Heading south from LA along PCH, beyond the runways of LAX and the oil refineries of El Segundo, begins the eight-mile coastal strip of the quieter and less pretentious South Bay beach towns: Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach . Each has a beckoning strip of white sand - much more open to the public than those around Malibu - and Manhattan and Hermosa are especially well equipped for surfing and beach sports. They're also well connected by the regular #439 bus to downtown LA. To the south are Long Beach and Catalina Island .

South Bay

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• Long Beach
• Santa Catalina Island

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