By Emma Krasov, photography by Emma Krasov

Best Western Sunrisein the middle of downtown is a short walk away from all the major attractions of the beach city. Redondo Beach Marina, teeming with boaters ready to explore the softer side of the Pacific; Redondo Beach Pier – a marvel of modern walkway architecture; Seaside Lagoon Water Park designed for tiny swimmers’ and their parents’ safety, and an array of seafood-centered restaurants, old-timer funky bars, and nostalgic little candy and ice-cream shops are all found along the sparklingly sunny waterfront.

In the morning, I accomplished my workout for the day on Beach Barcycle – a new inventive attraction that combines the notions of sitting in a bar, pedaling a bike, and moving along a busy street in a kind of a party street car. While the vehicle is powered by a team of leisurely “cyclers;” operated by a company driver who stirs the wheel; and moves only as fast as the pedaling goes, it is a part of the city traffic, and therefore no alcohol is allowed in this “bar.” I felt fine with just a bottle of water, and so did all my fellow passengers, trying our hardest to move faster amidst bursts of laughter and cheers from the passersby.


For a relatively small town populated by close to 70,000 people, Redondo Beach has plenty of great places to eat, drink, and be merry.
An historical and festively decorated Tony’s on the Pier offers creative cocktails, shrimp galore and of course, the views.

Samba Brazilian Steakhouseis a dinner and a show at its best, with efficient servers clad in black and carrying flaming skewers to the tables, and gorgeous samba dancers in sparkling carnival attire with ostrich feather headpieces dancing in the middle of the low-lit dining room.

Here, I returned several times during my short vacation to experience the many different ways to engage with the sea and the wondrous sea life in the friendly King Harbor.
On a nature cruise with Voyager Excursions I basked in the sun, inhaled the sea breeze, and watched brightly-colored sail boats and shiny dolphins playing around them.


I had a couple more chances to come close to the richness of Redondo Beach’s wildlife on a pedal boatand a kayak, readily available in the recreation area of the marina.

At night, I had a chance to check out at least three hugely-popular concert venues of the art-loving beach town. During my stay in Redondo Beach, Missing Persons performed at the BriXtonsnightclub on one night, and John Waite on another; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Nokie Edwards gathered an enormous crowd during a free concert on the Pier; and a Frank Sinatra Tribute Concert was going on at the lavish Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center – a crown jewel of the South Bay arts scene, equipped with a stage, lighting- and audio-systems fit for Broadway, and a plush 1,457-seat auditorium.
Coming up in December: Voyager Whale Watching – December through April. Gray whales migrate annually from Alaska to Baja California. Voyager excursions off the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina Channel depart seven days a week: www.voyagerexcursions.com
To learn more and to plan a visit to Redondo Beach, go to: www.visitredondo.com, www.redondo.org, www.redondochamber.org.
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