knuk

We're a young active couple flying into LA for a short 2 night stay before driving to Las Vegas to spend the rest of the week. Looking for somwhere to stay and explore around the LA area that is fun and interesting. We've been to LA years ago and have already visitied Santa Monica and Venice Beach areas - would like suggestions on other close by areas to visit and spend our short 2 night stay. Probably like to keep travel within about an hour drive of LA and not too far out of the way when we head to Vegas.

We enjoy spending time on popular beaches, visiting local farmers markets, lively restaurant experiences and exploring beautiful scenery. We'll be in the LA area on a Fri & Sat night in Sept. 2010.

vova

have you been to the Manhattan Beach/Hermosa Beach neighborhoods?

It's a bit further than an hour but i really like the Newport Beach and Laguna Beach areas.

Jean

I'm unclear as to what exactly you want to do in what sounds like only one full day in LA. You say you want to "explore around the LA area" but would like to "keep travel within about an hour drive of LA."

What do you want to see/do while you're here? Staying somewhere like Pasadena would put you nearly an hour from Malibu if you hoped to go to the Getty Villa, but Pasadena is more or less on the way to Vegas and a good short-term stop for museums, great dining options and easy access to downtown LA and Hollywood.

stumpworks73

I second Manhattan/Hermosa//Redondo.
If you have not done the Getty, make a lunch Rez at their upscale restaurant with a world class setting and view. Take as little or as much of the art as you like.
See who is performing at Comedy and Magic in Hermosa.

knuk

i think Hermosa might just be the place for us to spend our weekend - Thanks for the suggestion! We will be there the weekend they are holding their Labout Day Fiesta - sounds like fun! Wondering about the weather at this time of year - might it still be beach going temperatures in Hermosa the first weekend of Sept?

lvk

September is absolutely the best weather month in Southern California, IMO. Warm temps and very little marine layer.

Hermosa gets very crowded during that Fiesta weekend, and many of the downtown streets are blocked off. Keep that in mind when booking your hotel.

The HB Farmer's Market runs every Friday at Valley & 11th:
www.hbchamber.net/farmersmarket.php

Let us know if you need restaurant recommendations.

vova

September is an excellent time. Hermosa and Manhattan beach piers are a nice jog/long walk apart and both towns have their own appeal. Hermosa used to be the mellower, stonier cousin to Manhattan Beach's higher end boutiques and "young moms who do lunch" crowd but now both are quite a scene from what i understand.

I miss the area.

knuk

Yes - i would wdefinitely welcome some restaurant recommendations! Nothing too fancy though, we enjoy eating/drinking at fun and lively restaurants/bars, but don't like stuffy places that soak up your entire vacation budget in one meal! and of course, always enjoy eating with an ocean view!!

Thanks for the info and tips so far, very helpful!

Jean

For breakfast or lunch, Martha's 22nd Street Grill in Hermosa.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/marthas-22nd...-hermosa-beach

For lunch or dinner, Ragin' Cajun in Hermosa.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ragin-cajun-cafe-hermosa-beach

MBnancy

If you want to be right in the thick of things in Hermosa Beach, check out the Beach House Inn, right at the sand level. You are a couple blocks from the Plaza and the center of the Festival.

http://www.beach-house.com/hermosa-beach-hotels.html

lvk

(Hi Jean and MBNancy)

knuk,
As a former Hermosa Beach resident, I like the Fiesta for a few hours, but after I've experienced it, I like to stay the heck away from downtown for the rest of the weekend. There is a good food court there with booths from some of the local restaurants as well as the typical festival fare. (corndogs, etc.) The rest of my suggestions will be outside of the downtown HB area.

If your hotel doesn't rent bikes, you can rent some (or skates or skateboards) from either Jeffers or Hermosa Cyclery
www.hermosacyclery.com, which are both located right where the festival is. If you would rent from a place outside of the craziness, you can try Marina Bike Rentals in Redondo, or Fun Bunns in Manhattan. If you head north from Hermosa, you can ride all the way to Venice, stopping to dine, drink or shop along the way. Heading south, you will hit the Redondo Beach Pier and Torrance Beach. In Redondo, you could also venture one block inland to Riviera Village. www.rivieravillage.org/

Stops along the bike path:
Naja's Place: Dive bar on the Redondo Int'l Boardwalk that serves hundreds of different beers (88 on tap). It is right on the marina and is a good place to people watch. www.najasplace.com

Bluewater Grill: excellent seafood restaurant with a view in King Harbor Marina.

Captain Kidd's - very casual seafood restaurant between the marina and pier.

I concur with the suggestion of Martha's for breakfast. Also, across the street is the Bottle Inn, a neat little neighborhood Italian restaurant.

Around the Manhattan Beach Pier, there are many little neighborhood restaurants and bars. You can stroll around and check out the menus to see if anything strikes your fancy. Mama D's for Italian, Rock'n Fish (seafood) & Fonz's are some favorites there. www.downtownmanhattanbeach.com

Farther north in MB, Pancho's is a fun Mexican Restaurant. www.panchosrestaurant.com/

If you would like to take a scenic drive on another day, you can head up the the Palos Verdes Peninsula. There are great trails around the Terranea Resort. www.terranea.com/pdf/PVPLC-TrailGuide.pdf
You can also enjoy the sunset at Nelsons, the casual (but kind of pricey -- you are paying for the view) indoor/outdoor restaurant there. www.terranea.com/palos-verdes-restaurant.php

volcanogirl

Bookmarking.

SOCALOC

If you would like to take a scenic drive on another day, you can head up the the Palos Verdes Peninsula. There are great trails around the Terranea Resort.
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If you do that, you could also stop by and visit this beauty.

http://www.wayfarerschapel.org/your-visit/architecture/

luxliving

If you are looking for really nice hotel, consider the new Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles.

http://www.thelifeofluxury.com/grand...n-los-angeles/

I drove by it 2 weeks ago but didn't get a chance to stay overnight or stop by. It looks awesome!