Head to Redondo Beach!
Ah! The beach. Getting out on or in the water… A part of Los Angeles, a day at the beach & in the water…
by Deborah Shadovitz & Lisa Landis On any day when you’ve had enough of the Los Angeles heat, of endless pavement, cars, and homes, take a moment to remember that we in Los Angeles actually have an ocean and accessible beaches waiting to be enjoyed. Then give yourself a break and go enjoy the ocean air, the infinite view — and perhaps the different feeling of being in or on the water. One of the nicest, easiest places to do this is Redondo Beach. Go for a day, a few days, or just a few hours. Redondo Beach has clean water and a beach that’s expansive and clean. King Harbor provides a safe area for fishing and pleasure boats. The Municipal Pier is nice to walk along or fish from. There’s another Pier as well. Several excellent eateries are right in the area and there’s a nice strolling/shopping area as well. If you visit Redondo Beach in summer, you have the option of several on-the-water activities. In winter months there’s whale watching. And there is always bicycling and walking along with the great air and views. [column-group][column] When my cousin Lisa came to Los Angeles to visit, we headed straight out of my Los Angeles postal code and to the water-enhanced air of Redondo Beach. Although I live just about an hour away, we decided to stay overnight in Redondo, making it a true vacation. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina Hotel, just a parking lot away from the beach and its activities. It’s a beautiful 339-room business class hotel that’s welcoming from the moment you walk into the marble lobby and notice the huge high salt water fish tank amid the varied, inviting seating areas. There on Sunday and Monday night, we were lucky enough to get an ocean-facing room, complete with our own balcony. (Every room has a private balcony.) We certainly loved starting and ending each day taking in view of the Pacific, King Harbor and the Redondo Beach Marina. Each of the rooms on the side of the Crowne Plaza also feature an ocean view as the windows are creatively set on an angle. There was so much to do though, that as nice as the room and hotel was, we headed out for the day. We did have plenty of time to enjoy the hotel, and especially its fine restaurant, Splash, later on. (More about the hotel.)Bicycle The Strand & Riviera Village
One nice way to get to know Redondo Beach is to bicycle along the beach on The Strand and though some the town. We borrowed (rented) bikes from our hotel and spent a few hours on a nice, slow ride. We mention this first only because the sun tends to come out in the afternoon, so it’s best to bike in the morning.- If you’re a guest at the Crowne Plaza you can rent from the hotel through the Concierge (Bellhop).
- Alternately, there’s a bike rental stand on North Harbor Drive directly across from the Crowne Plaza.
![RB-Muni-Pier-from-bike_(0055)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Muni-Pier-from-bike_0055-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Muni-PIer-logo_(0037)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Muni-PIer-logo_0037-1-1.jpg)
![RB-MuniPier-fishing-MaisonRiz-NorthernBeach_(1455)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-MuniPier-fishing-MaisonRiz-NorthernBeach_1455-1-1.jpg)
![RB-coastline-from-south-beach_(0069)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-coastline-from-south-beach_0069-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Riviera Village_(1489)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Riviera-Village_1489-1-1.jpg)
![RB-bike-by-Yacht-club_(1147)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-bike-by-Yacht-club_1147-1-2-2.jpg)
By the time we’d had enough riding we were ready for lunch and some time on the water. If our goal hadn’t been to see Redondo Beach, we could have bicycled north instead, as The Strand runs all the way to Pacific Palisades, north of Santa Monica. You can read about The Strand on wikipedia.
Pedal Boat Rental
Along the wooden pier that’s off the open parking lot, you’ll find a yellow booth for the SSV Looking Glass, Pedal boats and Kayaks. All are options for fun on the water (and are only open in summer months).![RB-Boat-Rental_(0150) homepage](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Boat-Rental_0150-1-homepage-1-1.jpg)
![RB-pedal-boat_(0147)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-pedal-boat_0147-1-1.jpg)
Kayak Rental
Kayaks are a different experience, and are another great way to cool off. You can rent either a single kayak or a double. We opted for the double as (a) it was Lisa’s first time on one and (b) we wanted to spend the time together. Kayaks are quiet, you can move slowly or cover a lot of ground quickly, they don’t require great effort, and although they might look as if they’ll put you over, they don’t. Kayaking is a great experience that anyone can enjoy. As Redondo Beach’s King Harbor is a protected area, it can be quite calm and can be a perfect first kayaking experience. The kayaks are sit-on-top style. You sit with your leges out in front of you and have a short back rest to lean back against. (It’s adjustable and the staff will help you get comfortable.) Because you’re climbing in from the dock, you don’t have to get wet, but there is a chance your bottom will get wet, and you might want it too as the water is fun. When it’s warm, you’ll dry off very quickly but you might bring a change of lower garments in your car or backpack just to be safe. A kayak paddle is a two-sided stick with paddles on each end. Holding it firmly in the center, you dip one end in first, then tilt the stick to dip the other end in the other side. One a double kayak you want to do this in synch. With a bit of luck you get a synchronized rhythm in a few strokes. The person in back steers by keeping a paddle in the water to turn. You can travel quite quickly in a kayak.![RB-Kayaking-2-shots_(0142)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Kayaking-2-shots_0142-1-1.png)
Voyager Nature Cruise boat tours of the harbor & whale watching
![RB-Voyager-coming-in_(1243)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Voyager-coming-in_1243-2-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Voyager-Ticket-booth_(1251)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Voyager-Ticket-booth_1251-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Voyager-passengers_(1284)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Voyager-passengers_1284-1-1.jpg)
- on the hour from 4 p.m. – sunset on Friday evenings
- 1pm to sunset on weekends, depending on the demand (Sunset is 7 or 8 p.m.)
