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Hermosa
Beach
In Spanish, hermosa means "beautiful," and this tiny seaside
community is named for the pristine beach that is its central feature.
HERMOSA CITY BEACH is 2 miles of wide, pearly sand dotted with endless
volleyball nets and lined by the STRAND, a pedestrian and bicycle/skate
path that stretches the entire length of the city. If you want to join
in, bike and in line skate rentals are available at HERMOSA CYCLERY (20
13th Street; 310/374-7816), a block from the Strand near the pier. In
the early 20th century, Hermosa Beach was a summer vacation spot for folks
from Los Angeles, who built many opulent cottages and bungalows along
the Strand—then a wooden boardwalk. In the 1920s, concrete replaced
the wood, and today the homes on this prime real estate are small, expensive,
and intimately close together. Many celebrities have lived here, including
comedian Charlie Chaplin, filmmaker Warren Miller, and Ozzie and Harriet
Nelson. If David and Ricky were boys today, they'd undoubtedly have skateboards
and hang out around the HERMOSA PIER,
which is popular with anglers topside, and brave surfers—who thread
their way between the pilings—underneath. PIER PLAZA is a pedestrian
only block of Pier Avenue, lined with bars and restaurants known for raucous
happy hours and party-all-night crowds. If you're looking for more information,
contact the HERMOSA BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, at 1007 Hermosa Ave; 310/376-0951;
www.hbchamber.net.
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