I currently stay out in LA area. Check out venice beach-particularly the boardwalk. Long beach is a pretty chill place also, nice bar scene (if that's your cup of tea)-Ferns has BY FAR the best juke box i've ever experienced in my damn life lol. There are loads of great places out in malibu mtns. VB and LB are pretty welcoming to travelers.Unfortunately we're going opposite directions. I'm going to be leaving Portland heading down towards LA here in a few weeks.
As far as California goes, I haven't hitched past San Francisco before. Anything particularly interesting in the LA/Long Beach area you recommend checking out?