By Emma Krasov, photography by Emma Krasov
A 20-minute taxi ride took me from LAX to the historical Redondo Beach – a seaside resort since 1892, and a vibrant SoCal community today – and all of a sudden it was vacation.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.
On the night of my arrival I sat on an open-air terrace of Bluewater Grill, enjoying golden sunset with black silhouettes of tall palm trees, and a plate of wild swordfish from Catalina – a fresh catch from the boat belonging to one of the restaurant owners, according to my server. 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.
Lunch at white-table-cloth H.T. Grill quickly restored my energy with a market-fresh green salad, pecan crusted orange roughy in lemon butter, and rich chocolate molten cake topped with Frangelico whipped cream.
Inspired by the freshness of produce I just consumed, I walked along the stalls of the Riviera Village Farmers’ Market where many local chefs find ingredients for their delicious dishes. Compact, but incredibly colorful and diverse, the market carries everything from fresh berries to tropical fruit and from small-farm grown greens to homemade pickles, cheeses, salsas, and chocolates. 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.
Captain Kidd’s Fish Market carries all imaginable seafood prepared any way from sashimi to deep fried, or cleaned and packed to take home. 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.
Culinary art is not the only one that engages Redondo Beach residents. At the Sea Side Art Walk local watercolorist, photographers, glassmakers, and jewelers display their wares steps away from the bustling Redondo Beach Marina. 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.
On an exciting tour aboard SSV Looking Glass – a semi-submersible underwater viewing boat – I’ve learned quite a few interesting things. Our captain brought his passengers very close to the colony of resident sea lions and pointed out that they have ear flaps and longer faces as opposed to seals that have just hearing holes on the round heads. 
He also named several fish species, like opal-eyed perch, silvery smelts, and fiery-orange Garibaldi, all clearly visible during the underwater part of our journey. 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.
Cocktails and fresh sushi on the open air terrace of Kincaid’s, located at the Upper Redondo Beach Pier, seemed like a perfect way to round up a glorious day by the ocean. 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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