Recently, on my way back to Laguna Beach from Beverly Hills, I stopped into the Starbucks in Hermosa Beach to grab a bite to eat and wait out the afternoon traffic while finishing some work. The shops nearby the pier were nearly devoid of people, a huge windstorm ripping sand through the air. The clouds were violent and surreal. I decided to grab my camera and shoot pictures! It was an effort just to stand up against the wind. For as far as I could see, the blue trashcans every twenty or thirty meters had been toppled by the storm. One lady who had been sunbathing packed up and left, and a few brave joggers followed the shoreline in their quest for exercise.
Hermosa Beach is one of my favorite beaches. Located in Los Angeles County and distinctly more urban than Laguna Beach, Hermosa boasts an eclectic mix of beach mongers in the summer, featuring multiple pickup volleyball games, a paved running path beachside that runs north to Manhattan Beach and south to Redondo Beach. Hermosa is the more shy sibling to Manhattan, which receives more publicity and has been a social hotspot for decades.
Some of my favorite good eats in Hermosa include:
Creme de la Crepe, located at 424 Pier Avenue, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Crepes are the specialty, and this menu is extensive! Reservations recommended on weekends and summer evenings (310) 937-2822
Cafe Bonaparte, 37 Pier Avenue, serves scrumptious egg scrambles (several to choose from or make your own!) encased in monstrous, fluffy croissants as the choice breakfast for any of you watching your diet! ;) Breakfast till 1 pm daily, after that it's quiche and sandwiches and deserts, but take it from me, breakfast is where it's at! (310) 374-0026
Hermosa Beach also offers a handful of pubs for those of you who like to unwind, and one in particular for watching the game! Also within walking distance from the beach are a handful of vintage shops worth checking out, from clothing to furniture.
Hi Rich!
Thank you for your kind compliment! Actually, Hermosa Beach is quite a bit out of my market area, though I am very fond of it! Hermosa is approximately one hour fifteen minutes away from Laguna Beach, nearly twice as far as Seattle from Tacoma.
:)
I live in Huntington Beach.
Where else can you drive alongside the ocean and watch dolphins playing just off of the coast on one side of the road and beautiful wetlands with thousands of beautiful and exotic birds peacefully and gracefully floating by on the other side.
I feel blessed to take this drive daily with my sunroof open, good music on the radio and delicious ocean air.
Laurie
Sara,
Come back to Washington so you can write about wind and rain instead of wind and sun. I'll bet the windstorms down there don't give you that exciting feeling that a tree might come crashing down into your living room.
Bob
(ummm, how did I manage to misspell grape? let's try strwaberry)