LA Day Trips: Exploring Manhattan and Hermosa Beaches
by Donal Buckley ‘26
When I’m looking for something to do over the weekend but have trouble deciding, a beach day is always in the cards. Recently, my friends and I were looking to go to the beach but had already been to Santa Monica multiple times before. Searching for somewhere new, we decided to take our first trip to Manhattan Beach.
At around 2 p.m., we left USC in an Uber to Manhattan Beach. The drive was only around 30 minutes, similar to a trip to Santa Monica; and the cost was around $30, so split between the three of us meant we only paid $10 each for transportation. While public transit would’ve been free, it would’ve taken two hours and multiple buses and rail lines. The money on Uber, in my opinion, was well spent.
We arrived with the sun shining high in the sky. Although the rain has been persistent for the last few weeks, we managed to catch Manhattan Beach on a good day. I was even able to take my sweater off since it was over 70 degrees!
We started off by strolling down the iconic Manhattan Beach Pier. Seagulls flew overhead and surfers braved the waves as we made our way to the end. It wasn’t too long of a walk but was well-worth it thanks to the clear blue sky and glistening ocean. We were surprised to find a small aquarium at the end of the pier with free admission, so we were able to admire some cute creatures before heading back to the beach.
Next, one of my friends wanted to visit a house where they filmed one of his favorite TV shows, Beverly Hills, 90210. To be honest, I’ve never watched the show, but it was still fun to support my friend's enthusiasm.
After visiting the house, we decided to take a more conventional stroll on the beach. I hadn’t gone on a walk through the sand in a while, so it was nice to take in the ocean air while beachgoers tanned, children played, and dogs ran beside us. I will say, though, that I definitely wasn’t dressed for the beach! But even in jeans and sneakers, the walk was still enjoyable.
During our walk, though, one of my friends wandered a little too close to the water. When a wave crashed onto the shore, it soaked her boots, and she felt something sting her. While we never saw the culprit, we had to assume it was a jellyfish, so be careful if you want to go for a swim.
To accommodate for the injured foot, we moved to the paved path that runs along the beach — a nice change from the sand. We ended up walking for about 3.5 miles all the way to Hermosa Beach. I had never been here either, so it was fun to see two famous beaches in one trip!
It was late afternoon by the time we arrived in Hermosa Beach, and with the three of us getting hungry, it was time for dinner. We found this South American restaurant tucked in among the enclave of beachside shops and restaurants particularly enticing. I ordered a barbecued chicken and rice dish, and I’m not normally a salad eater, but the side of greens was delicious as well. Sadly, the day we went was actually the restaurant’s last day of operation, so it’s not an experience anyone else can replicate.
After dinner, we walked further into the small beach town along a strip of boutiques and dessert places. The area was lively as families, couples, and groups of friends like us went about their beach days just like us.
With the sun beginning to droop down behind the ocean, we felt it was only appropriate to grab some ice cream and enjoy the sunset. We quickly made our way into a gelato place called Capri, got our dessert, and speed-walked to the beach to catch the last of the sunset. Once it was dark, we sat near the water and watched the waves crash along the shoreline before making our way back to the town.
After a final stroll around the shops, it was time to head home. The Uber was around the same price going back. For anyone considering going to either Manhattan or Hermosa Beach, I’d highly recommend it especially for a day trip. I felt like there was just enough to do to spend the day there, but also enough for you to come back to as well. For those looking for a relaxing day away from campus, definitely head over to Manhattan Beach and consider making the walk out to Hermosa as well.
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