Redondo Beach is a laidback Southern California beach community where visitors can still see old bungalows, creaky fishing boats, and family-owned businesses that go back generations. Redondo was well-known as a beach getaway in the 1920s and again in the '50s and '60s with the rising popularity of surfing. Today it's more of a subdued destination, and Redondo attracts romantic travelers looking for a quiet weekend away.
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Activities for Couples:
1. Bicycle Along the Strand
Redondo Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Strand is a paved bicycle and pedestrian path that extends for 22 beachfront miles. It starts south of Redondo and stretches up to Will Rogers State Beach, north of Santa Monica. On the path, travelers pedal past the full gamut of the beach experience — from relaxed Redondo through volleyball-centric Hermosa Beach and up into the funkiness of Venice. And you know the views of the Pacific have to be spectacular if the wealthy beachfront homeowners of Santa Monica managed to block completion of the Strand for 20 years, until 1989. Today the entire path is open to the public, but know your own biking skill; cabs often wait near the path to take weary passengers back to their starting points.
2. Dine at at Maison Riz
Maison Riz.
One of the newest restaurants on the Redondo Beach Pier, Maison Riz is also the most romantic, with a view that literally takes couples out into the ocean. Located at the far end of a pier with an unobstructed view of the water, the restaurant seats diners right over the waves with views of the beach and the Pacific. The food is remarkably upmarket for the South Bay, blending Japanese and French cuisine in an elegant yet entirely approachable way. Tasting menus are nicely priced and include novel sushi, European desserts, and of course, plenty of fresh seafood.
3. Take a Day Trip to Catalina
Redondo Beach is actually the closest point on the mainland to Catalina, with boats traveling the 26 miles to the island. Catalina is well known as a wedding mecca, with grand ocean views throughout (and plenty of country clubs and ballrooms willing to charge for them). It’s also a perfect oceanfront place for couples who want to go hiking without having to travel inland, and offers snorkeling and scuba diving for mask-and-flipper enthusiasts.4. Plan on Cocktails & Dinner at Baleen Los Angeles
The Portofino Hotel / Baleen Los Angeles.
Baleen Los Angeles is the Portofino Hotel's hip-yet-humble restaurant and cocktail lounge, blending city style with the casual vibe of the surrounding marina. Couples can enjoy drinks on cozy fireside couches or savor a seafood-centric meal in the warmly lit dining area. Outdoor fire pits with cushioned seats for two are ideal for cuddling together under a blanket when you both “forget” to bring a jacket.
5. Kick Back at Redondo Beach
Panoramic Images / Getty Images.
Redondo Beach is the most relaxed part of the South Bay, with a slower pace than Hermosa and Manhattan Beaches, where volleyball nets and Baywatch babes tend to reign. A surprising amount of the focus in Redondo is on the marina, the pier, and maritime activities, yet the pristine and scenic beach is right there for the enjoying. It’s still easy to stake out a fairly private square of beach during the day or in the evening in Redondo, where you can watch the waves, see dolphins in the distance, or try to catch the eye of a hard-bodied surfer.
