Beaches, Los Angeles

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Right alongside LAX: Los Angeles International Airport is a popular beach known as "Dockweiler State Beach". Part of this beach is directly under the flight path of the airport and therefore has become a popular spot to watch planes land and take off. It is also a popular location for training people to hang-glide.It is also one of the very few beaches in Los Angeles were beach bonfires are permitted. Adjacent to El Segundo and connected to Playa del Rey, this can become a very popular beach for picnics, summer outings, etc. In between the beach and the airport is the ghost town of Palisades del Rey.

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By its amazing coastline, 325 days sunshine yearly, fine sandy beach, the famous Santa Monica Pier, the Third Street Promenade; Santa Monica is one of the most popular resort in the LA area.
The best way to enjoy the Californian sunshine is to take your swim suit and sunglasses for spending time on the beach. The weather is hot enough to enjoy the relatively warm ocean water with such activities as surfing and swimming.
And yet it is not hot enough so you may also be comfortable, just lying in the sun with a good book and a few snacks.
Here you can make sun tanning or even hunting for Holywood celebrities.

I myself, however, have enjoyed only 3 days of these 325 days sunshine. On the other 10 days unfortunately was neither sunshine, nor electric current, but a lot of cold rain!

In L.A. County there aren't very many places an RV can stay right on the beach, but Dockweiler RV Park has been renovated and it's open! Enter via Imperial Highway off the 405 freeway and enjoy surf, sand and sun. It's open nearly year round (usually closed during Feb. for maintenance and upkeep) it has hook-ups and a handy pump-out station. There's volleyball, surfing, ocean swimming, surf fishing and just steps from the South Bay Bicycle Trail. There are even FIRE RINGS for your evening campfire!

A drive, but worth it for a trip to Quality Seafood, one of the best places for fresh seafood on the west coast. Buy pounds of live crabs from around the world, have them steamed, rent some mallets, and get covered in crab juice eating them. Kids love the seals and the glass-bottom boat tour. The best time to visit is actually in the winter. In late November/December (until Christmas), parking is free in the pier lots, and the crowd really thin out. It's much cooler, but this is really the best time to go.

It is a ways up the coast of Malibu, but the drive up to El Matador State Beach is nice in its own right. El Matador is a quiet small beach with spectacular jutting rocks into the ocean. It is not a great swimming beach due to some of the rocks (the one just south is fine for swimming). It is several miles past Zuma Beach and if you don't look for it, you'll miss the sign. Overall, it is a pristine spot that is not well known and nice for a couple.

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We took a trip up the coast of California, Big Sur and Monterey, then over to Yosemite, all the way up to Yellowstone. Then down the desert to Joshua Tree. We drove the coolest 1979 VW camper! Every where we went people of all ages raved about out "Ride"!
These guys have refitted some '70's VW campers and are renting them. It is so cool to feel like a local and not have to drive a typical rental car!
Added bonus is that there is huge savings on accommodations. Where you stay is up to you and not where you happen to be able to afford a bed.
Check it out. They are called Vintage Surfari Wagons in Mission Viejo, but they will bring a bus to you at the airport and meet you if you want.
You gotta do this at least once.

Check out the blog at:http://inlandsurfari.blogspot.com/

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To my mind, there are two main "destination" beaches for those visiting Los Angeles:

1. Malibu
2. Laguna

I'm partial to the latter. Malibu backs against some stark mountains, and the approach from the Eastern passes is mindblowing. However, it's tough to compare the "highway village" of Malibu to the charming, riviera ambience of Laguna.

An artistic oasis in stoic Orange County, Laguna Beach is a laid back - albeit wealthy - community whose village sidewalks run right to the sand. The beaches are clean and gorgeous and the rolling green hills that slope to the sea frame a glamourous panorama. There are famous art festivals, year-round galleries, reasonable restaurants and a wealth of accomodations. It's a great day or overnight trip.

Laguna is only 55miles from Los Angeles International Airport, though traffic can make the trip grueling, at times.

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Lets face it, thats what LA is famous for. It doesnt matter if you go to the South Bay beaches like Manhattan Beach or Hermosa... or Orange County Beaches like Huntington or Newport but you should check our beautiful beaches when you come to LA. Malibu Beaches are great also or try to get to Palos Verdes and check out the cliffs and the surfers.

Southern California is where you go to find lots of sand, beautiful surf, and sunny days almost year round.
Best beaches for surfing: Malibu
Best beaches for diving: Catalina Island
Best beaches for shopping: Newport
Best beaches for nightlife: Santa Monica, Hermosa Beach

The first weekend I went with a colleague to Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier and Rodeo Drive on saturday and alone to LA National Forest on sunday.

Venice Beach was great to view, all the fortune tellers, the artists, the musicians, etc. Muscle beach gym was empty (it was November). Santa Monica Pier was actually not that big a deal, the shopping street a few blocks down was better. It was my first experience with Fat Burger, where I ate the greasiest burger ever in my life...... Never again. Rodeo Drive was smaller than I expected it to be. It's just a few shops elevated from the rest of the street. The only nice thing was the christmas tree.

Sunday was the best day. Driving to LA National Forest, from sun and 25 degrees plus to minus 5 and snow in 140 miles. The pictures show best.

On Thanksgiving I drove Highway 101 in the direction of SF. This is great, if you are ever near, drive it. Great views, dolphins in the sea, mountains on the other side and the most beautiful sunset I've ever had. Try exit Seacliff coming from LA, straight ahead, left under the highway and an almost deserted spot of beach all for yourself and a few others.

And that was it, I didn't have time to go to San Diego, Las Vegas or San Francisco. That's for next time.

The first weekend I went with a colleague to Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier and Rodeo Drive on saturday and alone to LA National Forest on sunday.

Venice Beach was great to view, all the fortune tellers, the artists, the musicians, etc. Muscle beach gym was empty (it was November). Santa Monica Pier was actually not that big a deal, the shopping street a few blocks down was better. It was my first experience with Fat Burger, where I ate the greasiest burger ever in my life...... Never again. Rodeo Drive was smaller than I expected it to be. It's just a few shops elevated from the rest of the street. The only nice thing was the christmas tree.

Sunday was the best day. Driving to LA National Forest, from sun and 25 degrees plus to minus 5 and snow in 140 miles. The pictures show best.

On Thanksgiving I drove Highway 101 in the direction of SF. This is great, if you are ever near, drive it. Great views, dolphins in the sea, mountains on the other side and the most beautiful sunset I've ever had. Try exit Seacliff coming from LA, straight ahead, left under the highway and an almost deserted spot of beach all for yourself and a few others.

And that was it, I didn't have time to go to San Diego, Las Vegas or San Francisco. That's for next time.