Los Angeles South Bay Beach Towns - Weekend Getaway

• Redondo Beach: Funky fun at the pier, relaxed shopping in the "Riviera" section.

• Manhattan Beach: The most upscale town, with lots of shopping near the pier, plenty of coffee shops and clubs and a lively energy.

• Hermosa Beach: Laid back and down to earth, with lower-priced dining spots and a pedestrian-friendly street.

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 It?

• Get a Preview: Take a look at our Redondo Beach Pictures and Manhattan Beach Pictures

• We enjoy the South Bay and visit often, taking friends, most of whom talk about how much they enjoyed it for months afterward. Surprisingly (at least to us), some of our California for Visitors readers disagree. See how they rate Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.

Best Time to Go

Don't Miss

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), people-watching and Starboard Attitude, a jazz club.

• 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 a drink in hand. Your best bet is a leisurely dinner at Kincaid's on the Redondo Beach Pier, nursing a cocktail before ordering dinner.

• Sport Fishing: Half-day and longer deep-sea fishing trips leave daily from the Redondo Marina. No pole? No problem. Rent equipment at the tackle shop. 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

• Beach Volleyball Championships: The sand bristles with nets anytime, but in August, the pros arrive for the Manhattan Beach Open Volleyball Championships

• 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 soft drink cup and utensils).

• Your dog can strut his stuff along the Strand, but is not allowed on the beach.

Best Bites

Where to Stay

For help getting the best possible deal, read about how to find a good place to stay, cheap.

Getting To the South Bay

Flying? The nearest airport is LAX. Check airfares.

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

• 1
• 2