Where to eat, sleep and play in the South Bay

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Participants in the King Harbor Youth Foundation’s summer sailing program navigate through waters inside King Harbor in Redondo Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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The poles are there, but where are the fishermen? The Redondo Beach Pier at King Harbor. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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The Redondo Special, a charter boat, has a welcoming party as it returns to dock after a morning of fishing. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Bright lights, beach city: The welcome sign for King Harbor. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Shops and eateries beckon along the Redondo Beach Pier at King Harbor. A hot dog, anybody? (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Visitors to George Freeth Way gaze at the beach near the Redondo Beach Pier. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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The Green Temple is a calm, Asian-inflected vegetarian restaurant in Riviera Village. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Towering palm trees provide a beachy backdrop as a boy tackles the rings at Veterans Park. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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The sun sets near the Hermosa Beach Pier. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Pedestrians stroll along Pier Avenue as it connects to the Hermosa Beach Pier. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Lunch is enjoyed on the patio of Watermans restaurant near a bench made of painted skateboards. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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On a summer’s day, The Strand is a mix of pedestrians and bicyclists. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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I’ll get it! A game of volleyball is played in front of the famed Good Stuff restaurant along The Strand. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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A cyclist casts his shadow against the patio area of Hennessey’s Tavern along The Strand. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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A mural depicting life in Hermosa Beach by artists Neal and Dawn Von Flue. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Parker Roman-Quesada, 5, plays on a statue of Los Angeles lifeguard and noted surfer Tim Kelly. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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The Manhattan Beach Pier at dusk. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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A walkway leading down to the beach. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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A section of The Strand in Manhattan Beach. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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Tea Trent, 5, plays with a kite at Parque Culiacan. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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Janelle Kulpa of Playa Vista, right, admires little Logan as the Bichon’s owner, Bridget McInerney of San Juan Capistrano, looks on. They were hanging out in front of Simmzy’s Pub. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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The Theme Building and its Encounter lunch-and-dinner restaurant hover over LAX. They just came out of a three-year renovation in 2010. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Seagulls are along for the ride as a motorboat makes its way out of the channel at Marina del Rey. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Jay Leno in his Burbank garage. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

March 18, 2014 9:02 AM PT

WHERE TO STAY

The Beach House at Hermosa Beach, 1300 the Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; (310) 374-3001, https://www.beach-house.com. Ninety-six rooms, each with fireplace and balcony or patio. Rooms for two $229-$349 in winter, $299-$489 in summer.

Shade Hotel, 1221 N. Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; (310) 546-4995, https://www.shadehotel.com. Thirty-eight rooms, a small pool and restaurant, Zinc. Two blocks from the beach. Rooms for two $275 in winter, $365 in summer, with occasional Sunday-night discounts to $225.

Sheraton Gateway, 6101 Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045; (310) 642-1111, https://www.sheratonlax.com. It has 802 rooms. Rooms for two as low as $102 with advance purchase, otherwise usually $119-$159 on weekends, $195-$229 weekdays.

Belamar Hotel, 3501 Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; (310) 750-0300, thebelamar.com. 127 rooms. In-house restaurant. Rooms for two usually $179-$289, more for suites.

Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel, 9620 Airport Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90405; (310) 337-2800, https://www.marriott.com. 499 rooms and suites. Rooms for two usually about $129-$149 on weekends, $229 on weekdays.

Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, 5400 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045; (310) 216-5858, https://www.westinlosangelesairport.com. It has 740 rooms and a massive lobby that features a Daily Grill serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. In summer, weekend rates dipped as low as $79 for auto club members. Rooms for two usually about $139 on weekends, $229 on weekdays.

Portofino Hotel, 260 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277; (310) 379-8481, https://www.hotelportofino.com. 160 rooms with nautical overtones and lots of blue and yellow. Waterfront location. Barking sea lions nearby are such a fixture that the front desk offers free earplugs on request. Small pool. Rooms for two usually $189-$289, more for suites.

