Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach is a wide, clean city beach in the South Bay, with its main entrance at the foot of Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Manhattan Beach, California, about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. The sand is fine and light, and the Pacific is a blue-green that is usually clearer than the water near the major piers farther north. The shoreline is a long, open, gently sloping strand with moderate surf, and the broad beach gives plenty of room for large groups. The Manhattan Beach Pier extends from the end of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and includes the small Roundhouse Aquarium at its tip, run by a local marine education program. The beach is best known for beach volleyball, and its courts host well-known tournaments, including the Manhattan Beach Open, drawing crowds in summer. The atmosphere is affluent, relaxed and active, popular with families, volleyball players, joggers and cyclists using the Strand, the paved path that runs along the sand. Amenities include lifeguards through the day in the warm season, restrooms, showers and volleyball courts, with cafes and restaurants in the downtown area a few blocks from the pier. Parking is in metered lots near the pier and on the streets of the surrounding neighborhood, where restrictions apply, and spaces fill quickly on summer weekends. Visitors may also arrive by rideshare or by bus connecting from Metro stations, though there is no direct rail service to the beach. The Strand connects to Hermosa Beach to the south and continues north toward Playa del Rey. Fire pits are also available on parts of the beach under city rules. Sunset walks along the pier are popular, and the downtown shopping and dining area makes it easy to combine a beach day with a meal.