Whale watching on The Voyager
If you come to Redondo Beach during the winter months, you can take a whole different ride on The Voyager — going out further into the ocean to where the whales are as they are migrating. As we heard it, Captain Sawyer doesn’t just take the Voyager on a set route, hoping to see the migrating whales. We’re told he works hard to learn where the whales are, and goes out to them. To give you an idea of what the whale watching tour entails, the boat burns 5 gallons of gas on harbor area tour, but about 25 gallons when it goes out after the whales. You never know what a whale watching experience will be from one day to another. One trip brought quite the surprise when a Fin whale came right up to the boat! The whales feed on krill, Captain Sawyer explained, and the krill were hiding under the boat as they tend to do. The whale was simply going for the food. Imagine being on this boat as a Fin whale comes toward you! It was a bit of a scare, and certainly a thrill for everyone on board. Whale watching is possible while the whales are migrating down to Baja. Officially the season is from November or late December through mid-April. However, Voyager adjusts their schedule per the migration. For example, if Blue whales came through the area in fall 2011 like they did last fall, Voyager will again adjust their schedule do you have the opportunity to see them. Be sure to check VoyagerExcursions.com. for current schedules and daily whale sightings.For info and reservations call 310-944-1219. You can also learn about fees, hours, and more for the Voyager at VoyagerExcursions.com. It’s particularly important to check their website for the whate watcing schedule. You can also learn about the whale sighting and excursions on their facebook page.
SSV Looking Glass Sub-Sea Tour
The SSV Looking Glass — a glass-sided boat — is a summer only experience, good for families.![RB-LookingGlass-boat_(0090)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-LookingGlass-boat_0090-1-1.jpg)
- Opaleye Perch
- Smelt
- Garibaldi our state fish
- Calico Bass (they have orange spots at their bottom)
- Señorita
- Sea stars (they’re not really called Star Fish)
Other fish I’m not sure we saw:
- Smelt
- Blacksmith Perch
![RB-LookingGlass-Fish_(1390)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-LookingGlass-Fish_1390-1-1.jpg)
![RB-kayak-&-looking-glass-sea-lions_(1184)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-kayak-looking-glass-sea-lions_1184-1-1.jpg)
Other things to do at Redondo Beach
Sport Fishing Pier
If you’re into fishing, you can fish on your own off the main pier — or visit the sport fishing pier to sign up for a charter fishing boat, or to purchase bait or other fishing supplies.![RB-Sport-Fishing-boat_(1219)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Sport-Fishing-boat_1219-11-1-1.jpg)
Gondola Cruises
Gondola Amore offers romantic sunset or moonlight gondola rides around Redondo Harbor.![RB-Gondola_(1245)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Gondola_1245-1-1.jpg)
More Kayaking
There’s another kayak rental as well, located on the tip of Potifino Way, at Rocky Point Marine Fuel. They rent skiffs (motorized rowboats) and kayaks.Sailing Lessons and Charters
There are also sailboats, lessons and charters. Check out South Bay Sailing if you’d like to learn to sail or improve your skills, or to charter a sail boat. They also have a Youth Camp. You can learn about all of this at SouthBaySailing.com.Parking for these Redondo Beach activities
Off of North Harbor Drive, you’ll notice a huge uncovered parking lot where from north to south you’ll first see the Sport Fishing Pier (home to Polly’s), then Ruby’s Diner, a free-standing restaurant called Samba, one called On The Rocks, then Captain Kidds Fish Market and Delzano’s. This parking lot is the correct one for each of these restaurants — and for each of the water activities we discuss here, which take place not on the Municipal Pier, but at the wooden walkways just north of the larger cement pier. All the restaurants in this parking lot area validate your parking for 2 hours so. It will cost you $2 for those 2 hours. After that, parking is $2/hour, up to a $20 max. The FastKayak concerns (Looking Glass, kayaks and pedal boats) also cover “up to 2 hours” of your parking. Voyager validates as well. (They can’t validate if you park in the Municipal structure.) If you’re going to the Municipal Pier for meal, use that covered parking structure. Most of the restaurants validate your parking for a couple of hours. The price of parking is about the same for this parking structure. This parking pricing info is accurate for 2011. These are year-round rates.Read about some Redondo Beach restaurant options on this next page. Learn about staying at the Redondo Beach Crowne Plaza hotel. [/column][/column-group]
]]>Head to Redondo Beach!
