Flat6Music

Just east of you is Ortega Hwy. It's a fun road that's full of twisties out to Lake Elsinore and back, as long as you avoid commuter traffic. Then when you return, you can drink with the locals at Turks at Dana Point Harbor. You're going to enjoy exploring the surrounding areas of your new home.

5CHN3LL

As you can see, those of us who live in SoCal clearly do not like it. At all.

Kalashnikov

When I moved to US, I moved to...Dana Point for one year. Salt Creek Grill, Dana Hills High School, PCH, gated community, soccer moms.

Was walk on Varsity Singles Tennis. Won the Nellie Gail tournament in the spring, got scholar athlete, and first letter...then moved out.

5CHN3LL

One more thing, OP - Radar detectors are legal in California. Cops are using laser more often, but KA is still far more frequent (at least in San Diego County) than laser. If you have a detector, bring it, and pay attention to the KA alerts.

The highway patrol, especially the motor units, tend to leave their radar on all the time, so you can pick them up from a good distance.

mrjonger

I didn't see it mentioned here. But I like this motorcycle site for good roads...http://pashnit.com/motoroads.htm Ortega can get a bit crowded, but it is a nice road. I've never been, but Palomar comes up a lot in the motorcycle forums and looks a like very fun route. If you're in LA, Angeles Crest, Malibu (aka Mulholland) are the major attractions. If you want a spirited drive, do it early morning or late afternoons during weekends and midday on the weekdays (commuters), otherwise be prepared to cruise. If you want a good drive, you have to make the effort to get to the spots and do it during the right time. Other than that, it's a pretty miserable driving experience...congestion, bad roads, ****ty drivers. So just manage your expectations and be glad when you get the occasional twisty on-ramp or empty hard turn with high visibility.

Its annoying, but the right lane is often the fastest in Southern California. Generally, people don't feel obliged to move over if they're slowing down traffic here.

Motorcycle lanesplitting is legal in CA, so look out for us in traffic and stop lights. I try to keep it to a reasonable speed and keep the mentality that moving over for riders is a courtesy, not a requirement...but sadly, I'm the minority. Many riders speed excessively in between the lanes and make their displeasure known if you don't move over for them (especially if you're in the carpool lane). Some drivers intentionally block riders, don't be that guy...it's a good way to end up with a broken mirror.

5CHN3LL

^ Mr. Jonger is correct about the fast lane being slow. We have lots of Prius drivers here who feel that they know best when it comes to what speed we should be driving - so they jump into the fast lane and squat there for endless miles. Fortunately, California does not permit open or concealed carry, so nobody shoots the Priusists.

DrBrain

Watch out for blue-balled dads in minivans who are determined to show you what great drivers they are by closely tailgating your Porsche in rush hour traffic. They will race you at traffic lights, on ramps, dual lane left turns, off ramps and on the Highways.

tlakeusa

Great link to car culture in So Cal

http://www.socalcarculture.com/events.html

Rpompea

So I have made it to Dana point and now scheduling covered transportation of my 911 C4S

5CHN3LL

Nice. Welcome to the PDRC.

Rpompea

update,
been here a few months and falling into a routine. Long hours at work have subsided so now have a bit more free time to enjoy the California car culture. thanks for the tips and warm welcome