Los angeles view of the city from the beach. Can you swim in Los Angeles? And the Pacific Ocean is not the sea! Entertainment and attractions in Los Angeles

Los Cristianos is a quiet harbor on the island of Tenerife and a small Spanish resort town where people come to relax in a comfortable environment. Los Cristianos is considered a family resort. There are no night clubs rumbling until the morning and noisy youth parties. At night, the city is quiet and peaceful.

The resort is known for its two beaches, where you can not only swim and sunbathe, but also engage in water sports, as well as go on a boat trip on a yacht or boat. All beaches of Los Cristianos are equipped with umbrellas, showers, stalls and sunbeds.

Playa de las Vistas is a large artificial beach with clear waters, and Playa de los Cristianos is a natural beach created by nature itself, where you can enjoy picturesque views of the ocean and swim in warm water.

The location of this beautiful artificial beach is the coast of the resort next to the port. According to residents and guests of Los Cristianos, this is the best beach area in the city. It is constantly filled with vacationers.

In the 70s of the last century, mass construction was carried out on the territory of the resort. At that time, Los Cristianos did not yet have this beautiful beach, which subsequently received the highest ratings from tourism experts. The creator of Playa de las Vistas was a Swedish businessman, a certain Don Benito. He visited at that time on the island, where he was engaged in the improvement of his body.

The Swede really liked Tenerife and he began to equip the half-forgotten village. Don "Benito" was an enterprising man. He hired the best construction crew and made a good advertisement for the new vacation spot. Within a short time, an artificial beach area appeared in Los Cristianos with a well-thought-out infrastructure.

Today, Playa de las Vistas is one of the largest and most popular beaches on the south coast of Tenerife. This place is called the paradise of Los Cristianos. Not only beach holidays are developed here, but also health improvement. A large territory, a clean and calm sea, a variety of beach services - these are the main attractive features of Playa de las Vistas. The artificial bay created by the builders protects the beach from strong winds and waves on the water. Entire families with small children come here to rest.

On the beach, tourists can use all kinds of services. The most sophisticated of them appreciated the high level of comfort created in this paradise of Los Cristianos. Fans of outdoor activities can rent catamarans, inflatable bananas and jet skis.

Umbrellas and sun loungers are provided to vacationers not free of charge. At the same time, the cost of renting beach equipment is quite affordable for tourists with different levels of income. Beach guests can use showers, toilets and luggage storage, as well as relax in local restaurants and cafes. Everything you need for a holiday is sold in shops open right on the beach. Near Playa de las Vistas, you can stay in luxury hotels, however, the prices for accommodation in them are quite high.

The length of the beach along the coast is 900 m. It has a width of about 120 m, which is a record for the beach areas of the island.

You can rent a set for rest in the form of an umbrella and a sunbed for 8 hours here for 6 euros, and leave your things in a luggage room for 1 euro.

Playa de los Cristianos

Playa de los Cristianos is a natural beach area. This is a quiet bay, which was created by nature itself. The beach is covered with gray sand. It got this color thanks to the black sand of the Teide volcano and the white sand from the Sahara, mixed on this coast. Tourists come here to sunbathe and admire the picturesque ocean views. Swimming here is extremely rare.

The beach is located next to the seaport, filled with small steamers, fishing boats and yachts, which constantly muddy the water, which is why it cannot be called clean in this place. Swimming in the resort is preferable to Playa de las Vistas.

At the same time, Playa de los Cristianos boasts a developed infrastructure. It is equipped with beach cabanas, toilets and a rental shop. Rescuers monitor the safety of vacationers.

Basically, here you can see sedate, elderly Europeans, mostly Germans and British, who have their own property on the island in the form of apartments, where they relax in the summer. Los Cristianos can be called a quiet and calm city. Entertaining parties and noisy nightlife are absent here. There are few young people in the resort.

The length of Playa de los Cristianos along the coast is 300 m. It has a width of about 100 m.

