Uw tips:Reach LosAngeles, then leave it as soon as possible - so many better places in close range!
I found Los Angeles the worst of big cities in California - forget the charming San Francisco, forget the friendliness of San Diego: Los Angeles is just a uniform nightmare of trafic jams. Luckily enough, there are very good places nearby where you can escape - from Santa Monica to Long Beach, from Orange County to Palm Springs - probably anywhere is better than in LA.