More Than Enough Reasons to Visit Redondo Beach, California - But Wait, There's More - Blogs

Story and photos by Mary Gallagher

Next time you see one of those special airfare sales to LAX or are there on business seriously think about visiting lovely Redondo Beach for a few days. Just a 7-10 minute cab ride from the airport opens a whole world of relaxation and fun and a number of beach side hotels. Best of all you won’t even need a car.

Redondo Beach with its population of fewer than 70,000, its Redondo Beach Pier, International Boardwalk, and soft Redondo sand, is a wonderful place to visit. On the second day you’ll start thinking of moving your family here. Many of the regular “tourists” are from less than 100 miles away.

Kite shop on Redondo Beach pier

Let’s start with the Redondo Beach Pier sort of the focal point of the beach area. Originally built in 1889, the pier was reconstructed in 1995 into a unique horseshoe shape with generous walking areas, eclectic shops selling the usual seashells and sportswear or even a chance to visit a Pick-A Store where you pick some oysters and then make one of a kind necklaces and earrings out of your harvested pearls.

Everyone enjoys the pier.

Fishing on the pier

Here you can find every type of restaurant, from fast food to fine dining, from pizza to steak and seafood. We stopped for appetizers and drinks at Old Tony’s on the pier; a family owned and operated restaurant and bar opened in the 1950’s. Tony’s originally opened in a small shack of a building, in 1961; he expanded the dining room with a lower patio area with sliding glass windows. Then in 1963 he expanded yet again to include the Top o’ Tony’s Bar above the restaurant, which has a view from Palos Verdes to Santa Monica. It’s one of those beach style restaurants with lots of wood and celebrity photos that everyone loves.

At Christmas, the annual boat parade rides right by and during the summer months on Thursday and Saturdays, the pier hosts its very own Summer Concert Series, free to the public with performances by local and national music acts. Adjacent to the pier is the International Boardwalk with a continuation of seafood storefronts and bars right in the marina.

Polly's a favorite for breakfast

We had a pleasant stay at the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina and found it convenient for walking to most everything we wanted to do. They have a large out door pool deck, tennis court and 25,000 sq ft of meeting space and a convenient business center. We were able to have breakfast one day in their Splash Bistro but missed the European Day Spa. The hotel offers complimentary use of the nearby Gold’s Gym. The few times we ventured afar it was an inexpensive cab ride. Our rooms were fine but the hotel is undergoing a full renovation and will be all non-smoking after this summer.

In the thick of it all and just steps from the hotel is the seaside lagoon. The lagoon is an ideal location for family outings seven days a week. It is a safe environment with a heated saltwater swimming pool, sand beach, volleyball courts, children’s play equipment, and cabanas. It is the perfect beach setting for families who enjoy fun in the sun. Tucked away off Harbor Drive this family friendly environment comes complete with its own lifeguard crew and barbeque pit, providing a safe environment for swimmers and sunbathers alike. It’s also the location of spectacular 4^th of July fireworks and the annual Lobster festival and owned and managed by the city of Redondo Beach.

Although we didn’t have any children with us and ran out of time to visit the seaside lagoon, when walking nearby you could hear squeals of laughter and knew it was a fun place.

Walking Redondo Beach

We were able to walk along the beach for beautiful views and they didn’t seem overcrowded on the sand, there was some street parking and spaces available in the parking lots.

Viewing the fish

My friend and I decided to take the Looking Glass semi-submarine, moored right at the pier, in hopes of spotting exotic fish or other sea creatures. Well their website states that if you’re a scuba diver you might be disappointed by the “fish show” but little kids seemed to love it. It seems a little hokey when they only drive out a short distance then throw fish food in the water and a lot of similar looking fish come over to eat it. You do get to see some sea lions but if it was me and for the money I’d send one parent with the grade school age kids and have everyone else wait on the pier.

I’m not a surfer but we were told it’s a serene coastline between the Redondo Beach Pier and Palos Verdes Peninsula that provides novice and advanced surfers with the best waves. There is a long history of surfing here.

One evening we were lucky enough to meet up with Mitch Chang, owner of Kala Koa Entertainment and the producer/creator of four landmark annual festival events: the Southern California Slack Key Festival, the Aloha Falsetto Festival, the Los Angeles Flamenco Festival and the upcoming Los Angeles Guitar Festival all world-class performance events.

Slack Key Festival Oceanfront Photography
http://www.kalakoa.com /

Established in 2008, the Kala Koa concert events have showcased some of the hottest talent in the world – from legendary Hawaiian slack key guitarists and singers to some of the most respected flamenco talent in the country plus many guitar greats filling a much needed niche in the South Bay of Los Angeles.

Flamenco Festival Sari Makki Photography, http://www.kalakoa.com /

The majority of Kala Koa live events are held at the beautiful Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, home to state-of-the-art sound and lighting Systems, computerized climate-control and plentiful free parking.

We had a wonderful evening here at the Performing Arts Center soaking up Hawaiian dancing and music with an full house of enthusiastic fans. It was a fairly new experience in music venues for us and we loved the variety and talent that night. A great show that started on time and kept us entertained for hours.