For many Americans, they mean much more than Disneyland in California or the famous Hollywood sign on a high hill. We are most familiar with Malibu Beach (based on the American television series Baywatch), and even then everyone has already forgotten about it. However, there are quite a few beaches on the coast of California, and they are all very different, like. Therefore, when going on a trip to the US West Coast, it is better to choose in advance a couple of beaches in L.A. that you should definitely see. Choosing the right ones for you from a large list of all the beaches in the city can be quite a challenge. We have been to L.A. several times. and have personally visited many of its beaches, and now we invite you to check out our short guide to the beaches of Los Angeles, which can help you visit the very best of them.

What is the best beach in Los Angeles? The answer to this question depends on what exactly you want to see or what you plan to do there. With over 100 kilometers of coastline, there are so many beaches to choose from that you will definitely not lack a choice of places to sunbathe, swim, surf, dive, play volleyball or just hang out.

Here is a brief overview of the 9 best beaches in Los Angeles that suit completely different moods:

1. The best beach with a pier - Manhattan Beach(Manhattan Beach) is well suited for a relaxing beach holiday, as well as for walking along the pier and watching the ocean and surfing. The pier itself goes into the water for 300 meters into the distance. It was here that one of the scenes of the film was filmed. This is one of the most prestigious areas of Los Angeles.

Manhattan Beach Address: Western end of Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach
The best hotel - Manhattan Beach Marriott

2. The best place on the beach for those who do not like the usual beach holiday - Lounge on the roof of the house on Venice-beach(High Rooftop Lounge, Venice Beach). This is a wonderful place to relax on the beach without sand and water in a relaxing atmosphere and stunning views of the bay. In general, this is a district of creative people, so here you can easily find someone to talk to and talk about contemporary art. In the evening, you can watch amazing sunsets here.

Venis Beach Lounge Address: entrance via Hotel Erwin, 1697 Pacific Avenue, Venice
Comfortable hotel overlooking the ocean, next to the sign of Venice – Hotel Erwin

On Venice Beach

3. The best beach for a beach holiday to sunbathe and relax - Topanga Beach(Topanga State Beach). At first, this beach looks unremarkable, but the main thing here is the Rosenthal Winer winery and the Getty Villa, which is located directly across the Pacific Coast Highway, so there will be no problems getting there. There is a pedestrian crossing right under the highway, so you can quickly run to the store at the winery.

Topanga beach address: 18700 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu
The nearest accommodation is located at the beginning of Sunset Boulevard - Charming Beach House Pacific Palisades

4. The best beach for whale watching in the ocean is Point Dume(Point Dume Beach), which is located 18 kilometers west of Santa Monica. You can get to Point Dume by bus that travels along the Pacific Coast Highway to the west, or by car (turn onto Westward Beach Road towards the ocean). Sometimes here you can see sea lions that come to lie on the shore, and in winter whales swim along the coast, which can be observed from a high coast. The beach itself is quite good, you can swim and sunbathe, and the high cliffs behind the beach protect it well from the wind.

Pointe Dume beach address: 7103 Westward Rd., Malibu, CA
Wonderful hotel near Point Dume beach – The Native Hotel

Photos of Pointe Dume beach

5. The best beach for a picnic with a fire - Bolsa Chica(Bolsa Chica State Beach). This beach is located in the south of Los Angeles and stretches for almost 5 kilometers along the coast. It is great for those who want to sunbathe and swim, as well as put up a tent (there is a day camp here from 6:00 to 22:00) and build a fire. Be sure to check the forecast before visiting this beach. Parking is $15 for the whole day.

Bolsa Chica beach address: between Sunset Beach and Seapoint Avenue along the Pacific Coast Highway.
The best place to stay on Sunset Beach is in a hotel Best Western Harbor Inn & Suites

6. The best beach for watching the tides - Ebalon Cove Beach(Abalone Cove Beach), located in the Palos Verdes area. Along the 8-kilometer rocky shore are two wonderful bays - Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove, where the best thing to do is to watch the ocean waves and Catalina Island located in the distance. The views are simply amazing, especially if you go upstairs. Before you go to this beach, check the tide charts so you don't miss out on the fun. Parking fee: $5.