Ah! The beach. Getting out on or in the water… A part of Los Angeles, a day at the beach & in the water…
by Deborah Shadovitz & Lisa Landis On any day when you’ve had enough of the Los Angeles heat, of endless pavement, cars, and homes, take a moment to remember that we in Los Angeles actually have an ocean and accessible beaches waiting to be enjoyed. Then give yourself a break and go enjoy the ocean air, the infinite view — and perhaps the different feeling of being in or on the water. One of the nicest, easiest places to do this is Redondo Beach. Go for a day, a few days, or just a few hours. Redondo Beach has clean water and a beach that’s expansive and clean. King Harbor provides a safe area for fishing and pleasure boats. The Municipal Pier is nice to walk along or fish from. There’s another Pier as well. Several excellent eateries are right in the area and there’s a nice strolling/shopping area as well. If you visit Redondo Beach in summer, you have the option of several on-the-water activities. In winter months there’s whale watching. And there is always bicycling and walking along with the great air and views. [column-group][column] When my cousin Lisa came to Los Angeles to visit, we headed straight out of my Los Angeles postal code and to the water-enhanced air of Redondo Beach. Although I live just about an hour away, we decided to stay overnight in Redondo, making it a true vacation. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina Hotel, just a parking lot away from the beach and its activities. It’s a beautiful 339-room business class hotel that’s welcoming from the moment you walk into the marble lobby and notice the huge high salt water fish tank amid the varied, inviting seating areas. There on Sunday and Monday night, we were lucky enough to get an ocean-facing room, complete with our own balcony. (Every room has a private balcony.) We certainly loved starting and ending each day taking in view of the Pacific, King Harbor and the Redondo Beach Marina. Each of the rooms on the side of the Crowne Plaza also feature an ocean view as the windows are creatively set on an angle. There was so much to do though, that as nice as the room and hotel was, we headed out for the day. We did have plenty of time to enjoy the hotel, and especially its fine restaurant, Splash, later on. (More about the hotel.)Bicycle The Strand & Riviera Village
One nice way to get to know Redondo Beach is to bicycle along the beach on The Strand and though some the town. We borrowed (rented) bikes from our hotel and spent a few hours on a nice, slow ride. We mention this first only because the sun tends to come out in the afternoon, so it’s best to bike in the morning.- If you’re a guest at the Crowne Plaza you can rent from the hotel through the Concierge (Bellhop).
- Alternately, there’s a bike rental stand on North Harbor Drive directly across from the Crowne Plaza.
![RB-Muni-Pier-from-bike_(0055)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Muni-Pier-from-bike_0055-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Muni-PIer-logo_(0037)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Muni-PIer-logo_0037-1-1.jpg)
![RB-MuniPier-fishing-MaisonRiz-NorthernBeach_(1455)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-MuniPier-fishing-MaisonRiz-NorthernBeach_1455-1-1.jpg)
![RB-coastline-from-south-beach_(0069)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-coastline-from-south-beach_0069-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Riviera Village_(1489)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Riviera-Village_1489-1-1.jpg)
![RB-bike-by-Yacht-club_(1147)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-bike-by-Yacht-club_1147-1-2-2.jpg)
By the time we’d had enough riding we were ready for lunch and some time on the water. If our goal hadn’t been to see Redondo Beach, we could have bicycled north instead, as The Strand runs all the way to Pacific Palisades, north of Santa Monica. You can read about The Strand on wikipedia.
Pedal Boat Rental
Along the wooden pier that’s off the open parking lot, you’ll find a yellow booth for the SSV Looking Glass, Pedal boats and Kayaks. All are options for fun on the water (and are only open in summer months).![RB-Boat-Rental_(0150) homepage](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Boat-Rental_0150-1-homepage-1-1.jpg)
![RB-pedal-boat_(0147)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-pedal-boat_0147-1-1.jpg)
Kayak Rental
Kayaks are a different experience, and are another great way to cool off. You can rent either a single kayak or a double. We opted for the double as (a) it was Lisa’s first time on one and (b) we wanted to spend the time together. Kayaks are quiet, you can move slowly or cover a lot of ground quickly, they don’t require great effort, and although they might look as if they’ll put you over, they don’t. Kayaking is a great experience that anyone can enjoy. As Redondo Beach’s King Harbor is a protected area, it can be quite calm and can be a perfect first kayaking experience. The kayaks are sit-on-top style. You sit with your leges out in front of you and have a short back rest to lean back against. (It’s adjustable and the staff will help you get comfortable.) Because you’re climbing in from the dock, you don’t have to get wet, but there is a chance your bottom will get wet, and you might want it too as the water is fun. When it’s warm, you’ll dry off very quickly but you might bring a change of lower garments in your car or backpack just to be safe. A kayak paddle is a two-sided stick with paddles on each end. Holding it firmly in the center, you dip one end in first, then tilt the stick to dip the other end in the other side. One a double kayak you want to do this in synch. With a bit of luck you get a synchronized rhythm in a few strokes. The person in back steers by keeping a paddle in the water to turn. You can travel quite quickly in a kayak.![RB-Kayaking-2-shots_(0142)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Kayaking-2-shots_0142-1-1.png)
Voyager Nature Cruise boat tours of the harbor & whale watching
![RB-Voyager-coming-in_(1243)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Voyager-coming-in_1243-2-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Voyager-Ticket-booth_(1251)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Voyager-Ticket-booth_1251-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Voyager-passengers_(1284)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Voyager-passengers_1284-1-1.jpg)
- on the hour from 4 p.m. – sunset on Friday evenings
- 1pm to sunset on weekends, depending on the demand (Sunset is 7 or 8 p.m.)
