Areas of interest in LA or Orange County?

The wife and I will be in the LA area starting tomarrow afternoon untill friday morning on a job interview. What should we look at in terms of housing, lakes and other amminities to determine if that is the right place for us?

we want a place that is relativly close to a freshwater lake, housing that is less than $2,000 a month, and reasonable traffic.

One job would be for the L.A.C.S.D. and the other would be for a community college. I am not too sure of the exact locations as my wife has made all the arangements.

It looks like we should have two full evenings to scout the areas. Where should we start?

BTW, we are coming from Houston, Texas. I have never been to California, but we have been to Nevada numerous times.

(Message edited by ag4ever on June 01, 2004)