Producer Mitchell Chang is also an accomplished and well-known ukulele and Hawaiian slack key guitar instructor and performer himself always coming up with great perfomrance ideas.. www.kalakoa.com

We’re here in southern California so one should be able to get fantastic Mexican food and we did at Ortega 120 a great Mexican restaurant with lots of accolades all well deserved we discovered from our dinner and lethal tequila tasting. Led by the knowledgeable and effervescent co owner Demi Stevens aka Tequila Expert, she and Thomas Ortega — a veteran of the kitchens of Water Grill, Lucques and Patina — have opened this wonderful restaurant in Redondo Beach.

Demi Stevens leads Tequila University at Ortega120

The sprawling bar is stocked with a breathtaking array of premium tequila and our tasting included most of them! I never knew it could be so smooth and good. The dining room is painted in south of the border bright colors and the walls hung with folk art from all of Mexico. There is also a patio. While we were visiting several large groups were celebrating various occasions and after sampling quite a few dishes I would request eating here for my birthday too. There’s even live music several nights a week.

The kitchen uses house made chorizo and make their own tortillas as well as careful sourcing of other ingredients. Because we were also a large group, I was able to test many of the main courses and every one was a winner. We had tacos with chicken, beef, shrimp and several other entrees. Plus wonderful freshly made guacamole and if you’re looking for real modern takes try the Ahi tuna taco with roasted corn and fresh mango.

Ortega 120

But my favorite of all time was the dessert of freshly made churros, which I learned to love in Spain, here it’s served with a chocolate dipping sauce. In Redondo Beach, Ortega 120 is one place you want to be sure and visit. http://www.ortega120.com

The city is flanked by a county path threading along 27 miles of oceanfront fromTorrance Beach to Santa Monica so everybody walks, bikes or skates inRedondo Beach. We did a lot of walking but the Visitors Bureau has information on a tour that can be safely enjoyed, by traveling on city streets or the South Bay Bicycle Trail and pedestrian walkway wearing your skates, riding a bike or walking. A great way to develop your Southern California body!

Local Artist at the Marina

One starts at the north end of Harbor Driveand continues south to the Marinas in KingHarbor. The four Marinas may be accessed along Harbor Drive or through the main channel on the Pacific Oceanside. The tour continues with a stroll around the Redondo Beach Pier to Veterans Park with picnic facilities, play areas and ample parking. South of the Pier to Vista del Mar is a broad walkway through a beautiful stretch of California state beach, with an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean. Called “The Esplanade,” it is frequented by all types of fitness fans and leads to the charming Riviera Village Shopping district. Heading north again, the South Bay Bicycle Trail originates at the South end of Redondo Beachand follows the scenic coastline of the Santa Monica Bay, 19 miles to Santa Monica. There is easy access to rest stops along the way at neighboring beach cities and public restrooms are provided throughout the route. For maps www.visitredondo.com

Riviera Village Summer Festival

A favorite festival, every summer for over thirty years, that we were able to spend a day at was the Riviera Village Summer Festival at the corner of Catalina and Avenue I in Redondo Beach. There were a lot of people, tons of kids/strollers and lots of dogs all checking out the 200 artisan craft vendors, sampling great food, and various rides and activities for kids. The unique permanent shops like Harmony Works (www.Harmonyworks.com) and restaurants inRivieraVillage are open too. They had a Community Stage for local acts and aHawaiianVillage. It wasn’t too bad hanging out in the ocean view Beer Garden, listening to great live bands. The festival lasts two days.

Harmony Works in Riviera Village

Unique offerings at Harmony Works

In fact Riviera Village offers several seasons of fun. Every year, the Village hosts trick-or-treating the night of Halloween. Streets are closed on Catalina from Avenue I toPalos Verdes Boulevard so kids can visit local businesses for candy or watch Jim Gamble and his puppets perform. Then you’ll ring in the Christmas holidays with their annual Holiday Stroll. Meet Santa, ride a horse-drawn carriage, listen to strolling singers and enjoy street entertainment while you pick up my gift.

One evening we had an excellent dinner at one of Redondo Beach’s landmarks The Portofino Hotel and Yacht Clubs restaurant Baleen Los Angeles. The Portofino is steps from the Pier and 27-mile oceanfront path. We were able to peek into some waterfront rooms at the hotel and you are really on the water and can almost reach out and touch it! Although I did not stay here they have good reviews on sites like tripadvisor.com www.HotelPortofino.com.

We barely scratched the surface so here are some more ideas.

Some of the Annual Events in Redondo Beach

Feb. – Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 10K/5K & Expo (www.redondo10k.com)

Mar. – Annual Kite Festival (www.redondopier.com)

Apr. – SpringFest (www.springfestredondo.org)

Apr.- Sep. – Antique Car Show every Friday (www.rbmarina.com

Jun. – Riviera Village Summer Festival (www.rivieravillage.org)

Jun.-Sep. – Summer Concerts on the Pier (www.redondopier.com)

Jul. – 4^th of July Fireworks Celebration (www.redondofireworks.com)

Jul. – South Bay Greek Festival (www.sbgreekfestival.com)

Aug. – International Surf Festival (www.surffestival.org)

Aug. – Chalk Art Festival on the Pier (www.redondopier.com)

Sep. – Redondo Beach Lobster Festival (www.lobsterfestival.com)