Whale watching on The Voyager
If you come to Redondo Beach during the winter months, you can take a whole different ride on The Voyager — going out further into the ocean to where the whales are as they are migrating. As we heard it, Captain Sawyer doesn’t just take the Voyager on a set route, hoping to see the migrating whales. We’re told he works hard to learn where the whales are, and goes out to them. To give you an idea of what the whale watching tour entails, the boat burns 5 gallons of gas on harbor area tour, but about 25 gallons when it goes out after the whales. You never know what a whale watching experience will be from one day to another. One trip brought quite the surprise when a Fin whale came right up to the boat! The whales feed on krill, Captain Sawyer explained, and the krill were hiding under the boat as they tend to do. The whale was simply going for the food. Imagine being on this boat as a Fin whale comes toward you! It was a bit of a scare, and certainly a thrill for everyone on board. Whale watching is possible while the whales are migrating down to Baja. Officially the season is from November or late December through mid-April. However, Voyager adjusts their schedule per the migration. For example, if Blue whales came through the area in fall 2011 like they did last fall, Voyager will again adjust their schedule do you have the opportunity to see them. Be sure to check VoyagerExcursions.com. for current schedules and daily whale sightings.For info and reservations call 310-944-1219. You can also learn about fees, hours, and more for the Voyager at VoyagerExcursions.com. It’s particularly important to check their website for the whate watcing schedule. You can also learn about the whale sighting and excursions on their facebook page.
SSV Looking Glass Sub-Sea Tour
The SSV Looking Glass — a glass-sided boat — is a summer only experience, good for families.![RB-LookingGlass-boat_(0090)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-LookingGlass-boat_0090-1-1.jpg)
- Opaleye Perch
- Smelt
- Garibaldi our state fish
- Calico Bass (they have orange spots at their bottom)
- Señorita
- Sea stars (they’re not really called Star Fish)
Other fish I’m not sure we saw:
- Smelt
- Blacksmith Perch
![RB-LookingGlass-Fish_(1390)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-LookingGlass-Fish_1390-1-1.jpg)
![RB-kayak-&-looking-glass-sea-lions_(1184)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-kayak-looking-glass-sea-lions_1184-1-1.jpg)
Other things to do at Redondo Beach
Sport Fishing Pier
If you’re into fishing, you can fish on your own off the main pier — or visit the sport fishing pier to sign up for a charter fishing boat, or to purchase bait or other fishing supplies.![RB-Sport-Fishing-boat_(1219)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Sport-Fishing-boat_1219-11-1-1.jpg)
Gondola Cruises
Gondola Amore offers romantic sunset or moonlight gondola rides around Redondo Harbor.![RB-Gondola_(1245)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Gondola_1245-1-1.jpg)
More Kayaking
There’s another kayak rental as well, located on the tip of Potifino Way, at Rocky Point Marine Fuel. They rent skiffs (motorized rowboats) and kayaks.Sailing Lessons and Charters
There are also sailboats, lessons and charters. Check out South Bay Sailing if you’d like to learn to sail or improve your skills, or to charter a sail boat. They also have a Youth Camp. You can learn about all of this at SouthBaySailing.com.Parking for these Redondo Beach activities
Off of North Harbor Drive, you’ll notice a huge uncovered parking lot where from north to south you’ll first see the Sport Fishing Pier (home to Polly’s), then Ruby’s Diner, a free-standing restaurant called Samba, one called On The Rocks, then Captain Kidds Fish Market and Delzano’s. This parking lot is the correct one for each of these restaurants — and for each of the water activities we discuss here, which take place not on the Municipal Pier, but at the wooden walkways just north of the larger cement pier. All the restaurants in this parking lot area validate your parking for 2 hours so. It will cost you $2 for those 2 hours. After that, parking is $2/hour, up to a $20 max. The FastKayak concerns (Looking Glass, kayaks and pedal boats) also cover “up to 2 hours” of your parking. Voyager validates as well. (They can’t validate if you park in the Municipal structure.) If you’re going to the Municipal Pier for meal, use that covered parking structure. Most of the restaurants validate your parking for a couple of hours. The price of parking is about the same for this parking structure. This parking pricing info is accurate for 2011. These are year-round rates.Read about some Redondo Beach restaurant options on this next page. Learn about staying at the Redondo Beach Crowne Plaza hotel. [/column][/column-group]
]]>Head to Redondo Beach!