Ebalon Cove beach address: 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes
The closest good hotel is Terranea - L.A.'s Oceanfront Resort

7. The best beach for a photo - El Matador(El Matador). To get to this beach, look carefully at the road signs and do not miss the turn to it between Broad Beach Road and Decker Canyon Road, north of Malibu Beach. El Matador Beach is known for its massive jagged cliffs and used to be considered a real paradise for photographers and models. However, with the advent of Instagram, it has also become the dream of all Instagrammers who want to get an amazing selfie to surprise all their friends who have not been to California. In addition, on the El Matador beach, you can watch the waves crashing against the picturesque rocks for hours.

El Matador beach address: El Matador Beach Road, located between Broad Beach road and Decker Canyon road along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Good hotel in Malibu - Malibu Country Inn

8. The best beach for training and sports - Playa del Rey(Dockweiler Beach, Playa del Rey). There is a large parking lot in front of the entrance, and there are volleyball courts on the beach itself, while it is not very crowded. The Marvin Braude Bike Path starts from the beach, and many sports residents of Los Angeles also like to run here in the mornings.
Playa del Rey beach address: Near the western end of Imperial Highway, 12001 Vista Del Mar, Playa del Rey.

9. The best beach for surfing is in Malibu (Malibu Surfrider Beach). The world-famous sandy beach, located north of Malibu Pier, gives both experienced surfers and beginners the opportunity to ride the wave and ride it for several hundred meters, in front of many spectators. The cost of parking a car is $12.
Surfrider Beach Address: 23050 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu.

Next, I present to you our los angeles beaches overview and neighborhoods in order, from north to south. Closest to downtown Los Angeles are the beaches of Santa Monica, Venice, and Marina del Rey, which are easiest to get to by bus or subway.

Malibu is a strongly elongated north-south area in the western part of the city of Los Angeles, located northwest of the area, about 45 kilometers from downtown. In addition to its best beaches, the Malibu area is known for expensive shops and excellent restaurants located on the Pacific Ocean right along the road.

Malibu beach is the most famous beach in Los Angeles, and the area around it is built up with the most expensive mansions of movie stars and just rich people from all over the world. It is also considered the best place in California for surfing.

Get to Malibu Beach You can take bus route 534 along the Pacific Coast Highway connecting it to Santa Monica, where you can also transfer to other bus routes to downtown Los Angeles along Fairfax Avenue and Washington Boulevard. The bus to Malibu runs much less frequently than most other buses to Santa Monica and Venice, and its stops are far apart. Therefore, to travel around the Malibu area, it is highly recommended to use a car (you can rent it) so as not to walk tens of kilometers.

The easiest way to get to Malibu Beach is by car, but you can also take a bus

Description of the beaches of Malibu

To understand how good the beaches of Malibu are, first imagine the French Cote d'Azur, where you can see famous people everywhere, and then, for contrast, imagine a relaxing vacation on the ocean. Malibu consists of a mixture of these two opposites.

Most of the coast of Malibu is a narrow stretch of beach, and most of it is private territory, inaccessible to prying eyes. The coastline runs parallel to the high-traffic, 4-lane Pacific Coast Highway that runs from central Los Angeles to northern California along the Pacific coast, avoiding high hills and mountains.

The beaches of Malibu themselves (see the diagram below) are incredibly beautiful and picturesque, some of them strewn with natural pebbles, while others are covered with pleasant sand.

On the other side of Highway 1, in the Santa Monica Mountains, you can find quite a few different hiking trails and trails of varying difficulty levels. There are incredibly expensive residential areas, as well as deep canyons (but not as famous as the famous in neighboring Arizona) and rather high cliffs that offer wonderful panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.

Continuing westward from downtown Los Angeles, you will notice how the high cliffs gradually decrease to hills, the slopes of which are built up with mansions. When you reach Malibu Canyon Road, you will realize that you have reached the very center of Malibu through several small shopping centers on the inner side of the Pacific Coast Highway. Here you can conveniently park, drink coffee and go shopping in the hope of meeting some of the stars and celebrities. You are likely to be lucky, as many stars have homes in Malibu, and they sometimes go shopping in these stores.

