Santa Monica or Hermosa or Laguna w/ teen boys
Apr 27th, 2008, 06:32 AM
#23
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In the interest of research for this site 
, we took our teen daughter to dinner in Hermosa last night. After dinner, (about 10pm) we checked out Pier Plaza, where most of the bars are located. Since it was only 10, the party was just getting started, people were streaming in and it was starting to get crowded.
Surprisingly the female to male ratio was about 2 to 1. Where were the guys? In the bars already? At home drinking the cheap stuff, waiting to go out until the ladies were properly liquored up? The young women were nicely dressed in very tight clothes with very high heels. There were several bachelorette parties and long lines waiting to get into the more popular bars (Sangria, for one).
Again, it was only 10pm, so we didn't see any staggering or hooking up. Nobody was puking, brawling, getting arrested or urinating in public. (all common complaints from the nearby homeowners)
So, I guess I have to qualify my first post. The "frat party" atmosphere does not start just "after dark". You and your family will be fine walking around there in the evening, just as long as you are back in the hotel before the bacchanalia spills out into the streets.
, we took our teen daughter to dinner in Hermosa last night. After dinner, (about 10pm) we checked out Pier Plaza, where most of the bars are located. Since it was only 10, the party was just getting started, people were streaming in and it was starting to get crowded. Surprisingly the female to male ratio was about 2 to 1. Where were the guys? In the bars already? At home drinking the cheap stuff, waiting to go out until the ladies were properly liquored up? The young women were nicely dressed in very tight clothes with very high heels. There were several bachelorette parties and long lines waiting to get into the more popular bars (Sangria, for one).
Again, it was only 10pm, so we didn't see any staggering or hooking up. Nobody was puking, brawling, getting arrested or urinating in public. (all common complaints from the nearby homeowners)
So, I guess I have to qualify my first post. The "frat party" atmosphere does not start just "after dark". You and your family will be fine walking around there in the evening, just as long as you are back in the hotel before the bacchanalia spills out into the streets.
Apr 27th, 2008, 09:10 AM
#25
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lvk:
I admire your commitment to research ;-) Sounds like a nice evening! Out of curiosity, how close is this Pier Plaza (where the late-night debauchery
takes place) to the Beach House?
I admire your commitment to research ;-) Sounds like a nice evening! Out of curiosity, how close is this Pier Plaza (where the late-night debauchery
takes place) to the Beach House?
Apr 29th, 2008, 08:41 AM
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gtrgrl,
Take a look at this website for the hotels that you are looking for along the beach:
http://tinyurl.com/3mf96p
This picture shows the Beach House on your bottom left, just above the sand. Scroll across and you see Pier Plaza. (The wide avenue with all the palm trees.)
Scroll to the top left and click on "New Look Up" to look at the other locations you are thinking of. The captions are pretty vague, but if you type in "Santa Monica Pier" and zoom in on the pictures north and south of there, you can get a general sense of the beach area there.
For Laguna, type in "Main Beach Laguna".
Google Earth also helps, but this website shows the coastline in a pretty high-resolution and interesting way.
Jean has a point about downtown Hermosa. It is much tamer on weeknights. Downtown Manhattan Beach and Riviera Village are also nice walking-around areas. The boys would probably also like the Redondo Beach Pier. You can search for those places on the Coastal Records website above, too.
Just a warning -- you can spend a lot of time on that site.
Take a look at this website for the hotels that you are looking for along the beach:
http://tinyurl.com/3mf96p
This picture shows the Beach House on your bottom left, just above the sand. Scroll across and you see Pier Plaza. (The wide avenue with all the palm trees.)
Scroll to the top left and click on "New Look Up" to look at the other locations you are thinking of. The captions are pretty vague, but if you type in "Santa Monica Pier" and zoom in on the pictures north and south of there, you can get a general sense of the beach area there.
For Laguna, type in "Main Beach Laguna".
Google Earth also helps, but this website shows the coastline in a pretty high-resolution and interesting way.
Jean has a point about downtown Hermosa. It is much tamer on weeknights. Downtown Manhattan Beach and Riviera Village are also nice walking-around areas. The boys would probably also like the Redondo Beach Pier. You can search for those places on the Coastal Records website above, too.
Just a warning -- you can spend a lot of time on that site.
Apr 29th, 2008, 09:11 AM
#28
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WOW!!!! No kidding, I could spend a lot time on this site, lvk. We're hoping to head to Monterey later this summer, so I'll have to take a look and see if it covers that part of the coast, too. Wow!!!!!
But now I've got concentrate on THIS trip.....
I just heard from another pro-Laguna poster on the other thread (I still don't get why the difference in having two threads, one w/ CA in topic and one without, but there does seem to be something to it. Different posters on both).
