These are nearly everyone's favorite L.A. communities. The 60-mile beachfront stretching from Malibu to the Palos Verdes Peninsula has milder weather and less smog than the inland communities, and traffic is nominally lighter, except on summer weekends. The towns along the coast all have a distinct mood and charm. They're listed below from north to south.
Malibu, at the northern border of Los Angeles County, 25 miles from downtown, was once a privately owned ranch -- purchased in 1857 for 10¢ an acre and now the most expensive real estate in L.A. Today its 27 miles of wide beaches, beachfront cliffs, sparsely populated hills, and relative remoteness from the inner city make it popular with rich recluses such as Johnny Carson and Barbra Streisand. Indeed, the resident lists of Malibu Colony and nearby Broad Beach -- oceanfront strips of closely packed mansions -- read like a who's who in Hollywood. With plenty of green space and dramatic rocky outcroppings, Malibu's rural beauty is unsurpassed in L.A. and surfers flock to "The 'Bu" for great, if crowded, waves.
Santa Monica, Los Angeles's premier beach community, is known for its festive ocean pier, stylish (and expensive) oceanfront hotels, artsy atmosphere, and somewhat wacky residents. Shopping is king here, especially along the Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-only outdoor mall lined with dozens of shops and restaurants -- it's one of the country's most successful revitalization projects.
Venice Beach, a planned community in the spirit of its Italian forebear, was constructed with a series of narrow canals connected by one-lane bridges. It was once infested with grime and crime but regentrification has brought scores of great restaurants, boutiques, and rising property values for the canal-side homes and apartment duplexes. Even the movie stars are moving in: Dennis Hopper, Anjelica Huston, Nicolas Cage, and Julia Roberts reside in this pseudo-bohemian community. Some of L.A.'s most innovative and interesting architecture lines funky Main Street. But without question, Venice Beach is best known for its Ocean Front Walk, a nonstop Mardi Gras of thong-wearing skaters, vendors, fortune tellers, street musicians, and poseurs of all ages, colors, types, and sizes.
Marina del Rey, just south of Venice, is a somewhat quieter, more upscale waterside community best known for its man-made small-craft harbor, the largest of its kind in the world.
Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo beaches are laid-back, mainly residential neighborhoods with modest homes (except for oceanfront real estate), mild weather, and residents happy to have fled the L.A. hubbub. There are excellent beaches for volleyball players, surfers, and sun worshippers here, but when it comes to cultural activities, pickings can be slim. The restaurant scene, while limited, has been improving steadily and some great new bars and clubs have opened near their respective piers.
