Manhattan Beach Is The Place to Call Home

We live where people want to vacation. Some Los Angeles cities list as their attributes as several “close to” attractions, shopping, dining and even other areas. But in Manhattan Beach, other than its proximity to LAX, there is no need for those “close to” references because so much is happening right here. Without the pretentiousness of nearby West LA. Manhattan Beach retains a community-oriented atmosphere where everyone seems to get along in a friendly manner. Hot Volleyball, cool water, a town for athletic people, young or not so young- everyone is out walking, riding or running by this is the place to BE.

As proof, here’s the Top 10 Reasons You Should Live In Manhattan Beach:

1.) The Beach. Manhattan Beach does not just have a beach, it has a clean beach. There are no tacky t-shirt shops, no graffiti, no seedy side that taints the views of the Pacific Ocean under a bright blue sky. What you have here is a nice, wide beach that’s upscale, relaxed and so perfectly pristine you’ll wonder why you didn’t move here sooner.

2.) The Strand. This “moving” sidewalk of sorts is the centerpiece of activity in Manhattan Beach and, in fact, throughout the entire South Bay. Because of The Strand, having a bike here is a must; you can ride all the way to Palos Verdes on one end – with Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach along the way – and if you desire, to Santa Monica on the other. And it’s all right along the sand. The Strand is also idea for running and walking. No motorized vehicles are allowed, which means it’s purely people power that moves on The Strand.

3.) The Sunsets. One of the nightly rituals is going down to the beach to watch the spectacular sunsets. Sometimes, the sun will turn orange and the sky around it will explode with colors. Downtown is particularly fetching, with the palm trees on either side of the pier, making for the kinds of photos that, when you share them with your friends, will get lots of envious remarks. You can even soak in the sunset from a restaurant with a glass of wine in your hand.

4.) Friends Will Always Be Coming To You For Get-Togethers. Because Manhattan Beach is so spectacular and people from all over Southern California love it, when it’s time for get-togethers with friends, they will be coming to see you rather than you always having to always to go meet them someplace. In fact, you will soon discover they want to visit you a lot because they like coming to Manhattan Beach!

5.) The Events. In addition to the idyllic everyday beach life in Manhattan Beach, there are also events that stir the locals’ soul. Each Sunday in the summer, there are free concerts in Pollywog Park that are more like picnics with great music. There is Old Hometown Fair the first weekend of each October with its Saturday morning 10K, festival and lively beer garden. There’s Holiday Open House, where the downtown shops open up in the evening to strollers, some offering entertainment and refreshments. But the most spectacular event of them all is the Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks, a sensational show on the second Sunday of December that brings in about 10,000 people, all in a festive holiday mood. This being Manhattan Beach, many bring beach chairs and watch while sitting on Manhattan Beach Blvd.

6.) Downtown Shops & Restaurants. For those living in the hill section, it’s a short 5-minute walk to downtown where you’re rewarded with a pleasant, peaceful stroll through high-end shops, great restaurants, classy restaurant/bars and even a couple of classic beach dive bars. No worries about parking or having that extra glass of wine because you can walk back home. In fact, you may find you will leave your car parked on weekends because, frankly, why go anywhere else!?

7.) Beach Volleyball. Manhattan Beach is the birthplace of beach volleyball, and many of the Olympians either live here or practice here. Go down to Marine Street and see where the sport was created. Or just walk to the pier where, on any given summer weekend, there’s some sort of tournament taking place. The “king of the beach” volleyball tournaments is the Manhattan Open, which the top pro players (and Olympians) refer to as the Wimbledon of beach volleyball.

8.) The Escape. Living in Manhattan Beach is like being on a year-round vacation. With all the activities and events, you can put yourself right in the middle of it all, but there’s enough elbow room to have privacy, too. You will also notice quickly that Manhattan Beach is really a small community and it’s easy to forget that the really large city of Los Angeles is all around you.

9.) It’s Close To LAX. Okay, here’s the one “close to” you need to know about when it comes to Manhattan Beach. You can be at the airport, door-to-curb, in 15 minutes. Sometimes even 10 minutes. It’s a near-direct drive and there is rarely any traffic. It’s the most stress-free trip to (and from) the airport of just about any city in North America.

10.) Real Estate. Manhattan Beach residents have a fairly high income but shun the snobbery for a fun attitude. There is some sticker shock to people who first want to move here. We have a mixture of beach homes and mansions. Land is expensive in all the beach cities in varying degrees. Manhatan Beach homes have held their value very well along the bumpy Real Estate market down and up turns.