Here's what I said there: It sounds like DH and I would absoutley LOVE Laguna, but perhaps Hermosa is the better locale for the teen boys for the last few days of this trip. (Although we were toying with staying Hermosa at the beginning of the visit, it does sound like the drive for DH in and out of Westwood would not be fun, so Santa Monica is winning for those first couple of days!).
My concern now is how similar are Hermosa and SM? Will we feel like we've had basically the same experience for the entire trip?
Decisions, decisions. There are just too many good choices here!!!!
But now I've got concentrate on THIS trip.....
I just heard from another pro-Laguna poster on the other thread (I still don't get why the difference in having two threads, one w/ CA in topic and one without, but there does seem to be something to it. Different posters on both).
Here's what I said there: It sounds like DH and I would absoutley LOVE Laguna, but perhaps Hermosa is the better locale for the teen boys for the last few days of this trip. (Although we were toying with staying Hermosa at the beginning of the visit, it does sound like the drive for DH in and out of Westwood would not be fun, so Santa Monica is winning for those first couple of days!).
My concern now is how similar are Hermosa and SM? Will we feel like we've had basically the same experience for the entire trip?
Decisions, decisions. There are just too many good choices here!!!!
Apr 29th, 2008, 09:32 AM
#30
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gtrgrl,
My point was that Hermosa is really not all that bad, even on the weekends.
I don't think that SM and Hermosa are the same at all. jd's description on your other thread sums it up very well.
I also love Laguna for the shops and galleries, but I'm not sure your sons would be that enchanted by them.
Another thing to consider -- I'm assuming that you are flying in and out of LAX. Hermosa offers you the proximity to the airport, allowing you to enjoy more beach time. Depending on the time of day, you might need to leave Laguna about 3-4 hours in advance of your flight at LAX.
Oh, and that Coastal records website shows the coastline from the Oregon Border to the Mexican Border. Enjoy!
PS: I just post on this thread to stay consistent. Since I have never posted on the other thread, it doesn't come up when I click on my name.
My point was that Hermosa is really not all that bad, even on the weekends.
I don't think that SM and Hermosa are the same at all. jd's description on your other thread sums it up very well.
I also love Laguna for the shops and galleries, but I'm not sure your sons would be that enchanted by them.
Another thing to consider -- I'm assuming that you are flying in and out of LAX. Hermosa offers you the proximity to the airport, allowing you to enjoy more beach time. Depending on the time of day, you might need to leave Laguna about 3-4 hours in advance of your flight at LAX.
Oh, and that Coastal records website shows the coastline from the Oregon Border to the Mexican Border. Enjoy!
PS: I just post on this thread to stay consistent. Since I have never posted on the other thread, it doesn't come up when I click on my name.
May 1st, 2008, 03:06 PM
#31
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And for my friends who are seeing this thread, here's the same update:
Well, we're still contemplating, but it's looking like Santa Monica for the first two nights (really only because of DH's commute), then Hermosa for the last three. New questions, based on replies so far: Would Le Merigot be better than Loews in SM(slightly less expensive and I'm now questioning Loews customer service/quality for the $$$)? Some other hotels sounded intriguing, but w/2 teen boys, these two seemed to fit the bill the best.
If we still have a hankering to do some tourist stuff in the West area (Gettty/studio tour/whatever DH may want to do once his business dealings are over) and need to do it from Hermosa, what kind of commute can we expect on the weekend?
And speaking of commutes, since I still want to at least see Laguna, how long of a drive would that be for a jaunt from Hermosa, again on the weekend?
As always, your input is so very much appreciated!
Well, we're still contemplating, but it's looking like Santa Monica for the first two nights (really only because of DH's commute), then Hermosa for the last three. New questions, based on replies so far: Would Le Merigot be better than Loews in SM(slightly less expensive and I'm now questioning Loews customer service/quality for the $$$)? Some other hotels sounded intriguing, but w/2 teen boys, these two seemed to fit the bill the best.
If we still have a hankering to do some tourist stuff in the West area (Gettty/studio tour/whatever DH may want to do once his business dealings are over) and need to do it from Hermosa, what kind of commute can we expect on the weekend?
And speaking of commutes, since I still want to at least see Laguna, how long of a drive would that be for a jaunt from Hermosa, again on the weekend?
As always, your input is so very much appreciated!
May 2nd, 2008, 05:38 AM
#33
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I know for sure that Warner Brother's studio does not offer tours on the weekend. Universal does, but will be crowded. From the Beach House in Hermosa, on a weekend, barring any major traffic snafus:
To Getty - 35-40 minutes
To Universal - 45-60 Minutes
To Hollywood - 45-60 Minutes
To Laguna Beach - 60-80 minutes
To Getty - 35-40 minutes
To Universal - 45-60 Minutes
To Hollywood - 45-60 Minutes
To Laguna Beach - 60-80 minutes
May 2nd, 2008, 01:37 PM
#34
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lvk, I just saw this thread, and clicked the link you gave to the Beach House. I typed in Manhattan Beach Pier, and could find my house, as the photo is so clear. I was wondering when this photo was taken, but I see a big hole for the Metlox Pottery site, so it was some years ago. What a great site to bookmark. Thanks.
