Biking between Santa Monica & Manhattan Beach: What to check out?

[thatchio]

I'm in LA next weekend and thought I'd check out Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, and Venice. So why not rent a bike and go find developments while seeing the ocean at the same time? I'm looking for cool plazas, developments, retail streets, etc.

Is this a bad or good idea (renting a bike and checking out what's going on)? I'm looking for vibrant areas to analyze. I'm in town for a retail development conference and I'm trying to find some unique retail district operations (like the Universal Valet in Old Pasadena).

Any ideas?

What developments within biking distance (and not super complicated to get to) of those areas should I check out?

Any other comments?

[godblessbotox]

what is there... like 3 constructions in the SM?

[The Baz]

I cannot help answer the development questions but I do enjoy biking along the beach cities.

[Fern~Fern*]

I do seriously think we need a "What the heck to do in in L.A." thread. LASF told svs to create one and we are still waiting?

[Elsongs]

I'm in LA next weekend and thought I'd check out Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, and Venice. So why not rent a bike and go find developments while seeing the ocean at the same time? I'm looking for cool plazas, developments, retail streets, etc.

Is this a bad or good idea (renting a bike and checking out what's going on)?
Any ideas?



No, it's a great idea. Biking the beach bike path is one of my favorite pastimes. I think it's the greatest coastal bikepath in the world. I'd biked all the way down to Torrance/Redondo Beach.

I don't think you'll see too many developments, but you'll enjoy the fresh ocean air.

[thatchio]

thanks for the advice. I suppose I should have asked what, if anything, I should check out along there. And by development, I should have added "past developments worth noting."

[solongfullerton]

I do this ride every weekend, even though its for exercise, I still know all the places that you should check out. First off, obviously you should cruise around Santa Monica. You need to see the 3rd St. Promenade, the peir, and maybe cruise up Wilshire to see inland Santa Monica. As you head south, make sure to cruise through Main St. The Promenade is to the tourists what Main St. is to the locals. Lots of cool bars, restaurants, and boutique shops. The only chain anything on Main St is a Baja Fresh and some coffee shops. Main St actually crosses the Venice/Santa Monica border, so the boardwalk is very close as well as Abbott Kinney. Abbott Kinney is a street that runs diagonally through Venice and is Venice's counterpart to Santa Monica's Main St. SM and Venice are similar neighborhoods, but the differences between Main St and Abbott Kinney portray the differences between the two neighborhoods. Abbott Kinney is much more hipster/hippie but still has cool restaurants, bars, and shops. As you keep heading south, you'll hit the Venice pier and Marina Del Rey. This is a very bland area filled with crappy 70's architecture and chain everything. It's not all bad, but not nearly as intersting as neighboring communities. You'll be forced to see almost the whole because youre forced to go around the whole marina because there isn't a bridge over the channel. Once you get back to the beach, you'll go through a cool little beach community called Playa Del Rey. It's a quiet little neighborhood that isn't easy to get to, so many people here in LA don't even know it exists. I used to live there and liked it a lot. Once you get past PDR, you're at the airport. While riding your bike on the bike path, planes will definitely be flying directly over your head. Not only that, besides RVs parked at the beach, you won't see any signs of civilazation for miles. You'll even go right past the city of El Segundo without even knowing it. You'll also go by a power plant, an oil refinery and the world's largest waste water treatment plant. You'll know you are close to it if there is an off shore flow blowing the stench right onto the beach. Odds are though that you won't smell anything. Next up will be the El Porto neighborhood of Manhattan Beach and some of the most amazing houses I have seen ANYWHERE. Manhattan Beach is an awesome (very expensive) Surfing and Beach Volleyball city. You'll have to stay on the bike trail until you get to the pier, but on your way back, you might want to cruise along Highland i thinks it called, which is the main north/south street going through Manhattan Beach. The majority of the retail in MB is on Highland around the intersections with Manhattan Beach Blvd and Rosecrans. And while you're there, I would heavily considering the short ride down to Hermose Beach. Although very similar to MB, Hermosa seems to have a younger, more party oriented crowd. In fact, the end of Pier St is a promenade that is closed off to traffic and filled with a dozen or so rather large bars. Redondo Beach is just south of Hermosa, but not nearly as cool either Hermose or Manhattan Beaches. Have fun and good luck!!!!!

[Fern~Fern*]

Fuller,
Have you ever consider a career as a tour guide?

[thatchio]

Thanks a lot! Exactly what I'm looking for.

[klamedia]

Wow! Thank you "solong"!! i wanna go fo'real now! I just discovered many of these places up close (on bicycle) when I from Silver Lake took the Red, Blue and Green trio got off at Marine Ave and cycled west to Manhattan Beach. You've gotta do this by bike/foot to experience the quaint feel of these communities, they seem to be offering themselves up to the bicycle, foot and blade.
I was stunned and blown away by these necklace like communities all strung together by a bike path! True Redondo Beach was a bit anti-climatic and looked like it needed some modern restoration to its fading pier. Really was impressed by Manhattan Beach, the cleanliness, very cute, very quaint. Of course Venice will always have a special place in my heart as it does with so many people.
Wouldn't it be great if the LA Weekly ran something like this for our city? We certainly have the neighborhoods:
http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0702,warshawer,75378,15.html
http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0525,oehler,64953,15.html
Perhaps we could approach them and each one of us write about a neighborhood once a month or so.

