Coastal Los Angeles Travel Information
West and south of central Los Angeles is a 60-mile stretch of
coastline as varied as the city itself. Luxury homes, kids playing on
the beach, Hollywood film shoots and commercial fishing piers can all
be found as you travel along the Pacific Coast past over a dozen
communities. The only constants are the beach, the surf, and the
sun. The rugged Santa Monica Mountains separate the San Fernando
Valley from the ocean and the coast beyond them is legendary. Malibu’s
famous sunny southern exposure can be found here, the excellent
beaches spread out below multimillion dollar houses. To the east are
Santa Monica and the Gold Coast, known for surf, sidewalk cafes, and
the Santa Monica Pier. The unique architecture at Venice Beach
shares space with quirky shops and street performers, though
the canals present in its high-concept early years are now largely
gone. Farther down the coast is Marina del Rey, home to a prominent
small craft harbor. Fishermen line the piers here and in Manhattan
Beach, a less commercial area with lots of families and a clean,
hometown ambiance. The Palos Verdes Peninsula, with its rocky green
cliffs, is short on beaches but offers plenty of tidepools and good
surfing spots. Finally, some 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles is
Long Beach, the city’s main port, an artificial harbor in the San
Pedro Bay. Ferries leave frequently from here to Catalina Island, a
beautiful vacation getaway. The coastal Los Angeles area is located
south and west of the city in southwest California, about 60 miles
north of San Diego. Go-California also offers separate coverage of Central Los Angeles and the Orange County area.
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