Living in Hermosa Beach
June 18, 2016 3:41 am
Conveniently located a little under 20 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach is one of the three Beach Cities in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. Hermosa is the Spanish word for “beautiful,” and beautiful, this beach city definitely is.
Hermosa Beach is just the right mix of youthful and funky; its energy effervescent, infectious, and never-ending. In “The Best Little Beach City” (which is Hermosa Beach’s motto), you can surf, swim, jog, bike, and enjoy its myriad of activities all throughout the day and even far into the night. It’s the beach city that never sleeps.
Artsy and Sporty
With an unusually wide coastline, locals relax and frolic in the sand for most of the year. Facing the Pacific Ocean, the surf is renowned and frequented by surfers from all over the country. Paddle-boarding is also a popular activity, but the most popular sport in Hermosa Beach would have to be volleyball. Amateurs and professionals frequent Hermosa Beach as it hosts the AVP Hermosa Beach Open Tournament as well as a number of amateur CBVA tournaments. Hermosa Beach also features several skateboard parks and other sports facilities, including an ice-skating rink.
Often visited by joggers and bikers, the Strand is 20 miles long and stretches from Torrance Beach to Santa Monica. Hermosa Beach locals and visitors often bask in the sun or people-watch in the Strand. Another popular destination is the Hermosa Valley Greenbelt, which used to be part of a railroad easement. Over time and after various campaigns, the Hermosa Valley Greenbelt is now home to several bird, butterfly, and animal species.
Hermosa Beach celebrates its artsy and cultured side with Fiesta Hermosa, a twice-annual arts and crafts festival that takes place every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend. It has been going on for the past 35 years. Hermosa Beach also hosts an annual Beach Shorts Film Festival.
Hermosa Beach has a number of public and private schools, some of which also serve nearby Redondo Beach or Manhattan Beach. The Hermosa Beach City School District is one of the top-performing school districts in California.