Pacific Coast Highway - a road along the Pacific coast and the beaches of Malibu

The further you move west, the houses in this area will become more and more luxurious, until real estates appear on the open spaces of low hills. You still won't be able to see the beach here, because almost the entire coastline here is someone's private territory.

Driving into the western part of Malibu, you will notice a significant change in the landscape. You will have an amazing view of the ocean and several beautiful public beaches such as (Zuma) and Leo Carillo(Leo Carillo), which anyone can get.

From a height, Zuma Beach seems even more beautiful - the water is blue, the sand is white!

I want to immediately warn you that there are quite a few hotels, shops and inexpensive cafes in Malibu, so it is best to consider visiting Malibu Beach as a one-day trip from Santa Monica or any other area in downtown Los Angeles, combined with a picnic in one of the cozy parks ( Leo Carillo or Pt. Mugu).

When you drive near Santa Monica, you will probably see a sign Getty Villa. Feel free to turn there as the Getty Villa is an amazing place to see some of the Getty's treasures. Please note that you must book the tour in advance. See the website for all the details.

Top hotels in Malibu

Malibu Road- A luxury villa right on the Malibu beach with stunning ocean views.
Malibu Beach Inn– 4* hotel overlooking Malibu Pier. Wooden interiors and great wine list!
Malibu Beach Apartments– 4* apartments with private access to the beach, garden, terrace.
The M Malibu– 3* hotel 150 meters from the beach. There is everything you need. The most inexpensive option.

Transportation in the Venice Beach area is very good, there are several city bus routes, which can be reached, including from Santa Monica and from Westwood. Also from here you can easily go to the city center (Downtown area) and Culver City.

Near Marina del Rey(Marina Del Rey) Los Angeles has a not-so-famous beach called " Mother's Shore" (Mother's Beach), also known as "Basin D". It is located right on the corner of Admiralty Avenue (Admiralty Way) and Morskaya Street (Via Marina). The beach itself is a small bay with two hotels (Foghorn Harbor Inn & the Jamaica Bay Inn) and 2 restaurants (The Cheesecake Factory and The Vu).

Since this beach is located a little far from the open ocean, in the inner strait, there are practically no big waves here - everything is quiet and calm. Swimming is allowed in about half of the bay. The other half of the bay is reserved for windsurfers. And right behind the territory allowed for navigation, a large harbor begins, in which hundreds of boats are visible from the side of the bay.

Guests staying in hotels (see all accommodation options) can go out to the balcony and admire the view of Marina del Rey beach, and many restaurants have a comfortable patio for outdoor gatherings. There is also car parking for the convenience of beach guests. And just about a kilometer on foot from Basin D, Venice Beach begins, from which you can get there on foot by first walking one block north along Via Marina to Washington Boulevard, and then you need to turn left at the intersection and reach the end of the road. Along the way, you will meet several restaurants of different price categories. In general, for tourists traveling by car in Los Angeles, Marina del Rey beach is a great option for relaxing!

Playa del Rey beach

South of Marina del Rey beach in Los Angeles is a small beach village Playa del Rey(Playa del Rey). This is a fairly quiet and calm beach with a wide coastline covered with white sand, reminiscent of US beach towns in the mid-20th century. There are swimming schools, some very good restaurants and a very clean coastline where it's nice to enjoy city life in slow motion. Surrounding Playa del Rey are the Ballona Wetlands, a treasure trove of coastal wildlife on the Westside. Hotels in Playa del Rey (see link >>) are relatively private compared to other areas of Los Angeles

South Bay and Long Beach

It is officially considered that south bay(South Bay) originates in the Los Angeles International Airport area and stretches far south from there, including such famous beach towns as Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes and Long Beach. All of them are really so good that a photo of any of them could be put on a postcard from Southern California. There is literally everything you need for a beach holiday: white pleasant sand that stretches along the Pacific coast to the horizon, beach volleyball courts and paths for cyclists, rollerbladers, skaters and just those who just want to walk, and also quite clean, but cool water.

Manhattan beach

One of the biggest advantages of Redondo, which is also its main disadvantage, is the lack of fast access from the freeway. To get to Redondo Beach, you need to drive 15-20 minutes by car to the nearest highway exit, which in case of daytime traffic can easily exceed an hour. Another undoubted plus is its close location to the giant Del Amo Mall (Del Amo Fashion Center), one of the largest shopping centers in California.

