Thank you for posting these photos. They are great.
I agree, I like those clear winter days in Southern California. I hiked in the Verdugo Hills behind my aunt's house in Glendale about 15 years ago on a day after it rained. I think the elevation was maybe 2,000 feet. You could see the Channel Islands, Long Beach, and DTLA. On those clear winter days, there is no more scenic city than Los Angeles.
Lovely pics! Winter is also my favorite time in California in general. The hills are greener, everything looks cleaner, and visibility is excellent. Only thing I don't love is how short the days are in SoCal. Where SD/LA lie, if you drew a line straight up on a map you'd essentially hit Boise, ID. So our timezone is a bit messed up (we in theory would be better as MT time), resulting in daylight ending way too early.