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- Los AngelesWith spectacular views, endless white golden sand and daily
sunshine the beaches of Los Angeles should not be missed.
From Malibu in
the North to Long Beach in the South, the coastline of Los Angeles County
consists of over 70 miles of sun kissed white sand facing the Pacific Ocean.
Famous LA beaches and small secluded coves mingle along the aptly named Pacific
Coast Highway, which hugs this complete stretch of coastline. For sheer
scenic pleasure however, the drive North from Santa Monica to Malibu and beyond
just cannot be beaten. Listed below are some of the larger beaches but you can
stop almost any where along this stretch of coastline and enjoy a lazy day.
Malibu Beach.
Most northerly beach in Los Angeles and perhaps it's most famous. Malibu
Beach is not the vibrant bustling beach that is portrayed in the movies. It is
in fact a relatively quiet beach, no entertainers or beach side shops here,
ideal to escape the hustle and bustle of LA for a day. Take a walk along
the shoreline to see the fabulous celebrity homes that front the
beach, watch the surfers or hire a board yourself (Lessons are available) or
take a stroll around the local shops and shopping mall. For the more cultured
there is the original J.Paul Getty Museum a fabulous roman villa set on a
hillside which houses countless works of art, splendid gardens and J. Paul
Getty's grave.
Will Rogers State Beach.
South of Malibu and North of Santa Monica. This 3 mile stretch of beach, on
Pacific Coast Highway, offers more beach activities then Malibu and was often
used in "Baywatch". A popular family beach for surfing,
swimming, surf fishing and picnicking. Services include volleyball nets,
gym equipment, playground, lifeguard and rest rooms.
Santa Monica Beach.
Wide sandy beach, world famous pier and nearby Third street promenade make
this one of the busiest LA beaches. Beach activities include bicycle-roller
skate-skateboard path, volleyball nets, playgrounds, lifeguards, rest rooms,
showers, bike - skate rentals and food concessions. The pier it self includes an
amusement park containing a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, carousel and arcade.
Also containing gift shops and restaurants the pier itself as been used as a
film location in many movies.
Within walking distance are some great shopping malls, whilst just to the west
of the pier are a row of celebrity beach homes once owned by Hollywood
Greats. Many stars have homes in Santa Monica today as this is one beachside
community that really does have everything. Visit Santa Monica's official
website www.santamonica.com
Venice Beach.
Magnet for the most outrageous of LA's beautiful people acting out their
fantasies as artists. The beach sidewalk consists of souvenir shops, tarot
& fortune tellers, buskers, sand sculptors and virtually everyone doing
their own thing can be seen. Keep fit is the religion here from body builders at
Muscle Beach to skaters, bikers & joggers constantly traveling the beach
bike path to Santa Monica & back. Skate & bike hire is everywhere
so if you fancy a workout you're in the right place. The place where anything
goes and nobody takes the slightest bit of notice. I've personally seen a pot
bellied pig on a leash being taken for a walk by its owner. The beach itself is
wide and sandy with lifeguard towers everywhere and is right next to all of this
hustle & bustle. More information on Venice can be found on the official
Santa Monica website www.santamonica.com
.
Film location for Baywatch and many movies etc. Best visited at weekends.
Marina Del Rey.
Thousands of boats dock here at this vast man made harbor, that has a sandy
beach at the end of basin D. Ideal for swimming, sailing, fishing and
picnicking. Harbor cruises and fishing trips can be arranged from here while
Fisherman's village is a collection of shops and cafes styled like a New
England seaport town.
Dockweiler State Beach.
Four miles of sandy beach that includes campground, playground, bike tracks,
barbecue pits, surfing, swimming, diving, fishing and picnicking. Facilities
include rest rooms, showers and lifeguard.
Manhattan Beach.
Fashionable beach used by the locals. Good swimming and surfing and many
games areas provided. Usual rentals available as well as a host of beachfront
cafes and shops.
Hermosa Beach.
In between the other two South Bay beaches of Manhattan & Redondo,
Hermosa is famed as LA's party beach. Lot's of beach sports and just lazing
about people watching at this beach. All the facilities of the other beaches
usual lifeguards, wide sandy beach and easy parking available.
Redondo Beach.
Hotel lined beach with a heated lagoon for children. This beach has its own
pier which is ideal for fishing or why not try one of the 777 different beers
available in Najo's Place. A variety of equipment hire, plenty of shops the
Galleria of South Bay alone contains 140, outdoor cafes, bars and all the usual
facilities. Deep sea fishing and Whale watching trips available. Plenty of
parking and full time lifeguards are available in this beachside town.
Palos Verdes Estates.
Leave Pacific Coast Highway just South of Redondo beach and turn onto Palos
Verdes Drive. West. This winding drive takes you along the top of the Palos
Verdes Peninsula Bluffs giving excellent views of the beaches below and
the Pacific for miles around. This is a prime spot for whale watching during
their winter migration. Watch out for the Point Vicente Lighthouse and the
pretty glass "Wayfarer's Chapel" sitting on top of the southern
cliffs. Architect Lloyd Wright (Frank Lloyd Wright's son) designed this unique
glass church in 1946 and has been the site of several celebrity weddings. Most
notably Jayne Mansfield in 1958 when she married Mickey Hargitay. Their daughter
Mariska Hargitay stars as Cynia Cooper in the TV series "E.R". Other
weddings include that of "Beach Boy" Brian Wilson {1995) , Dennis
Hopper (1989) and "M.A.S.H's" Radar O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) in 1971.
The Wayfarer's Chapel as also appeared in many films most notably the 1987 film
"Innerspace" where the characters played by Meg Ryan & Dennis
Quaid are shown exiting the Wayfarer's Chapel and getting into a limousine after
their wedding. You can access the Wayfarer's official website at www.wayfarerschapel.org.
You will now be on Palos Verdes Drive South which is the Rancho
Palos Verdes district consisting of a bevy of small beach towns including
the Royal Palms State Beach. These beaches are small, compact & individual
and ideal stopping off points for a few hours or just a break from driving. You
now enter San Pedro the largest man made port in the world, which borders Los
Angeles Harbor. Shipyards and docks stretch for miles, right to Long Beach. From
here you can either drive on to Long Beach or join the 110/405 freeways back
North, Western Ave/Figueroa St all the way to Sunset Boulevard, Pacific
Coast Highway to Long Beach/Orange County or back the way you came.
Long Beach.
The last of the beaches in LA County and one of the largest with over 5
miles of sandy beach. Long Beach is actually a beachside city of vast
proportions with its own airport and many major attractions including the
"Queen Mary". Everything is available here including trips to Catalina
Island, and Free Passport shuttle around downtown and the waterfront. For a more
detailed view of Long Beach visit the official website at www.golongbeach.org.
Once past Long Beach you leave LA County and enter Orange County.