Long Beach(Long Beach) is a separate city that is not part of Los Angeles. It houses the docks of cruise companies such as Queen Mary, Carnival Cruise Lines, as well as a large aquarium that will be interesting for children, a city beach and another airport where American low-cost airlines such as Jet Blue fly.

All beaches in the Long Beach area are located inside the largest port harbors in Los Angeles. The best beach in Long Beach is shore of Belmont(Belmont Shore), which can be found in the southernmost part of Long Beach. Tourists should keep in mind that there are almost no hotels near the beaches on Long Beach (the exception is a cozy hotel Belmont Shores), so here you can relax during the day, go shopping or sit in a restaurant, and then have to return to your hotel away from the beaches (see all accommodation options).

San Pedro beach

San Pedro / Wilmington(San Pedro / Wilmington) - this beach is the official port of Los Angeles through which the bulk of sea cargo enters the Southwest of the United States. Large cruise ships depart from here, with the exception of Carnival Cruise Lines and whale watching trips. It also houses the rather interesting Cabrillo Marine Museum. An interesting feature is the presence of shopping centers with shops and restaurants right on the water. See all hotels on San Pedro beach.

This concludes the review of the main beaches of Los Angeles, further south are the beaches of Orange County. Among them, the most famous are Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.

At the end of the article, I will give a list of all the beaches of Greater Los Angeles in California with a brief description, grouped by the bays in which they are located:

1. Santa Monica Bay

Venice Beach This is the most famous beach in Los Angeles. A large number of street musicians, relief pitching and athletes gather here. Along Venice Beach, you can easily ride along comfortable paths on a bike or skateboard.
Santa Monica State Beach This place is also known as the Gold Coast. Nearby is the famous Santa Monica Pier, where Route 66 ends.
Will Rodgers State Beach- the beach, named after a Hollywood actor, offers the opportunity for good surfing without a wetsuit. Paid entrance.
Topanga State Beach- Divided by two mouths of the Topanga stream, this narrow beach is well suited for windsurfers. Paid entrance.
Surfrider County Beach This beach has been featured in a lot of surf movies. This is the best beach for relaxing on the beach and for surfing. This is where Malibu Pier is located. We really liked this beach.
Laguna Malibu State Beach- A historic beach north of Surfrider Beach, which is located near the place where Malibu Creek flows into the Pacific Ocean. Picnic tables are provided on this beach. But here you can sunbathe, swim and go surfing and diving, as well as go to the museum. Parking is paid (for 1 hour you will have to pay $3, you can leave the car for the whole day for $12).
Paradise Cove or Paradise Cove– an almost perfect beach for sunbathing and swimming, located in a very cozy bay. The beach is private and there is an entrance fee.
Point Dume County Beach- Hidden under Cape Dume, this beach is famous among sunbathers, and is also very popular with surfers and divers. Diving with scuba diving under water, as in time, you can explore the stone pools under the cape.
Zuma Beach- the beach became famous in the series "Baywatch" and for good reason. It has white sand, but strong currents. So you can choose two options - sunbathe and ride the wave. The beach is especially popular in summer.
Lep Carrillo State Beach- and this beach with calm waves allows you to explore small stone coves and swim. Paid entrance.
Manhattan State Beach is a long and wide beach suitable for sunbathing and swimming. On the pier there is a small aquarium that will appeal to children.
Hermosa City Beach– a family beach where you can do sports and relax. Anglers also like to sit here.
Redondo State Beach- the very first beach for surfers. There is even a bronze statue of California's first surfer, George Frith.
Torrance County Beach- This beach is the southernmost in a series of beaches in Santa Monica Bay, along which a path for bicycles is laid. Surfers, divers, anglers, sun lovers all gather here.

2. San Pedro Bay:

Cabrillo Beach- Divided in two by a fishing pier, this beach also attracts both sunbathers and surfers who meet big waves at Cape Fermin.
Long Beach City Beach and Alamitos Beach is a mecca for windsurfers, water skiers and other water sports. There is also an Aquarium of Pacific.

