Top 10 Things to Do in Manhattan Beach, CA
From the Pier to the Promenade
This stylish, sun-kissed area leaves little to be desired. Add our favorite things to do in Manhattan Beach, CA to those found in the greater Los Angeles area, and you’ll never run out of things to do and see on your Southern California vacation. Use our Top 10 guide to locate the best Manhattan Beach attractions and activities nearby, from the pier to the promenade.
Top 10 Things to Do in Manhattan Beach:
Manhattan Beach Pier
It started as a small beach resort, and then became a lively place, entertaining locals and tourists alike. It is a main Manhattan Beach attraction and a must-see for all visitors, replete with its own Roundhouse Aquarium.
Downtown Manhattan Beach
Beach town culture meets urban refinement in Downtown Manhattan Beach. Diverse shops and restaurants pepper Highland Avenue between Manhattan Beach Boulevard and 15th Street. Browse distinctive shops and familiarize yourself with The Strand, which runs from Hermosa to Manhattan Beach, a great route for biking and rollerblading.
The Strand
The Strand runs from Hermosa to Manhattan Beach and is a great route for biking and rollerblading. Hemmed by shops and ocean views, it is an exciting place to get outside and enjoy the Cali sun in style.
LA Live
Spread over six city blocks, LA Live features the NOKIA Theatre, the STAPLES Center, home of the Lakers and the Clippers, and the Los Angeles Convention Center. A vibrant site for entertainment, LA Live is also home to a dozen fashionable restaurants and cafes, two vast nightclubs, the GRAMMY Museum, a bowling center, and ESPN's West Coast broadcast headquarters.
Home Depot Center
Located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California, the Home Depot Center is a multiple-use sports complex. It can be found approximately 10 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles and can facilitate 27,000 people, making it the largest soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer.
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
The Crown Jewel of the South Bay arts scene is the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. With its new daring, modern Grand Lobby, featuring a black Indian slate exterior, a granite water feature and a 21-feet high cherry ceiling, the 1,457-seat theatre is home to three prominent and lauded presenters: the Distinguished Speaker Series, the Los Angeles Ballet and Kala Koa Entertainment.
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica pier is a popular 3.5-mile beach that is cleaned and raked daily. The area features the Looff Hippodrome, a National Historic Landmark, complete with a 1920s carousel, a nine-story solar-powered Ferris wheel and a five-story roller coaster. Keep an eye out for dolphins that can often be sighted playing in the water nearby.
Santa Monica Promenade
The Third Street Promenade is blocked off to traffic so pedestrians can walk the streets and enjoy the sunshine, movies and restaurants. There are never-ending upscale boutiques and chic sidewalk cafes while various street performers entertain the ambling crowds. In addition to shopping and dining, the Promenade hosts a growing number of cute bookshops, antique stores and distinctive memorabilia shops.
Universal Studios
With spine-tingling theme park rides and shows, a real working movie studio and some of Los Angeles’ best shops, restaurants and cinemas at CityWalk, Universal Studios Hollywood is a distinctive experience for everyone. Take a Studio Tour to discover where Hollywood movies are made, experience the all new King Kong 360 3D, and enjoy exhilarating rides, shows and attractions all at Universal Studios.
The Grove
For shopping, dining and entertainment, the Grove is an ideal destination. From popular boutiques and restaurants to choreographed fountains, free live concerts in the park and the famous Farmers Market, there is a lot on offer at The Grove. Explore designer fashions and more.
