Can anyone recommend the best crag to take beginners to within an hour or two of LA? I'm looking for a nice crag with good ambience and some really beginner FRIENDLY 5.5 -5.9 sport or trad routes? I'd be willing to drive about 2 hours from Playa Del Rey, but would love to know about a great crag if its just a little farther. Thanks.

Maybe Pt. Dume, in Malibu? Not a lot of routes (4 or so in your range, plus 2 .10's on the steep, ocean facing side). But the surroundings are amazing - 10 steps from the water on a white sand beach.

Plus, it's cool to know that the blanket toss scene in the Big Lebowski was filmed at the toe of this crag. Plus a million car commercials you've seen over the course of your life.

I'll second Point Dume.

I recommend Big Rock at Lake Perris. Good granite, dry after rains, easy approach, lots of easier routes. What more could you ask for?