One of the most expensive cities to live in on the California Coast, with million dollar homes facing the Pacific and trendy shops and restaurants in village center. Sunday brunch is a huge deal, so you might wait more than an hour for a table on weekends. Traffic and parking hell on most days. Locals tip for easy beach parking on weekends: Take Highland Ave to 24th street and turn east, park at school parking lot, walk down a few blocks to the sand.