My Weekend Pleasures Around LA Without Crowds shows that if there is a silver...

Mentryville Park is a tiny oil ghost town rich in history tucked away in a tiny corner of Pico Canyon.  It's an important piece of US History for its role in the Oil Boon, but still draws people today for its beautiful hiking trails set in the Santa Monica Mountains. It's recognizable from several tv and movie productions but also draws a crowd for its reputation for being haunted.

A travel guide to Surf City where summer lasts forever in Huntington Beach. This place brings the promise of never-ending candy-colored summer days, the perfect wave and glowing sunsets. This is one of my favorite Southern California Beaches, with pristine white sand, a city area that's a part beach town, part downtown just steps from the beach, lots of sunshine, sand, shopping-the kind of place that just sings that Cali vibe.

Ok, seriously, you need to experience any morning at Bellagio and breakfast at Sadelle's will turn any morning into some sort of holiday. It's candy-colored decor that evokes vintage glamour and elegance mixed with upscale diner vibes.

It's a round-up of my favorite SoCal Beach Piers because Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer...unless you are in Southern California and can hit those beaches all year long. SoCal beach piers are those iconic structures you find on postcards and t-shirts. They are an immediate way to identify which beach it is, and each beach comes with its own look and personality.