Manhattan Beach California is located in Los Angeles County, and for those seeking a slice of the L.A. beach life, it’s an ideal fit. The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is just three miles away, and to the near north of Manhattan Beach are El Segundo and Santa Monica. Just south of this city of about 34,000 residents are Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, so you can head up and down the coast to explore different sandy stretches when basing yourself here. There are many great Manhattan Beach attractions to keep you busy during your visit, and among them is a 928-foot pier, which allows fishing year round. This pier, like much of Manhattan Beach California, has appeared in movies and television shows, so chances are good that you have seen it on the big or small screen. The 2.1-mile beach is without question one of the top Manhattan Beach attractions, and because of the overall quality of life here, homes aren’t cheap. In fact, Manhattan Beach California is one of the most expensive cities to live in within the United States.

Hanging out on the soft and sandy beach is among the favorite things to do for those enjoying vacations to Manhattan Beach, and coursing along it is a two-mile concrete path that is ideal for strolling, jogging, and cycling. Swimming and surfing are also among the preferred things to do here, and since the Pacific Ocean waters are warm in the southern part of the state, these sports can practically be enjoyed year round. It does cool down a bit in Los Angeles during the winter, so it’s not the best season for swimming. For those who enjoy volleyball, there are some 150 courts here that are either public or private. Volleyball is wildly popular in Manhattan Beach. In August, the AVP volleyball tournament is a huge draw for both locals and tourists. So big is this tournament, that it is often referred to as the volleyball version of Wimbledon. Hordes of spectators crowd around the sand volleyball courts to see the best in the world do their thing, and if you can’t make it here for the event, you can catch it on television. Other sports that you can enjoy when taking vacations to Manhattan Beach include golf and tennis. There are no less than eighteen tennis courts in the city, and the nine-hole golf course offers a fun challenge for golfers of all abilities.

When discussing the Manhattan Beach attractions, the eleven parks that are spread about town are among the highlights. It is at some of these parks that you will find the majority of the city’s public sporting facilities. If golf and tennis aren’t your thing, you can work on your baseball swing at one of the five city batting cages, and there are also some basketball courts here where you can enjoy a pick-up game or simply work on shooting. While swimming in the ocean here is a blast, you can also take a refreshing dip in Beg Pool, which is a large swimming pool that is found near Polliwog Park. Speaking of Polliwog Park, it is arguably the best park in town. Its eighteen-acre expanse makes it one of the larger parks in the Santa Monica Bay area, and it is also one of the prettiest parks in all of Los Angeles County. Polliwog Park is home to a summer concert series, a small wildlife refuge, and a scenic pond, and it is encouraged that you enjoy at least one picnic here when looking for things to do on vacations to Manhattan Beach. There are a number of picnic areas here, and in addition to picnic tables, barbecues are available for public use.

Shopping and dining are other things that you can enjoy on vacations to Manhattan Beach, and there is no shortage when it comes to tempting shops and restaurants. An almost endless amount of unique shops can be found in the downtown area, and the Manhattan Village Mall is also worth exploring. In addition to stores and dining facilities, the mall also has a movie theater where you can catch the latest flicks. As numerous as the shops are in Manhattan Beach California, so too are the choices for restaurants and cafes. There is something for everyone when it comes to finding a good meal in town—as you might imagine in a location so close to the ocean, there is plenty of fresh seafood to enjoy.

Spending a significant amount of your time in Manhattan Beach when visiting Los Angeles is certainly a good way to go. Since there are some excellent hotels here, it is a great base from which to explore the city and the surrounding areas. As mentioned, the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is close by, and you can access a number of streets and boulevards to get to nearby communities by car. A convertible is a good way to go in this see-and-be-seen destination. After all, you are in southern California, where the sun shines almost all the time.