Venice Beach - Santa Monica - Malibu - Marina del Rey

If you're looking for pristine air, relatively mild traffic, and -- oh yes -- the beach, then you should head south to LA's beach towns.

Depending on what your California dream is, try the "regentrified" but still artsy-funky Venice Beach, with its famously buff, butt-floss-wearing skaters, and its interesting shops, eateries, and bars on Ocean Front Walk.

Sun worshippers and surfers will love Malibu, with its 27 miles of wild outcroppings over beautiful, sandy beaches and, of course, the surf -- not to mention maximum surfers per square wave. Malibu and Venice Beach are also known for their super-exclusive celebrity-ridden real estate, but unless you know somebody who knows somebody, you probably won't get any closer to the elusive creatures than the front page of your favorite tabloid.

Santa Monica is the place to snag an oceanfront hotel room, bask on the pier, and then stroll along the outdoor Third Street Promenade to satisfy your appetites for food and retail goodies.

Want to fish, sail, kayak, or just explore the coastline from the water? Marina del Rey, with its busy small-craft harbor, is guaranteed to float your boat.

Click here for a full list of hotels near Malibu and hotels near Santa Monica / Venice Beach.