I’ve Traveled Southern California for 20+ Years and This Is Its Best Lake Town—With 3,000 Acres of Freshwater

I’ve Traveled Southern California for 20+ Years and This Is Its Best Lake Town—With 3,000 Acres of Freshwater

Plus, it has gorgeous mountain views.An aerial view of Lake Elsinore, California.Credit: LPETTET/Getty ImagesSeveral major highways lead to the Southern California city of Lake Elsinore. But as a longtime SoCal resident, my favorite route is Ortega Highway, aka State Route 74, which runs from west to east through the boulder-studded peaks of the Cleveland National Forest. After miles of winding asphalt and switchbacks, you emerge onto the easter…