Heading to Southern California? If so, then you have got to check out its beaches which offer the perfect getaway from the world. With Sun, sand, surf and people galore the SoCal beaches are great for relaxing. If you are unfamiliar with the area, here are a few beaches worth visiting, each with something different to offer.

A good place to start is at the Zuma Beach County Park. Great for body-boarding and just lazing around in the sand, this beach area has plenty of small snack shops, bathrooms (a definite plus) and a quiet marina. Another good beach which the whole family can enjoy is the one in Santa Monica. It can get crowded at times, but it does offer a variety of attractions including a small amusement park (on the pier) which has a huge Ferris wheel, a traditional style carousel and plenty of cotton candy.

If you are the kind of person who craves freedom, the wind in your hair and riding the waves, then head over to Hermosa Beach which is popular with surfers. Also worth visiting is Manhattan Beach which apart from offering good surfing waves and rollerblading space, has some popular nightclubs as well.

Other SoCal beaches worth heading to include the Newport Beach which is excellent for bodysurfing and Venice Beach with its positively bohemian atmosphere and famous boardwalk where you can buy just about anything.

Bear in mind these are just a few of the many SoCal beaches. If you have the time, do your own beach exploring and find one which is just right for you. And don't forget the sunscreen!

If you love the movies and the thrills and spills of an amusement park, then Universal Studios Hollywood is a must visit when you come to California. The park is 10 minutes from Downtown Los Angeles and you will need to spend the whole day if you want to enjoy the many rides and shows on offer.

Some of the more interesting and exciting rides are "The Mummy" which is a roller coaster type ride coupled with some cool special effects, "Back to the Future" which takes you on a dizzying trip back and forth through time (a must for fans of the movie!), "Terminator 2: 3D" minus Arnold though with some great effects and "Jurassic Park" the ride where you will come face to face with a menacing T-Rex along with a heart stopping surprise which will get you wet..you'll see! Smaller children will enjoy the new "Shrek 4-D" cinematic show.

Also not to be missed is the live action "Waterworld" show which is truly amazing (get there about 15 minutes before the scheduled time). The sets are huge, the stunts are awesome and the thrills guaranteed..especially when "something big" (it's a surprise) comes hurtling towards you!

If you want to learn more about the movies then definitely take a Studio Tour. New attractions on the tour include sets of CSI, War of the Worlds and parts of Skull Island (from King Kong). If you are pressed for time then it is probably a good idea to buy a "Front of Line Pass" (online or at the gate) which gives you quick access to the rides and the shows.

Universal Studios Hollywood is a not to be missed experience which will keep the kids enthralled and give grown ups a chance to be kids all over again.