SeeCalifornia.com

Last weekend a group of us went to Manhattan Beach for seasonal festivities taking place on a typical 75 degree winter weekend. None of us had spent time in this South Bay beach city previously and we all were equally impressed. Our consensus was that it is the kind of place you would like to pack up and move to, if you could afford to buy a house near the beach.  Each person in our party was struck by some element of the scenery and lifestyle… here were a few  comments:

• Look at all the volleyball courts… amazing!
• I love these hills–you could get great exercise living here.
• How can this be in L.A. and yet seem like another world? Who can believe downtown Los Angeles and LAX are close by? (19 miles southwest of Los Angeles on the southerly end of Santa Monica Bay; 3 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport)
• This reminds me of Carmel.
• If I lived here, I’d ditch the car and eat out all the time.
• How much do houses cost? I bet they’re expensive.

ABOUT MANHATTAN BEACH: If you’re planning to visit, there are some free city parking lots (1400 Highland Ave.) just a few blocks from the beach. Incorporated in 1912, the city has 2.1 miles of beach front, including Manhattan Beach Pier. The scenic 928-foot-long pier at the end of Manhattan Beach Boulevard includes a snack bar and Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium. The pier is the anchor for downtown activities including the beach, over 50 restaurants, over 70 boutiques & stores, and events throughout the year (downtownmanhattanbeach.com). There are several trendy hotels and a few budget accommodations near the beach.