CITY TOURS FIND THE BEST IN
South Bay THE SOUTH BAY BOASTS OCEAN-VIEW DINING, MOM-AND-POP SHOPS AND FUN ATTRACTIONS Best known for its relaxed beach towns and harbors, the South Bay is the perfect place for beach hopping or lounging seaside at one of the bustling restaurants or bars. Either way, there is plenty to do here both on and off the water.
MANHATTAN BEACH Less than 5 miles south of LAX, Manhattan Beach posseses 2 miles of beaches with sand so fine that developers exported it to Waikiki Beach in the 1920s. The laid-back city is home to many professional athletes: You might spot an L.A. Kings player walking along the Strand,
the pedestrian promenade sandwiched between multimillion-dollar homes and the beachfront bike trail. The city’s picturesque pier, with its newly modernized Roundhouse Aquarium, features plaques commemorating winners of the Manhattan Beach Open—the South Bay is die-hard beach volleyball country. It’s also a playground for water-sports enthusiasts, including bodyboarders and surfers. East of the pier along Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Manhattan Avenue are chic boutiques and a burgeoning dining scene, with restaurants Love & Salt, Manhattan
Beach Post and The Strand House drawing gourmets from across L.A. The Metlox center is a popular gathering place with plenty of retail stores. Between Manhattan Beach and LAX to the north is El Segundo, an industrial city with a quaint downtown and upscale shopping and dining centers. Check out The Point, an outdoor shopping destination with well-known retailers and fast-casual eateries.
HERMOSA BEACH Head south on Manhattan Avenue to Pier Avenue, the heart of Hermosa Beach. Hermosa shares many characteristics with Manhattan Beach, including its own scenic stretch of beach punctuated by volleyball nets, fitness buffs weaving along the Strand (here
merged with the bike path) and a pier studded with bronze plaques commemorating surfing legends. Come late afternoon, the pedestrian plaza at the foot of the pier becomes a different kind of South Bay scene, thanks to spillover from bars and restaurants such as Hennessey’s Tavern and Tower 12. To the plaza’s east, café and boutique Gum Tree and the Hook & Plow are standouts among the specialty shops and eateries that line Pier Avenue. Farther east, Becker carries surfboards and beachwear.
REDONDO BEACH The largest of L.A. County’s beach cities, Redondo Beach is home to the 1,457-seat Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and a recreational water-
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