Ah! The beach. Getting out on or in the water… A part of Los Angeles, a day at the beach & in the water…
by Deborah Shadovitz & Lisa Landis On any day when you’ve had enough of the Los Angeles heat, of endless pavement, cars, and homes, take a moment to remember that we in Los Angeles actually have an ocean and accessible beaches waiting to be enjoyed. Then give yourself a break and go enjoy the ocean air, the infinite view — and perhaps the different feeling of being in or on the water. One of the nicest, easiest places to do this is Redondo Beach. Go for a day, a few days, or just a few hours. Redondo Beach has clean water and a beach that’s expansive and clean. King Harbor provides a safe area for fishing and pleasure boats. The Municipal Pier is nice to walk along or fish from. There’s another Pier as well. Several excellent eateries are right in the area and there’s a nice strolling/shopping area as well. If you visit Redondo Beach in summer, you have the option of several on-the-water activities. In winter months there’s whale watching. And there is always bicycling and walking along with the great air and views. [column-group][column] When my cousin Lisa came to Los Angeles to visit, we headed straight out of my Los Angeles postal code and to the water-enhanced air of Redondo Beach. Although I live just about an hour away, we decided to stay overnight in Redondo, making it a true vacation. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina Hotel, just a parking lot away from the beach and its activities. It’s a beautiful 339-room business class hotel that’s welcoming from the moment you walk into the marble lobby and notice the huge high salt water fish tank amid the varied, inviting seating areas. There on Sunday and Monday night, we were lucky enough to get an ocean-facing room, complete with our own balcony. (Every room has a private balcony.) We certainly loved starting and ending each day taking in view of the Pacific, King Harbor and the Redondo Beach Marina. Each of the rooms on the side of the Crowne Plaza also feature an ocean view as the windows are creatively set on an angle. There was so much to do though, that as nice as the room and hotel was, we headed out for the day. We did have plenty of time to enjoy the hotel, and especially its fine restaurant, Splash, later on. (More about the hotel.)Bicycle The Strand & Riviera Village
One nice way to get to know Redondo Beach is to bicycle along the beach on The Strand and though some the town. We borrowed (rented) bikes from our hotel and spent a few hours on a nice, slow ride. We mention this first only because the sun tends to come out in the afternoon, so it’s best to bike in the morning.- If you’re a guest at the Crowne Plaza you can rent from the hotel through the Concierge (Bellhop).
- Alternately, there’s a bike rental stand on North Harbor Drive directly across from the Crowne Plaza.
![RB-Muni-Pier-from-bike_(0055)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Muni-Pier-from-bike_0055-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Muni-PIer-logo_(0037)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Muni-PIer-logo_0037-1-1.jpg)
![RB-MuniPier-fishing-MaisonRiz-NorthernBeach_(1455)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-MuniPier-fishing-MaisonRiz-NorthernBeach_1455-1-1.jpg)
![RB-coastline-from-south-beach_(0069)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-coastline-from-south-beach_0069-1-1.jpg)
![RB-Riviera Village_(1489)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Riviera-Village_1489-1-1.jpg)
![RB-bike-by-Yacht-club_(1147)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-bike-by-Yacht-club_1147-1-2-2.jpg)
By the time we’d had enough riding we were ready for lunch and some time on the water. If our goal hadn’t been to see Redondo Beach, we could have bicycled north instead, as The Strand runs all the way to Pacific Palisades, north of Santa Monica. You can read about The Strand on wikipedia.
Pedal Boat Rental
Along the wooden pier that’s off the open parking lot, you’ll find a yellow booth for the SSV Looking Glass, Pedal boats and Kayaks. All are options for fun on the water (and are only open in summer months).![RB-Boat-Rental_(0150) homepage](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Boat-Rental_0150-1-homepage-1-1.jpg)
![RB-pedal-boat_(0147)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-pedal-boat_0147-1-1.jpg)
Kayak Rental
Kayaks are a different experience, and are another great way to cool off. You can rent either a single kayak or a double. We opted for the double as (a) it was Lisa’s first time on one and (b) we wanted to spend the time together. Kayaks are quiet, you can move slowly or cover a lot of ground quickly, they don’t require great effort, and although they might look as if they’ll put you over, they don’t. Kayaking is a great experience that anyone can enjoy. As Redondo Beach’s King Harbor is a protected area, it can be quite calm and can be a perfect first kayaking experience. The kayaks are sit-on-top style. You sit with your leges out in front of you and have a short back rest to lean back against. (It’s adjustable and the staff will help you get comfortable.) Because you’re climbing in from the dock, you don’t have to get wet, but there is a chance your bottom will get wet, and you might want it too as the water is fun. When it’s warm, you’ll dry off very quickly but you might bring a change of lower garments in your car or backpack just to be safe. A kayak paddle is a two-sided stick with paddles on each end. Holding it firmly in the center, you dip one end in first, then tilt the stick to dip the other end in the other side. One a double kayak you want to do this in synch. With a bit of luck you get a synchronized rhythm in a few strokes. The person in back steers by keeping a paddle in the water to turn. You can travel quite quickly in a kayak.![RB-Kayaking-2-shots_(0142)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Kayaking-2-shots_0142-1-1.png)
Voyager Nature Cruise boat tours of the harbor & whale watching
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- on the hour from 4 p.m. – sunset on Friday evenings
- 1pm to sunset on weekends, depending on the demand (Sunset is 7 or 8 p.m.)
