I'd say San Diego. It is a little bit less of a shock than LA and not as crowded. The weather in Diego is amazing and LA is just a couple of hours up the freeway. The beaches there are great and so is the boardwalk in Pacific and Mission Beach. La Jolla up the road is very nice but very expensive. I lived down there for 3 years and enjoyed every day of it but maybe that is because I was going to San Diego State and every day was a party there! Good luck and don't worry there are a few Republicans out here!
SDSU has surpassed Chico as the official "Party School"! :)