Surf City Hostel, 26 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; (310) 798-2323, https://www.surfcityhostel.com. Three private rooms and several dorm rooms, with 67 beds in all. Shared bathrooms and kitchen. A block from beach, and directly above a loud restaurant and bar. Rates $25 a person in winter, $30-35 in summer.

WHERE TO EAT

The Strand House, 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; (310) 545-7470, https://www.thestrandhousemb.com. New American cuisine, with indoor/outdoor dining overlooking beach. Dinner main dishes $23-$39.

Green Temple, 1700 S. Catalina Ave. No. 103, Redondo Beach, CA 90277; (310) 944-4525, https://www.greentemple.net. All vegetarian, with Asian accents and a small courtyard patio. Main dishes $9-$15. Lunch and dinner, with breakfast on Sunday. Closed Mondays.

Gum Tree Café, 238 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; (310) 376-8733, https://www.gumtreela.com. Breakfast and lunch up to $11. Closed Mondays.

Watermans, 22 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; (310) 372-4462, https://www.watersmanshb.com. Opened in 2010. Big dining room and patio on a raucous beachfront block. Entrees $8-$29.

Good Stuff, 1286 the Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; (310) 374-2334, https://www.eatgoodstuff.com. Casual, healthy breakfast and lunch with a patio. This locally based chain has four locations in all. Main dishes up to $10.59.

The Rockefeller, 418 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; (310) 372-8567, https://www.eatrockefeller.com. This gastropub opened in spring 2011, offering beer, wine and a short menu of burgers and sandwiches. Entrees up to $14. Dinner daily, with lunch on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and breakfast from 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Manhattan Beach Creamery, 1120 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; (310) 372-1155. https://www.mbcreamery.com. Ice cream, yogurt, cookies, frozen bananas and other sweets. One scoop of ice cream: $3.50. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Rock’n Fish, 120 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; (310) 379-9900. https://www.rocknfishmb.com. Surf and turf in a merry beach-adjacent atmosphere. Beware of two-hour time limit on all tables. Most main dishes $14-$40, some surf ‘n’ turf combos more.

Encounter, 209 World Way, Los Angeles International airport, Los Angeles, CA 90045; (310) 215-5151, https://www.encounterlax.com. “California fresh” cuisine. Lunch and dinner daily. Dinner main dishes $23-$31.50

The Proud Bird, 11022 Aviation Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045; (310) 670-3093, https://www.theproudbird.com. Lunch and dinner daily, with Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. Dinner main dishes $14-$39.

Shanghai Red’s, 13813 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292; (310) 823-4522, https://www.shanghairedsrestaurant.com. Happy hour drinks and snacks $5-7. Dinner nightly, lunch weekdays, brunch from 10 a.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. Sundays. Dinner main dishes about $16-$37.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium, Manhattan Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach, CA 90267; (310) 379-8179, https://www.roundhouseaquarium.org. Open 3 p.m.-sunset Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.- sunset weekends. Free, with suggested donation of $2 per person or $5 per family.

Hermosa Cyclery, 20 13th St., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; (310) 374-7816, https://www.hermosacyclery.com. Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

The Comedy & Magic Club, 1018 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; (310) 372-1193, https://www.comedyandmagicclub.com. Dinner entrees about $11-$26. Most shows start at 8 p.m. (with doors opening at 6:30), and prices vary. Often, the club offers 10 comics for $10. Saturday nights often include shows at 6:45 and 9:30. Sunday nights with Leno usually start at 7 and cost $32 with a two-drink-or-menu-item minimum.

Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292; (310) 305-9595, https://www.chacepark.com. Marina views, shaded picnic tables, grass. Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

Redondo Beach Pier, 100 Fisherman’s Wharf, Redondo Beach, CA; 90277; https://www.redondopier.com.

Hermosa Beach Pier, 1 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; no website.

TO LEARN MORE

The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, https://www.visitredondo.com

Hermosa Beach Chamber & Visitors Bureau, https://www.hbchamber.net

Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce, https://www.manhattanbeachchamber.com

Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau, https://www.visitmarinadelrey.com

Los Angeles International Airport, https://www.lawa.org/welcomeLAX.aspx