Hi Jean!
gtrgrl, I usually click on my name to reply to posts, or read the first 50 that are shown. I don't click on a CA board, just the regular US board, so had missed this one on days I checked.
Please let us know what you finally book. The suspense is killing me!
Hi Jean!
gtrgrl, I usually click on my name to reply to posts, or read the first 50 that are shown. I don't click on a CA board, just the regular US board, so had missed this one on days I checked.
Please let us know what you finally book. The suspense is killing me!
May 2nd, 2008, 03:36 PM
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Hi MBNancy!
How have you been? More importantly, where have you traveled lately?
Did you click on the box that says "Time Comparison"? It shows you the same general picture every few years, going back to 1979. The latest is 2006. Obviously the older ones don't have as good resolution, but fun none the less.
gtrgrl,
Do let us know what you finally choose, and let us know your food preferences and we'll chime in with restaurant recommendations.
I'm happy to report that there is now a Mama D's in downtown Hermosa. Haven't tried it yet, so I don't know if it is good as the original in MB.
How have you been? More importantly, where have you traveled lately?
Did you click on the box that says "Time Comparison"? It shows you the same general picture every few years, going back to 1979. The latest is 2006. Obviously the older ones don't have as good resolution, but fun none the less.
gtrgrl,
Do let us know what you finally choose, and let us know your food preferences and we'll chime in with restaurant recommendations.
I'm happy to report that there is now a Mama D's in downtown Hermosa
. Haven't tried it yet, so I don't know if it is good as the original in MB.
May 2nd, 2008, 09:00 PM
#37
Mama D's is a family-style and family-owned Italian restaurant. Not my favorite, but it's very popular.
Lvk and MBNancy, another fun website is Google.com/maps. Type in Manhattan Beach Pier, switch to Street View mode (upper right menu), move the yellow man to a spot on one of the streets highlighted in blue, and then click on the yellow man. Voila! Using the various directional signs, you can "drive" up MB Blvd., north on Highland, south on Manhattan Ave., etc. You can look to the front or back or window shop as you move sideways. I got a kick out of seeing a friend sitting in his usual seat on the patio at the Coffee Bean, but I was blown away seeing my car being wiped down at Red Carpet!
Lvk and MBNancy, another fun website is Google.com/maps. Type in Manhattan Beach Pier, switch to Street View mode (upper right menu), move the yellow man to a spot on one of the streets highlighted in blue, and then click on the yellow man. Voila! Using the various directional signs, you can "drive" up MB Blvd., north on Highland, south on Manhattan Ave., etc. You can look to the front or back or window shop as you move sideways. I got a kick out of seeing a friend sitting in his usual seat on the patio at the Coffee Bean, but I was blown away seeing my car being wiped down at Red Carpet!
May 3rd, 2008, 09:21 AM
#38
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Jean, I looked at that site. It was almost kind of scary. I was afraid whom I might see having coffee together, or spotting a car in a motel parking lot! LOL It was amazing how they filmed that.
lvk, been a couple times to OR to visit m-i-l, Palm Desert a few times, Yosemite in Jan., off to Tahoe July 4th, and Kauai in Aug. Planning a trip to New England in the fall. No Europe this year. How about you?
Yes, I did see the comparsion photos of the Pier area on the site you sent, after I played around a bit. Those photos are so valuable.
lvk, been a couple times to OR to visit m-i-l, Palm Desert a few times, Yosemite in Jan., off to Tahoe July 4th, and Kauai in Aug. Planning a trip to New England in the fall. No Europe this year. How about you?
Yes, I did see the comparsion photos of the Pier area on the site you sent, after I played around a bit. Those photos are so valuable.
May 6th, 2008, 08:31 AM
#39
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Sorry for the hi-jack gtrgrl.
Jean, Even though it is very "big-brotherish", I like that feature of google. I used it for getting to jury duty in Long Beach a few weeks ago.
MBNancy, So far this year: Montana, Vegas and Scottsdale. Girls' trip to FL this month, New England to visit family in the summer (my Dad got us Red Sox tickets, which I am very excited about). We're also trying for Munich to visit DH's family at Xmas.
Jean, Even though it is very "big-brotherish", I like that feature of google. I used it for getting to jury duty in Long Beach a few weeks ago.
MBNancy, So far this year: Montana, Vegas and Scottsdale. Girls' trip to FL this month, New England to visit family in the summer (my Dad got us Red Sox tickets, which I am very excited about). We're also trying for Munich to visit DH's family at Xmas.
