Six beach towns and the peninsula, each with its own personality. Here's what locals love about each one.
Manhattan Beach
The pier, the Strand and a downtown packed with restaurants a few blocks from the sand.
Manhattan Beach Pier & Roundhouse Aquarium
The Strand bike path
Downtown on Manhattan Ave
Sand Dune Park
Incorporated in 1912, Manhattan Beach runs about two miles of sand from El Segundo to Hermosa. Neighborhoods split into the walk-to-the-beach Sand Section, the Tree Section and the inland Hill Section and East Side.
Beaches & outdoors
Surfing and swimming on both sides of the 928-foot pier
Laid-back beach town energy, Pier Plaza nightlife and volleyball on the sand all day.
Pier Plaza
Beach volleyball courts
The Strand
Hermosa Valley Greenbelt
At about 1.4 square miles, Hermosa is the smallest of the beach cities and the most walkable. It has a long surf and volleyball history and a lively scene around Pier Plaza and Pier Ave.
Beaches & outdoors
The Hermosa Beach Pier and the Surfers Walk of Fame
Dozens of public volleyball courts on the sand
The Hermosa Valley Greenbelt, a 3.5-mile wood-chip trail
Where to eat & shop
Pier Plaza and lower Pier Ave
Upper Pier Ave cafés and shops
Hermosa Ave between Pier and 2nd
Annual events
Fiesta Hermosa arts and crafts fair (Memorial Day & Labor Day weekends)
AVP volleyball events
St. Patrick's Day and Sunset concerts
Getting around:Parking fills fast on weekends — the Strand and bike racks near Pier Plaza are the easier move.
A working harbor with a pier, seafood spots and Riviera Village's shops and cafés.
Redondo Beach Pier
King Harbor
Riviera Village
Seaside Lagoon
Redondo combines a working harbor, a horseshoe-shaped pier and a strong neighborhood feel in North Redondo. South Redondo's Riviera Village is a walkable stretch of boutiques and restaurants near the PV border.
Beaches & outdoors
King Harbor kayaking, paddleboarding and whale-watching boats
Seaside Lagoon, a calm saltwater swim spot
The Esplanade and Redondo's southern beaches
Where to eat & shop
Redondo Beach Pier and the International Boardwalk
Riviera Village on Catalina and Avenue I
Artesia Blvd in North Redondo
Annual events
Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K (February)
Riviera Village Summer Festival
BeachLife Festival (spring)
Getting around:Pier parking structures cover the waterfront; the Strand runs from the pier north toward Hermosa.
The South Bay's big city — great food (especially Japanese), parks and its own beach.
Old Torrance
Torrance Beach
Del Amo Fashion Center
Madrona Marsh Preserve
With roughly 140,000 residents, Torrance is the largest South Bay city. It has a big Japanese-American community and corporate presence, which shows up in some of the region's best ramen, sushi and Japanese markets.
Beaches & outdoors
Torrance Beach and RAT Beach at the PV border
Madrona Marsh Preserve, one of the last vernal marshes in LA County
Wilson Park, home of a weekly certified farmers market
Where to eat & shop
Old Torrance (downtown on El Prado and Sartori)
Japanese strip malls along Western, Crenshaw and PCH
Del Amo Fashion Center, one of the largest malls in the US
Annual events
Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade (May)
Farmers markets at Wilson Park (Tuesdays & Saturdays)
Torrance Cultural Arts Center performances
Getting around:Most of Torrance is a drive; Torrance Transit buses connect to the beach cities and the Metro C/K lines.
Small-town Main Street, craft breweries and a quiet beach next to the airport.
Main Street
El Segundo Beach
Local breweries
Dockweiler Beach nearby
El Segundo got its name from Standard Oil's second California refinery, built here in 1911. Today it pairs a small-town Main Street with aerospace and tech offices, plus a growing craft beer scene.
Beaches & outdoors
El Segundo Beach and the north end of the Strand
Dockweiler State Beach, with fire rings, just north
Watching planes land at LAX from the Imperial Hill area
Where to eat & shop
Main Street and Grand Ave downtown
Breweries such as El Segundo Brewing Company
Smoky Hollow's converted industrial spaces
Annual events
Main Street Car Show
Richmond Street Summer Concerts
Holiday Candy Cane Lane
Getting around:Metro C Line stations on the east side; downtown and the beach are short bike rides apart.
Cliffs, coves and trails — the peninsula is where the South Bay goes to hike and watch the sunset.
Point Vicente Lighthouse
Abalone Cove
Terranea trails
Wayfarers Chapel area
The peninsula is four cities: Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates. Expect cliffs, coves, horse trails and the South Bay's best sunset views.
Beaches & outdoors
Point Vicente Interpretive Center (gray whale watching in winter)
Abalone Cove tide pools and the Portuguese Bend Reserve trails
Malaga Cove and Lunada Bay
Where to eat & shop
Malaga Cove Plaza in PV Estates
The Promenade on the Peninsula in Rolling Hills Estates
Terranea Resort's restaurants on the cliffs
Annual events
Whale of a Day at Point Vicente (March)
Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance car show (fall)
Gray whale census season (Dec–May)
Getting around:Palos Verdes Dr loops the coast; check trail closures — the Portuguese Bend landslide area has frequent road and trail impacts.