3. Orange County Beaches near Los Angeles:

Huntington Beach– 14 km of beach, a beautiful pier with cafes and a paradise for surfers.
Laguna Beach- one of the most popular beaches with calm water.

Los Angeles beaches on video:

Los Angeles beaches almost the same symbol of California as Disneyland or the sign of Hollywood. Almost two dozen beaches are located in Los Angeles County.

It must be said that if you have never been here before, you may find the beaches of Los Angeles less sunny than you expected.

When the temperature rises, the cool, moist sea air covers the beaches like a misty blanket.

The phenomenon is so predictable at the beginning of summer that the locals call it "darkness of June", but it can start in May, and sometimes happens in July and August too.

On some days, the fog and low clouds disappear early, but on other days, the sun may not appear until the afternoon. Don't forget sunscreen, even on cloudy days, because UV light passes through clouds.

So, the most famous and best beaches in Los Angeles are as follows:

Venicebeach- one of the most famous beaches in Los Angeles, although it bears the name of the Italian city, it has little in common with it. Venice of California has a long tradition of romance and connection to the film industry.

The most famous beach in the world as a filming location for films such as "Speed" with Sandra Bullock, "Breathless" with Richard Gere and the hit television series "Baywatch".

On this Los Angeles beach, the most interesting and popular spectacle is the live action on the sidewalk, not the surf and sand.

Venice Beach is where you can find street performers, artists, bikini roller skaters, onlookers, and vendors selling all kinds of incense and sarong items. All this is mixed with the singing of Hare Krishnas, wriggling dancers and other colorful characters.

On Manhattan Beach It seems to be all beautiful people, shiny cars, big sunglasses and a few dogs on their laps. Here, next to the shore, scenes from many television shows were filmed.

On the sand you will find beach volleyball and surfers near the pier. Check out the aquarium at the end of the pier with interesting sea creatures and a sensory pool.

When it's time to leave the house with a surfboard or try on your new wetsuit, there's no better place than beaches. Water rolls onto the shore, and surfers are furiously trying to catch the perfect ocean wave. In fact, sometimes it's better to just be a spectator than to fight to catch a wave. But here everyone chooses for himself.

Beach Santa Monica, located north of the pier, is one of the most popular beaches in Los Angeles. The classic strip of sand is two miles long and seems to go on forever.

There is plenty of space to just stretch your legs, play volleyball or ride a bike.

Bring sunscreen, some cash for parking, and a beach towel or blanket. Let the sun, sand and surf do the rest.

Enjoy your vacation on the beaches of Los Angeles.

Part6 . Los Angeles beaches.

The flight lasts 2 hours, but due to the jet lag, we lose only 1. And here we are again in California, summer is on the street again. Having received the luggage, we follow the already familiar path to the Alamo shuttle bus. There are only 2 days until the end of the trip, and we are going to spend these 2 days for our own pleasure!

First you need to take a car so that the sound of the engine caresses the ear, and the warm wind blows from all sides. A car that will not get lost in the crowd, bright and catchy. We are in California :) At the Alamo parking lot, under the sign "convertible", Mustangs stand in orderly rows. One of them will be ours for 2 days. It is a pity the choice of colors was not rich, red would have been the most relish. But there was no red, and silver somehow did not cling. So, we take dazzling white!

Squeezing the bags into the tiny trunk with difficulty, he began to get comfortable with the car. Inside, as in a spaceship: a low landing, you can only see the sky, and a bunch of buttons on the dash and on the steering wheel. I began to taxi out of the parking lot and I feel that I am lost in dimensions. Nothing is visible through the rear window, more like a porthole in an airplane. The edges of the hood are also not visible, and it is almost half the size of a car. It feels like you are driving a barge on the water :) Of the maneuvering assistance systems, there is only a small display (seriously, I have a larger one on my phone), on which you can hardly see the view from the rear view camera.

With grief in half left the parking lot. On the road, you still don’t need to make such maneuvers in such a limited space when there are hundreds of thousands of dollars around the car. But all these inconveniences are more than offset by the pleasure of driving. Engine sound, dynamics, handling, all at the highest level. The car reacts to pressing the gas pedal very sharply. It was difficult to adapt to this in a dense stream.