Whale watching on The Voyager
If you come to Redondo Beach during the winter months, you can take a whole different ride on The Voyager — going out further into the ocean to where the whales are as they are migrating. As we heard it, Captain Sawyer doesn’t just take the Voyager on a set route, hoping to see the migrating whales. We’re told he works hard to learn where the whales are, and goes out to them. To give you an idea of what the whale watching tour entails, the boat burns 5 gallons of gas on harbor area tour, but about 25 gallons when it goes out after the whales. You never know what a whale watching experience will be from one day to another. One trip brought quite the surprise when a Fin whale came right up to the boat! The whales feed on krill, Captain Sawyer explained, and the krill were hiding under the boat as they tend to do. The whale was simply going for the food. Imagine being on this boat as a Fin whale comes toward you! It was a bit of a scare, and certainly a thrill for everyone on board. Whale watching is possible while the whales are migrating down to Baja. Officially the season is from November or late December through mid-April. However, Voyager adjusts their schedule per the migration. For example, if Blue whales came through the area in fall 2011 like they did last fall, Voyager will again adjust their schedule do you have the opportunity to see them. Be sure to check VoyagerExcursions.com. for current schedules and daily whale sightings.For info and reservations call 310-944-1219. You can also learn about fees, hours, and more for the Voyager at VoyagerExcursions.com. It’s particularly important to check their website for the whate watcing schedule. You can also learn about the whale sighting and excursions on their facebook page.
SSV Looking Glass Sub-Sea Tour
The SSV Looking Glass — a glass-sided boat — is a summer only experience, good for families.![RB-LookingGlass-boat_(0090)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-LookingGlass-boat_0090-1-1.jpg)
- Opaleye Perch
- Smelt
- Garibaldi our state fish
- Calico Bass (they have orange spots at their bottom)
- Señorita
- Sea stars (they’re not really called Star Fish)
Other fish I’m not sure we saw:
- Smelt
- Blacksmith Perch
![RB-LookingGlass-Fish_(1390)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-LookingGlass-Fish_1390-1-1.jpg)
![RB-kayak-&-looking-glass-sea-lions_(1184)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-kayak-looking-glass-sea-lions_1184-1-1.jpg)
Other things to do at Redondo Beach
Sport Fishing Pier
If you’re into fishing, you can fish on your own off the main pier — or visit the sport fishing pier to sign up for a charter fishing boat, or to purchase bait or other fishing supplies.![RB-Sport-Fishing-boat_(1219)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Sport-Fishing-boat_1219-11-1-1.jpg)
Gondola Cruises
Gondola Amore offers romantic sunset or moonlight gondola rides around Redondo Harbor.![RB-Gondola_(1245)](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RB-Gondola_1245-1-1.jpg)
More Kayaking
There’s another kayak rental as well, located on the tip of Potifino Way, at Rocky Point Marine Fuel. They rent skiffs (motorized rowboats) and kayaks.Sailing Lessons and Charters
There are also sailboats, lessons and charters. Check out South Bay Sailing if you’d like to learn to sail or improve your skills, or to charter a sail boat. They also have a Youth Camp. You can learn about all of this at SouthBaySailing.com.Parking for these Redondo Beach activities
Off of North Harbor Drive, you’ll notice a huge uncovered parking lot where from north to south you’ll first see the Sport Fishing Pier (home to Polly’s), then Ruby’s Diner, a free-standing restaurant called Samba, one called On The Rocks, then Captain Kidds Fish Market and Delzano’s. This parking lot is the correct one for each of these restaurants — and for each of the water activities we discuss here, which take place not on the Municipal Pier, but at the wooden walkways just north of the larger cement pier. All the restaurants in this parking lot area validate your parking for 2 hours so. It will cost you $2 for those 2 hours. After that, parking is $2/hour, up to a $20 max. The FastKayak concerns (Looking Glass, kayaks and pedal boats) also cover “up to 2 hours” of your parking. Voyager validates as well. (They can’t validate if you park in the Municipal structure.) If you’re going to the Municipal Pier for meal, use that covered parking structure. Most of the restaurants validate your parking for a couple of hours. The price of parking is about the same for this parking structure. This parking pricing info is accurate for 2011. These are year-round rates.Read about some Redondo Beach restaurant options on this next page. Learn about staying at the Redondo Beach Crowne Plaza hotel. [/column][/column-group]
]]>The Kern River is close enough that from the Los Angeles area, you can leave home in the morning, enjoy a day or two on the river (camping overnight), and return home. One of my friends did just that. I wanted more relaxation so my other companion Lorrie and I stayed in Kernville before and after our two-day rafting holiday. For our first night, I wanted to experience the town, so I selected the Kernville Inn, which sits beside the river and is right on the main street. After our trip, we stayed outside of town at Chuck Richard’s Falling Waters Resort. As both, our “room” included a kitchen and living room, great for families and long stays.
