Featured writer: Jillstravel

Cruising on bikes along Hermosa Beach, I now understood why professional volleyball players, surfers, joggers, dog walkers and bicyclists claim this area in Southern California as the ultimate playground.

I booked one night at The Beach House in Hermosa Beach. It’s right on The Strand and  steps from the golden sand and breathtaking Pacific Ocean.

As we checked into Room 304, the sun peeked through the clouds. Our room was spacious with a King-size bed, kitchenette, fireplace and sitting area with a sofa bed. The best was our balcony to sit outside and take in the fresh sea air, while  overlooking the beach and famous Hermosa Beach pier.

Ready to experience the quintessential So Cal beach adventure, we walked across the street to rent one-speed Cruiser-style bicycles from Hermosa Cyclery for $7 an hour.

The Strand is a paved bicycle path that runs mostly along the Pacific Ocean shoreline in Los Angeles County. The northern part of the trail is a paved bicycle path starting at Will Rogers State Beach. The 22 mile long path ends at the southern part at  Torrance County Beach. The midpoint is near Hermosa Beach.

We got on our rented bikes and rode up to El Segundo and back. Along the way, we passed  million dollar Manhattan Beach beach cottages and luxurious McMansions. We stopped at the entrance of the Manhattan Beach pier and parked our bikes. At the end of the pier is an informational aquarium with small touch tanks and an impressive eel exhibit.

Up the street is the hip and lively MB Post restaurant. It was an ideal spot for fortifying ourselves with artisan small shared plates, draught beer and hand–crafted cocktails, before cruising back to Hermosa Beach.

Remembering that The Beach House has a spacious hot tub tucked away in the back section of the hotel, we  warmed up before getting ready for dinner. A friend told us that Buona Vita Trattoria on Pier Ave. had good Italian food. Nothing fancy, it’s more of a locals hangout with decent food.

Afterwards we walked down to Hermosa Ave. for an evening of comedy at the Comedy and Magic Club. There was not an empty seat for the 8 p.m. performance of ten comedians performing ten minute skits each. The show was terrific.

In the morning we went downstairs to the cafe for complimentary breakfast. Fresh fruit, pastries, bagels and breads are served with juice, coffee and tea. After loading up on pastries, we walked along The Strand to Redondo Beach.

Redondo Beach has a large harbor filled with sail and motor boats. This is where you can pick up a whale watching boat trip or romantic gondola boat ride around the harbor. Feeling fortified, we walked back to The Beach House and got ready to enjoy the beach.

Donning our bathing suits, we grabbed a couple beach chairs and boogie boards from the hotel’s valet and headed down to the beach. Even though the water was a chilly 61 degrees, we plunged in and enjoyed the California sunshine.

A surf festival was underway in the Hermosa plaza area. Various surf companies were hosting games and giving away hats, stickers and T-shirts to the winners. Monster Energy Drink sponsored a stage with live rock bands and handed out their beverages to the crowd.

In the mood for a light lunch, we sat outside at Good Stuff for wraps and salads before venturing back home. With the sun on our face, muscles toned from exercise and mind relaxed from the beach vibe, it was an ideal So Cal beach experience.