Redondo Beach is Southern Californias most laid-back stretch of coast

It’s got surf history, sea lions and a grunion run

Redondo Beach sits about 10 miles south of LAX in the South Bay corner of Los Angeles County, and it runs nothing like its louder neighbors. The pier curves in a full horseshoe.

The harbor has sea lions. The beach has 1.5 miles of sand and a fraction of the crowds you’d fight through at Santa Monica or Venice.

There’s a lot packed into this stretch of coast, and most of it won’t cost you a thing.

George Freeth surfed here before anyone knew what surfing was

The waterfront goes back to 1888, when a lumber wharf first went up to receive shipments from the Pacific Northwest.

By 1907, a Hawaiian waterman named George Freeth arrived at the invitation of railroad magnate Henry Huntington to put on surfing demonstrations for visitors.

Freeth became Southern California’s first official lifeguard and invented the torpedo rescue buoy that lifeguards still carry today. In 1912, he organized California’s first surf club right here.

A bronze memorial bust at the pier, dedicated in 1977 and rededicated in 2010, marks the spot.

The Beach Boys put Redondo Beach in a song for a reason

Surf culture didn’t just pass through Redondo Beach. It grew roots here.

Freeth’s work in the early 1900s set a foundation that lasted, and by the time the Beach Boys were writing “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” Redondo Beach had earned its name-drop.

The 1.5 miles of wide, sandy beach still draw surfers and boogie boarders into the water most mornings.

Lifeguard towers line the shore year-round, and the South Bay’s surf identity traces a direct line back to the waves that broke here more than a century ago.

Walk the full loop of the horseshoe pier

The pier curves out over the water in a full horseshoe shape, and walking the loop puts ocean views on both sides of you at once.

The modern concrete structure spans 70,000 square feet, stands 25 feet above the water, and opened on Feb. 11, 1995, after a 1988 fire burned most of the old wooden pier.

A remnant of the original Monstad Pier from the 1920s still connects at the south end. The whole thing stays open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

No fishing license needed, and the pier runs deep

California law lets you fish from any public pier without a license, and the Redondo Beach Pier is no exception.

The Monstad section at the south end is the designated fishing area, and its 300 feet of dock reaches into deeper water where mackerel, halibut, bonito, surfperch and barracuda all show up.

If you don’t bring gear, you can rent tackle right at the pier.

The fishing areas stay open around the clock, which is why you’ll find locals out there well before sunrise and again after dark.

Sea lions hang out at King Harbor like they own the place

King Harbor sits right next to the pier, and it’s where the water activities concentrate.

Four marinas and three yacht clubs fill the protected basin, and the calm water makes it a good place to get in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard without fighting open-ocean swells. Rentals are available right at the docks.

The sea lions here don’t hide. They stretch out on the sea lion barge in the harbor and swim alongside kayakers close enough to startle you. Guided kayak tours run through the harbor for a narrated look at the wildlife.

Gray whales, humpbacks and blue whales all pass through

Whale watching cruises leave from King Harbor year-round, and the species change with the season. Gray whales move along the coast during winter and spring.

Humpback and blue whales show up more in summer and fall. Trips run about two and a half hours with a trained naturalist on board.

Even when whales don’t appear, dolphins, sea lions, pelicans and other seabirds usually do. Sportfishing charters also operate out of the harbor if you want to trade watching for casting.

Seaside Lagoon keeps kids in the water all summer long

Tucked inside King Harbor, Seaside Lagoon is a man-made saltwater pool heated to a temperature warmer than the open ocean. The shallow, calm water makes it safe for young kids who aren’t ready for the surf.

Open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, the lagoon comes with water slides, fountains, a playground, a sandy beach and volleyball courts.

You can bring your own food and set up in the picnic areas on the grass. Lifeguards are on duty throughout operating hours.

The Strand lets you ride 22 miles without touching a traffic light

The Marvin Braude Bike Trail runs 22 miles of paved, car-free path from Torrance Beach in the south all the way to Will Rogers State Beach in the Pacific Palisades.

Redondo Beach sits near the southern end, so you can ride north and pass through Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Venice Beach and Santa Monica without a single intersection to stop you.

The path hugs the coast for most of the route and stays mostly flat. Bike rentals are available at the pier and harbor if you didn’t bring your own.

The Esplanade at sunset is worth the walk up

The beach itself runs wide and flat, and people use every inch of it. Volleyball courts fill up in the afternoon.

Surfers take the waves while families spread out on blankets nearby. Frisbees and kites go up when the wind picks up.

Morning joggers run the waterline at low tide. But the Esplanade, the walkway that runs above the beach along the bluffs, gives you one of the best sunset views in the entire South Bay.

The ocean goes orange and the pier lights up, and the whole thing happens right in front of you.

Riviera Village has 200 shops and a weekly farmers market

About three miles south of King Harbor, Riviera Village has run as a local shopping district since 1954.

Six walkable blocks hold more than 200 locally owned boutiques, galleries, restaurants and service shops, all a short walk from the beach.

A weekly farmers market brings fresh produce, prepared food and local vendors to the area.

Each year, the district puts on a Summer Festival with local art and live music, and a Holiday Stroll with carolers and lights that draws people from across the South Bay.

Small silver fish wash ashore here on spring nights

Between March and June, on the nights just after a full moon, grunion come in.

These small silvery fish ride high-tide waves onto the sand, wriggle into the wet beach to lay their eggs, and wait for the next wave to carry them back out.

It happens at night, and people gather on the beach with flashlights to watch it. It costs nothing and happens on no schedule you can fully predict.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife sets open and closed seasons for catching them, so check the rules before you pick any up.

Visit Redondo Beach in Los Angeles County, California

You can find the pier and King Harbor at the center of Redondo Beach’s waterfront, and that’s where most of the action concentrates.

Parking is available in public lots and structures near the pier, with metered street parking throughout town. Seaside Lagoon runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; the pier, beach and harbor stay open year-round.

The weather stays mild most of the year, but bring a layer since the ocean breeze drops the temperature fast after the sun goes down, especially on the pier.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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