Kernville Inn
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Kernville Inn 11042 Kernville Road, Kernville, CA 93238 KernvilleInn.com (760) 376-2206[clearboth] [hr]
Falling Waters Resort
Chuck Richard’s place is off the beaten path, but just 2.4 miles from the town, making it an excellent getaway. I’m told people love to stay for weeks and fish. It’s also terrific for families, and families do, indeed, come for their summer vacation. Its 13 acres even include meeting facilities. Standing outside of our River View cottage, and looking down, I could see some the Lickety Split section of the river. I loved the sound of the river, remembering the thrill of rafting it with Chuck. The River View cottages are in a serene and relaxing, location where the air is fresh from the moving water below and greeenery all around. Other cottages face a children’s playgroud, or woods.![kern_falling_waters_resort](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/kern_falling_waters_resort-1-2-2.png)
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Falling Waters Resort 15729 Sierra Way, Kernville, CA 93238 ChuckRichards.com/Kern (760) 376-2242[hr] Hotel photos by Laureen Mitchell
#LAAL
Kernville & Lake Isabella: Things to do besides rafting This is page 2 of 3 of our article about rafting on the Kern River. Kernville is a tiny town that borders the river. Aside from private homes that reach into the mountains, it’s pretty much a small town center and one other street. You won’t find large hotels or chains here. Think cabins, B&B, small eateries, and local-only businesses. Kernville is about getting away and experiencing nature. One business owner said, “one of the attractions of Kern County is that you can hurt yourself. It’s kind of wild and unregulated.”
Things to Do
On Lake Isabella
Lake Isabella lies between the Lower and Upper Kern. It is actually a reservoir with an ever-changing water level. Trying to get to the lake for recreation, you’re likely to drive right past it, puzzling over where the entrance to the activity is. This is not a built-up resort full of rental stands and food concessions. [caption id="attachment_674" align="alignright" width="357"]![kern-North_Fork_Marina](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/kern-North_Fork_Marina-1-1.png)
North Fork Marina and French Gulch Owned by Bill and Deb Chase Northforkmarina.com Open year-round. (760)-376-1812 FrenchGulchMarina.com Open year-round. (760) 379-8774 Note: The marinas move, so phone for directions.
Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby
The 22nd Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby will take place April 16-18, 2011 and offer over $250,000 in prizes. Derby.KernRiverValley.com[hr]A note about signage
Once you’re outside of Kernville proper — in the in the parks/camping/historic areas — signage is scarce because the US Forest Service wants to keep things natural. Be sure to get clear directions to all things that are off of main roads. For example, told about a mine to visit, we listened to directions, found the small sign on the side of the road and think we turned off at the correct point, but after that there were no signs. We never did find the mine.
Things to Do In Kernville
Our time in Kernville was too short so we didn’t get to experience as much as we could have. Thus, these are just a few things your family might enjoy right in Kernville.Kern Valley Museum
Kernville, originally called Whiskey Flat, was the true Wild West. The Kern Valley Museum, run by the Kern River Valley Historical Society, and located right in town, is full of items and stories from the days of prospectors and miners, saloon patrons, shootings, and outlaws. I liked the story of a bar fight that led to an Ore discovery and the creation of another mine, with both men becoming partners! The museum has mining equipment, stuff from old movie days, the story of the Isabella Dam, and even prehistoric artifacts.Admission is Free Open 10-4 Thursday-Saturday. If you can’t get there during museum hours, come over anyway and enjoy the items and info that are out front. Kern Valley Museum 49 Big Blue Road Kernville, CA 93238 KernValleyMuseum.org (760) 376-6683
Visit a Mine
This sounds like a fun thing to do with children. Be sure to get directions though. We can’t tell you about a visit because we never found one.Fish Hatchery
The Fish Hatchery on Sierra Way is also said to be an interesting visit. The river is known for its Rainbow and Golden Trout.Camp at Frandy Park
[caption id="attachment_670" align="alignright" width="347"]![kern-Frandy, view from Kernville Inn](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/kern-Frandy-view-from-Kernville-Inn-1-1.png)
Enjoy the Water
I can’t provide details of the water activities and water safety here, but Lorrie and I saw families enjoying the shores of the Kern, right in town and at Frandy Park. We were told there was a safe swimming area not far from the center of town. The KRV Novelty Company, located right in town, sold inflatables and can likely give advice. Please refer back to the bottom of our rafting article for info about them. [hr]Things to Do Near Kernville
The Kern Valley Golf Course
On the way into Kernville from Bakersfield — two miles west of Kernville on Highway 155 — you’ll pass a very unpretentious-looking entrance to a PGA rated, Par 72 course and driving range. It’s open all year, 7 days a week. Men’s Tees are rated as 68.0 / Slope 106 Women’s Tee are rated as 71.3 / Slope 116 Our golf columnists have not played this course yet. KernValley.com/news/kvgolf.htm (760) 376-2828Silver City Ghost Town Silver City Ghost Town
Silver City Ghost Town, a collection of historic local Kern Valley structures, is located south of Lake Isabella in Bodfish, California. We have not been there to tell you about it, but it may be fun for kids. 3829 Lake Isabella Blvd. Bodfish, CA 93205 LakeIsabella.net/SilverCity MapGiant Sequoia National Monument Trail of a Hundred Giants
45 miles northwest of Kernville is near the Southern Gateway to the giant sequoias. Some trails can be driven by car. Access depends upon weather. We have not been there to tell you about it. KernValley.com/news/trail100.htmHorseback Riding
Sorry we can’t shed any light on this but we can offer it as a suggestion that you can look into. [hr]Resources
#LAAL
White water rafting in Southern California!
