my real (ie, local) escape places include
(the view from up top the San Gabriel Mountains, which are currently on fire )
(same place but looking west over the city)
(this is lunada bay in Rancho Palos Verdes estates.. I hike here often)
the wonder of california beaches is that you can see both the ocean and mountains along the western horizon because of the coastal ranges and the windy coastline.. its truly beautiful to get the best of both worlds, the mountains and the ocean in one vista..