Imagine living in a small seaside community with few of the urban problems of big city life, and that’s just a few commuting minutes from Los Angeles. That’s Manhattan Beach.
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach is one of the three beach communities of the Los Angeles South Bay (Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach) about 15 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and three miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport.
Initially a summer retreat, Manhattan Beach has grown into a city of more than 35,000 residents. Featuring close proximity to freeways, downtown, Orange County and the west side — plus great public schools, Manhattan Beach’s low crime rate and the small town community atmosphere — has prompted many L.A. residents to change their address.
Manhattan Beach is now home to a major television and film production facility, MBS Media Campus (formerly Manhattan Beach Studios). The 22-acre campus is worldwide headquarters of Marvel Studios, and where films including Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of The Black Pearl and Iron Man 2 — along with TV shows such as Medium, CSI: Miami and 90210 were filmed.
Going downtown
Downtown Manhattan Beach attracts many visitors from all around to shop its one-of-a-kind boutiques and shops. The centerpiece of the area is the breathtaking pier that extends out into the Pacific. A scenic 928-foot-long pier at the end of Manhattan Beach Boulevard offers fishing all year, and the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium at the end of the pier is free to the public. It includes a huge Shark Tank, Touch Tank with tide pool animals common to Southern California, tanks with lobsters, baby sharks and brightly colored, non-native fish and invertebrates.
Besides being a wonderful place for children to learn about the marine life of the local waters, the area is also a popular destination after dark. Fabulous restaurants line Manhattan Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard and offer a range of cuisine to be enjoyed by all.
The city boasts both a private tennis club and a 9-hole public golf course. The community also provides a multitude of activities for its residents, including surfing and volleyball at the beach, and a variety of sports activities in its seven parks. Polliwog Park is the setting for Sunday afternoon concerts during the summer months, and is the site of a “sunken galleon” for the children.
More about Manhattan Beach
Website:ci.manhattan-beach.ca.us or www.citymb.info
Bike trail: Map of Beach Bike Path (Marvin Braude Bike Trail)
Parking: Manhattan Beach Lots
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