You can plan your South Bay day trip or weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.
Why Should You Go? Will You Like the South Bay?
We enjoy the South Bay and visit often, taking friends, most of whom talk about how much they enjoyed it for months afterward. These resources may help you decide if you want to go and pick the place that suits you best.- Manhattan Beach is the northernmost and most upscale of the three, with the fanciest beachfront homes, lots of shopping near the pier, plenty of coffee shops and clubs and a lively energy. Get more information about Manhattan Beach, take a photo tour or see reader ratings.
- Hermosa Beach is the most "beachy" of the three, with a nice, pedestrian-only street leading inland from the pier and interesting local boutiques nearby. Find out more about Hermosa and check reader ratings.
- Redondo Beach has the most developed pier, a marina, a nice beach with calm water and few surfers and a nice shopping area in the "Riviera" section at the south end. Get more information about it, take a photo tour or see how our readers rate it.
Best Time to Go to the South Bay
South Bay weather is best in spring and fall. In summer, the Los Angeles coastline can be shrouded in foggy "June gloom" for much of the month, extending well into July in some years. On a clear winter day just after a rain, the views are stellar.Don't Miss
If you've only got a day in the South Bay, take a walk along the Strand (oceanfront sidewalk) between Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, to see how people live and play.5 More Great Things to Do in the South Bay
- Redondo Beach Pier: One of Southern California's most-developed piers offers dining, shopping (think tourist gee-gaws) and people-watching.
- Shopping: Try Redondo's Hollywood Riviera area along Catalina Avenue between Avenue I and Palos Verdes Blvd. or downtown Manhattan Beach along Manhattan Avenue (at Manhattan Beach Blvd.). Funkier Hermosa Beach offers some interesting shops along Pier Avenue near the beach.
- Watch the Sunset: Miles of ocean-facing sand offer plenty of places to sit and watch the sun set, but you'll find few places to do it indoors with your favorite beverage in hand. Your best bet for that is a leisurely dinner (or just drinks and appetizers) at Kincaid's on the Redondo Beach Pier, nursing a cocktail before ordering.
- Sport Fishing: Half-day and longer deep-sea fishing trips leave daily from the Redondo Marina. No pole? No problem. The tackle shop on the same pier rents everything you need. Catches here include halibut, mackerel, bonita, sand bass, yellowtail and more.
- Comedy and Magic Club, Hermosa Beach Locals know this, but few outsiders realize that Jay Leno performs here regularly on Sunday nights, trying out new material.
Annual Events You Should Know About
- International Surf Festival, July
- Watch the Grunion Run No, this isn't a 5K or a 10K. Instead, it's the mating spectacle of small, silvery fish that spawn en masse on southern California beaches at high tide shortly after a full moon. The peak spawning period is late March through early June.
Tips for Visiting the South Bay
- Go to the beaches early if you're looking for solitude. They're livelier in the late afternoon and evening and packed on warm weekends.
- You won't get stuck looking for a place to "go" along the beach or at the piers (each town has its own), where you'll find plenty of public restrooms.
- The kids will enjoy the beach, especially if you bring along something they can play in the sand with (which can be as simple as a plastic drink cups, bowls and utensils).
- The water is colder than you might think, too cold to stay in for very long, but the sand is warm. Don't expect to spend too much time swimming.
- Your dog can strut his stuff along the Strand, but is not allowed on the beach.
Best Bites
A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a leisurely brunch. Locals stand in long lines at Uncle Bill's Pancake House in Manhattan Beach, or for a more upscale brunch, try Kincaid's on the Redondo Beach Pier. Our latest discovery, a place that we'll be going back to is Martha's 22nd Street Grill, a little out of the busy part of Hermosa Beach but serving great food in a relaxed atmosphere. Any time of day, The 24-Hour Kettle in downtown Manhattan beach is a good bet for variety and reasonable prices.Where to Stay
You can easily stay in any of the three cities while visiting them all. Check our recommended Hermosa Beach hotels, Manhattan Beach hotels and Redondo Beach hotels.For help getting the best possible deal, read about how to find a good place to stay, cheap.
Getting To the South Bay
If you're looking for more places to get away along the Los Angeles beachfront, try our getaway to Marina Del Rey, Venice Beach and Santa Monica
