Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach is so typically Californian that it almost seems over the top. Luckily it isn’t and the fun you can have here is real.
Condos and mansions overlook Manhattan Beach’s idyllic stretch of sand, where the locals play volleyball and families stroll over the pier to a small marine rescue aquarium. On Manhattan’s northern end, El Porto’s large waves are magnets for adventurous surfers. Sure, Manhattan Beach gets crowded, but the city’s parks, boutique shops and cool little cafés and eateries help slow things right down. You can also cycle along The Strand to quieter resorts, such as Santa Monica and Torrance.