Ballard, Buellton, Carpinteria, Casmalia, Garey, Gaviota, Goleta, Guadalupe, Hollister Ranch, Hope Ranch, Isla Vista, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Mission Canyon, Mission Hills, Montecito, New Cuyama, Orcutt, Painted Cave, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, Sisquoc, Summerland, Toro Canyon, and Ventucopa. Of those; Buellton, Carpinteria, Casmalia, Cuyama, Lompoc, Solvang, and Vandenberg Village each have one vote, currently.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

Created in 1850, San Luis Obispo County was one of the original 27 counties of California. Its also known for its wine and Central Coast culture and is the birthplace, in 1925, of the world’s first motel. It’s home to Adelaida, Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Avila Beach, Baywood Park, Bee Rock, Blacklake, California Valley, Cambria, Callender, Cayucos, Cholame, Creston, Edna, Grover Beach, Harmony, Huasna, Lacy, Los Berros, Los Osos, Los Ranchos, Morro Bay, Nipomo, Oak Shores, Oceano, Old Edna, Paloma, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, Pozo, San Luis Obispo, San Miguel, San Simeon, Santa Margarita, Shandon, Templeton, Whitley Gardens, and Woodlands. Of those; Atascadero, Cambria, Halcyon, Morro Bay, San Miguel, and San Simeon each have two votes.

VENTURA COUNTY

Ventura County can be divided, generally, into commuter-oriented East County and the historic coastal towns of West County. It’s the nation’s top producer of strawberries. Its Port Hueneme is the only deep-water port between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Communities in Ventura County include: Bardsdale, Bell Canyon, Brandeis, Camarillo, Casa Conejo, Casitas Springs, Channel Islands Beach, Chrisman, El Rio, Faria, Fillmore, Hidden Valley, La Conchita, Lake Sherwood, Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte, Moorpark, Mussel Shoals, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Oak View, Ojai, Oxnard, Piru, Point Mugu, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Santa Rosa Valley, Santa Susana, Saticoy, Sea Cliff, Simi Valley, Solromar, Somis, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Ventura Heights. Ojai, Santa Paula, and Saticoy each are currently tied with three votes.

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