Automobile Club Releases New So. California Beaches Theme Map; Time for Residents and Tourists to Grab a Towel and Play in Sun, Sand and Surf

    LOS ANGELES--July 15, 2002--A new theme map published by the Automobile Club of Southern California about the Southland's beaches will steer locals and tourists to the best beaches in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.
    The laminated mapguide "GreatestHits(TM) Southern California Beaches" highlights the Golden State's big-name beaches and some overlooked out-of-the-way spots that dot the coast from Los Angeles to Orange County to San Diego. Along 200 miles of highlighted shoreline, Zuma, Venice, Huntington and Mission Beaches are among those prominently featured.
    "Southern California beaches are cool, charming, and funky. They're for families, teens, surfers, boaters, fishermen, volleyball players, campers, people-watchers...you name it," said Auto Club Editorial Director John Austerman. "We've captured the sizzle as well as our famed coastline culture," he added.
    The two-sided map explores 54 beaches and their "best-of" features. For example, Topanga Beach (#7 on the map): "Think of this as a junior Surfrider Beach -- another south-facing cove with a right-hand break that hits top form on summertime's swells. Your typical ride won't be as long, but the competition for waves is also a lot less intense. Plus, the setting is lovely and user facilities hold their own with any around here."
    The map highlights (if available) beach rentals, fishing, camping, tide pools, hiking, and fire rings for cookouts. There's also other tourist information, including if there's food for sale, if there's restrooms available or showers to wash off the sand and sea.
    The map offers nine locations for "Beach Eats," including Gladstone's 4 Fish on Pacific Coast Highway at the foot of Sunset Boulevard. The map also provides "Beach Tips" about the weather, ocean water temperature, parking and general beach rules and regulations for nearly anywhere a wanna-be beach bum wants to hang out.
    Auto Club travel writer David Brackney, author of the Auto Club's Baja California book, wrote the easy-to-pack and easy-to-use map and shot some of the color photographs. In his younger years, Brackney spent time on the sand as a surfer and he also was a whale-watching guide on a boat. Auto Club and WESTWAYS photographer Todd Masinter also contributed color photographs "Southern California Beaches."
    The GreatestHits(TM) laminated map series includes "California Missions" "Baja The Northern Triangle," "Oahu Hawaii" "Southern California Car Culture Landmarks," "Southern California Attractions," and "Route 66, The Best of the Mother Road." One more laminated map to be published by the Auto Club in 2002 features "GreatestHits(TM) Las Vegas."
    Each title in the map series is available to members for $4.95 at AAA offices, and on the Auto Club's Web site. Out of state AAA members and others can purchase the maps by calling 877/AAA-Book. The map is also available to the public at select California specialty-map and travel bookstores, Barnes & Noble bookstores and other retail vendors for $7.95.
    Selected California Welcome Centers are also selling the "GreatestHits(TM) Southern California Beaches" maps. All the centers sell the "GreatestHits(TM) California Missions" map. The welcome centers are open seven days a week, and feature visitor information, souvenirs, restrooms and telephones. Many centers offer travelers foreign language assistance and e-mail access.
    Their network of sites are located in Anderson, Arcata, Barstow, Rohnert Park, Pier 39/San Francisco, Merced, the Beverly Center/Los Angeles, Oceanside, MainPlace/Santa Ana, and Yucca Valley.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance service, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.