THE BURBS

The valleys and foothills here ring the city in a way that makes Los Angeles unforgettable. For many, the ‘burbs are the silver lining around L.A.’s gritty inner self--until, of course, the temperatures rise and smog cuts a dense cinnamon band across the horizon.

There’s an idealistic quality to the suburbs that is perfectly suited to summer. It’s where the American Dream leads, right? To backyard pools warming in the sun, burgers on the grill and neighborhood kids playing baseball in the street. Of course, our suburbs--from Calabasas to Covina, from Anaheim to Azusa--have more distinct flavor. Tandoori chicken on the barbecue. Soccer in the street. But everyone around the pool.

Sure, there are days when being out of doors in the ‘burbs is not the destination of choice. Malls and movie theaters fill up, and the chillier the AC the better. Still, with a little searching, relief is just around the corner. Don’t run, hide or head for that pool, just read on to find a few entries for that summer suburban “to do” list.

Spend an early morning over a steaming cup of coffee watching thoroughbreds train. Pull on hiking shoes and head for Arroyo Seco, where trees form enough of a cool canopy to make the effort more than worth it. Take a chance on the new roller coasters, or, heck, a lesson on a trapeze. Or kick back and let someone else do the heavy lifting at one of the architecturally exotic car washes that litter the area.

And that’s just for starters.