You might want to consider the Anza Borrego State Park east of San Diego.
700,000 acres of beautiful desert views.
Countless hiking or 4 wheel drive trails.
The Park extends from the eastern side of the Laguna Mountains down to below sea level
on the desert floor.
Spring bloom is remarkable but I'll take the desert any time of year.
A little farther east the Salton Sea offers some interesting sites.

Catalina Island would be a good place. You could take pics of the whales and dolphins to and from on the boat trip. Once on the island take the bus ride to the top of the mountain, incredible view.

Get up early and head out to Garnet Peak for the sunrise. Search Garnet peak on the sandiegoreader site for more information. Take your coffee and sit and wait. Fantastic site on a clear morning.

Your in for some visual treats then! Bring lots of memory cards haha I shot 52 GB when I traveled around there for two weeks back in the summer of 2010 :)Some of the best landscape photography I ever shot.

Thank you guys:) I'm college student, so I'm limited in budget (gas of course...) and can't leave too far away from Socal... But those places you guys mentioned are quite interesting. And Kanuck... Unfortunately I haven't been there yet but fortunately you've told me about it :) I think I'm gonna make plans to visit there. Thanks!!

Wow are you ever a lucky guy! My favourite places to shoot are in Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona and I've traveled all over the World! Have you ever hit the highway and found some old broken down vehicles, old ghost towns, barns etc? They always make for great landscape shots especially with a nice dramatic sky with it. You've probably been to Joshua Tree National Park? I'm sure you have its quite the amazing location. The Wind Energy Farm in Palm Springs is spectacular at sunset and sunrise. The windmills make for great silhouttes except you have to mind the damn fencing. The Coachella Valley preserve, and Indian Canyons also have never disappointed.

Will you travel out of the SoCal region? I'm sure you have numerous times for your photography^^ Damn your lucky I'd love to retire in one of these aforementioned four states or at least have a vacation home.

Malibu Canyon, Cajon Pass, Point Dume is perfect this time of year (next month is the only time you can walk around the point because of the tide.)

I've probably went to most popular places in SoCal already. (i.e Yosemite) I want to get some recommendations for places that are not well known. I'm not a professional photographer, but I love to travel for photography. I like taking landscape and all things nature photos. I may bring my girlfriend alongside with me, so I would prefer places with great sight seeing... Anything would be great still. Thanks!