About 21/2 hours north of Los Angeles, 60 miles NE of Bakersfield…
by Deborah S. Shadovitz As my friends and I meandered down a slower part of the River Kern on a warm summer day, I found myself thinking it’s a pity that every American doesn’t get to raft this beautiful river through this magnificent canyon. Rafting is a perfect shared experience: relaxation, flowing water, sun, great food, and the rewarding feeling of getting past hurdles because of teamwork. [clearboth] Since the mid 1970s, the Kern River has been a prime spot for rafting. One reason is Lake Isabella, which sits below the Upper Kern holding water to feed the Lower Kern. The River Kern rafting season begins in April when the snows atop Mt Whitney melt into the Upper Kern, filling it and making it an active adventure. It ends around the end of August, when the water in the Lower Kern becomes too shallow. There are several ways you can experience rafting on the Kern, water levels dictating your options and the specifics of your trip.- There’s the 3-mile Lickety Split out of Kernville.
- For experienced rafters there’s the Thunder Run on the Upper Kern in April/May while the snow melt creates fast-running water.
- There are half, full, or two-day trips on the Lower Kern.
White Water Classes
You’ll hear the water described Class I-VI. This refers to the amount of white water — the speed, height and challenge of the water. Class I is calm, II gives you a bit of a kick, and IV will have that foamy white water coming up and hitting you. (V requires experience and VI is not runnable.)Intro to Rafting with Kern River Tours
For my rafting introduction, I chose Kern River Tours because it’s the longest-running company there, it’s independently owned, and its managing owner Kenny Bushling is a Kernville native who began as a rafting guide himself in 1986.![rafting-the-kern_OarsUp-026](http://losangelesarealife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/rafting-the-kern_OarsUp-026-1-1.png)
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“Adventure Swim”
After breakfast in the morning, instead of going to the boats, the guys started up a hill. “Are you coming?” they called to me and Lorrie? “Where?” we asked. “To swim a rapid,” they replied. Yep, they were about to jump into the ice-cold morning water right before some white water and go floating through it. My response was a certain no. And a short hike later I was on the shore receiving instructions for how to not drown in the foam. The water was cold, the foam was scary, I had a strange habit of floating the wrong way, but thanks to the very nice one-time strangers, I made it through and celebrated. (Our guide escorted Lorrie, who is not one to shy away from a challenge either.) [hr]Go Jump off a Cliff?
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Camaraderie
The four former college-buddies in the other raft were doing this trip with KRT for the fifth year in a row and love this one weekend a year where they get to be boys again. As we traversed the water, I realized what a great experience this would be for families. It’s a perfect shared experience: relaxation, flowing water, sun, great food, and the rewarding feeling of getting past hurdles because of teamwork. I found myself thinking it’s a pity that every American doesn’t get to raft this beautiful river through this magnificent canyon. [clearboth] [hr]Rough Camping (and cell phones)
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[hr]The Upper Kern Lickety Split
Although we’d intended for our two-day trip to be our maiden rafting voyage, Lorrie and I had a surprise initiation — in the Upper Kern as it ran fast! To learn about the area, we met with the one-and-only legendary Chuck Richards, who is commonly consdered the first to take people down the Kern in rafts. The water was running fast, and Chuck was in the mood for some excitement. So he had a talk with his pal Janet Sharp, the nice co-owner of Eagle Rafting, and after a short bus ride, we “put in” at the top of the Lickety Split run. The first time I realized we were heading directly into waves of white splashing water — and stopping to get out wasn’t an option —I thought, “what am I doing here?!” But we were with Chuck Richards — the living legend of the Kern River, the old-hat rafter who loved the thrills and excitement — and certainly knows what he is doing. “Go! Go!, Go!” Chuck commanded. Per Chuck’s instruction, we kept on “paddling though.” When our paddles could reach the water that is! Half the time we were on such a crest that our oars couldn’t reach the water, even as we perched on the edge of the raft and tried to lean. Then the wave would dip, our oars would reach below the surface and we’d feel our strokes propel us. Soon we reached calm — well calmer — water. How exhilarating! Forty mostly breathless minutes later, we stepped up on the Frandy Park beach and said “wow!” We headed to our hotel, the Kern River Inn, to shower and then to the Kern River Brewery for a much-needed burger and home-brewed beer.