[svs]

I do this ride every weekend, even though its for exercise, I still know all the places that you should check out. First off, obviously you should cruise around Santa Monica. You need to see the 3rd St. Promenade, the peir, and maybe cruise up Wilshire to see inland Santa Monica. As you head south, make sure to cruise through Main St. The Promenade is to the tourists what Main St. is to the locals. Lots of cool bars, restaurants, and boutique shops. The only chain anything on Main St is a Baja Fresh and some coffee shops. Main St actually crosses the Venice/Santa Monica border, so the boardwalk is very close as well as Abbott Kinney. Abbott Kinney is a street that runs diagonally through Venice and is Venice's counterpart to Santa Monica's Main St. SM and Venice are similar neighborhoods, but the differences between Main St and Abbott Kinney portray the differences between the two neighborhoods. Abbott Kinney is much more hipster/hippie but still has cool restaurants, bars, and shops. As you keep heading south, you'll hit the Venice pier and Marina Del Rey. This is a very bland area filled with crappy 70's architecture and chain everything. It's not all bad, but not nearly as intersting as neighboring communities. You'll be forced to see almost the whole because youre forced to go around the whole marina because there isn't a bridge over the channel. Once you get back to the beach, you'll go through a cool little beach community called Playa Del Rey. It's a quiet little neighborhood that isn't easy to get to, so many people here in LA don't even know it exists. I used to live there and liked it a lot. Once you get past PDR, you're at the airport. While riding your bike on the bike path, planes will definitely be flying directly over your head. Not only that, besides RVs parked at the beach, you won't see any signs of civilazation for miles. You'll even go right past the city of El Segundo without even knowing it. You'll also go by a power plant, an oil refinery and the world's largest waste water treatment plant. You'll know you are close to it if there is an off shore flow blowing the stench right onto the beach. Odds are though that you won't smell anything. Next up will be the El Porto neighborhood of Manhattan Beach and some of the most amazing houses I have seen ANYWHERE. Manhattan Beach is an awesome (very expensive) Surfing and Beach Volleyball city. You'll have to stay on the bike trail until you get to the pier, but on your way back, you might want to cruise along Highland i thinks it called, which is the main north/south street going through Manhattan Beach. The majority of the retail in MB is on Highland around the intersections with Manhattan Beach Blvd and Rosecrans. And while you're there, I would heavily considering the short ride down to Hermose Beach. Although very similar to MB, Hermosa seems to have a younger, more party oriented crowd. In fact, the end of Pier St is a promenade that is closed off to traffic and filled with a dozen or so rather large bars. Redondo Beach is just south of Hermosa, but not nearly as cool either Hermose or Manhattan Beaches. Have fun and good luck!!!!!

Well you saved me from writing something similar; I am working on my own long project for the group. One correction. There is a bridge over Ballona Creek. You can't drive a car over it, but you can manage on foot or by bike. Here is a picture.
http://www.theshaperstree.com/memorial/images_velzy/ballona-creek.jpg

http://www.verifine.org/Large/b-03.jpg

[ChrisLA]

Manhattan Beach is an awesome (very expensive) Surfing and Beach Volleyball city. You'll have to stay on the bike trail until you get to the pier, but on your way back, you might want to cruise along Highland i thinks it called, which is the main north/south street going through Manhattan Beach. The majority of the retail in MB is on Highland around the intersections with Manhattan Beach Blvd and Rosecrans.


Well actually the majority of the retail is on Highland, but the center of is all intersects at Manhattan Beach Blvd where the pier is.

As stated above Manhattan Beach is a beautiful aree of dense housing, and certainly raise your attention to why many of us locals love southern california. Its like the ultimate beach community IMO. I work up the street in Redondo Beach. What time do you plan on checking out this area. If you like coffee I would suggest stopping at Peets Coffee on Manhattan Beach Blvd. They really good lattes and cappuccino's (wet perferrably), and much better quality than Starbucks. This one does not stay open as late (6am-7pm / Weekend Hours) as some of the others.

Also I would suggest stoping in at a resturant called The Kettle on the coner of Highland & Manhattan Beach Blvd, and request a seat on the patio outside. Don't worry even if its chilly out, they have heaters outside to keep you warm. Anyway its a well know local hang out with decent food. Breakfast is really good, along with their soups and fresh muffins. Also its open 24 hours and many people stop in after the clubs close at night. Its a totally different vibe that time of night.

Also at the end of the pier there is a very small musuem of some sort. You can go in for free or donate a couple bucks. It has some of the sea life featured in aquariums we have on the west coast. It will take you no more than 15 mins to check out. Anyway I hope this helps, any questions feel free to PM me. BTW you can take take your bike with you on the trains and buses. You used to need a bike permit, but they may have changed that policy. I would check the website for Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus, Culver City Bus, and Los Angeles MTA. All bus agencies covers from Santa Monica to the South Bay. So if you're tired and want to take the bus back you can catch a ride.

[bruin787]

how about a detour to see the venice canals?

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/janus020/venice-canals-467x350.jpg

[The Baz]

The Kettle @ Manhattan Beach is a fave spot for late night bites. Great omlettes.

[godblessbotox]

santa monica civic center parking stucture... its got solar panels!

[solongfullerton]

Thatchio, you never told us how your trip went. Let us know!

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

from the Why i lve LA thread, i posted this...

Today was one of the best examples of why so many of us LOVE LA. Went to Venice beach and rode my bike down the bike path from Venice through the canals and Marina Del Rey, from the bridge there you could see the Mountains with snow all over the peaks yet, im biking in 78 degree weather at the beach, made my way down to Manhattan Beach and then came back after lunch. Beautiful day, very scenic and eclectic path and there were 1000's of people on bikes, trikes, rollerblades and anything else you could think of. hang Gliders, Kites, Tourists enjoying the beach, choppers, and the only in LA type of diversity that blows your socks off. Awesome!

[The Baz]

It was a beautiful day out, got to check out the views from campus while I cried in the library over operations analysis.