First of all, we decided to give a second chance to Los Angeles. The first time he didn't impress us. While we were trying to get to Beverly Hills along a congested highway, a downpour charged. Well, what's the misunderstanding?! We dreamed of racing under the California sun, but instead we are standing in a dense traffic jam in the pouring rain. We immediately did not like Los Angeles, and, apparently, this is mutual:) In the meantime, the rain broke in earnest. The wipers worked at their limit, but did nothing to improve visibility. When the navigator said “turn there”, this very “there” was not even visible. After spitting on Los Angeles, we decided that we had had enough. It's time to get out of this hostile city! About a miracle, the farther we drove away from the city, the weather got better and better.

Our first stop was Venice Beach in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I have mixed feelings about this place. On the one hand, the ocean, a wide and long line of the beach, a lot of activities on the coast, whether it be basketball courts or an open-air gym. All this, of course, makes this place very attractive. And the beach is located almost within the city, so it is not deprived of attention. On the other hand, kiosks selling marijuana, dubious tattoo parlors and no less dubious consumers of these services, which is very repulsive. The concentration of inadequate on the promenade just rolls over.

Medicinal marijuana at Venice Beach

Medicinal marijuana works wonders - relieves depression and headaches, improves appetite...

Continuing along the Pacific coast on the legendary Pacific Coast Hwy, our next destination was Malibu Beach. There was no trace of the morning bad weather, which means it's time to lower the roof on the mustang.

The road along the coast is very picturesque in itself.

Pacific Coast Highway

Expectations from Malibu Beach were extremely high. After all, it was on it that in the 90s they filmed the series "Baywatch" with Pamela Anderson in the title role.

Malibu is tens of kilometers of coastline and an urban district. This is an ideal place for both swimming and surfing.

We stopped at a place that was designated as a municipal beach. The waves here are sufficient for beginner surfers to learn how to stand on the board, but not so strong that it is impossible to swim. The perfect place. October 28 on the calendar. Moscow these days was covered with snow, and we are on the ocean. The sun bakes, be healthy, it feels like 30 degrees. How not to take a chance and not plunge into the waters of the Pacific Ocean :)

As much as we didn't want time to stop, we had to move on. After all, ahead of us was El Matador - one of the most beautiful beaches of Malibu.

El Matador beach

El Matador is the perfect place to unleash your creativity in photography. In addition, it is very romantic here at sunset.

We were to spend our last night on American soil in the Ventura. The Crystal Lodge is just 10 minutes' walk from the ocean. So after dinner at a homemade American restaurant, we went ashore. Under the sounds of the surf in absolute solitude, under the stars, we recalled the highlights of our 19-day journey.

On the way back, we went to the Liquor store (that's what alcohol stores are called in America), took a bottle of wine and went to our room. By a happy coincidence, we got a room with a huge jacuzzi right in the middle of the room :)

We had a flight to Moscow only at 5 pm, so in the morning we went for a walk along Ventura. In almost 3 weeks of travel, only the last day, like most Americans, we started with a mug of coffee from Starbucks. We were lucky to be in Ventura on the day off. Several central streets of this provincial town have been closed off so that farmers from all over the area can exhibit their goods. For a ridiculous $3 each, we bought a large glass of strawberries and blackberries.

On the way back, near one pizzeria, we saw such an animal. Work should be fun, even if you're just delivering pizza for everything. But with such a courier, you can safely say: “We will deliver pizza in half an hour or order at our expense.”

pizza delivery in Ventura

Leaving Ventura around noon, we arrived at the entrance to Los Angeles very early. So we decided to pass the time on the Santa Monica Pier. As on the first evening, life was in full swing here.

When it came time to go to the airport, I had to be pretty nervous. From Santa Monica to the airport, only 7 miles, but all the highways are congested. Adrenaline increased, because we had to fill up somewhere, return the car, take the shuttle to the terminal and much more. I had to spit on the rules of the road. When there are 300 forces under the hood, you can maneuver very cleverly in the stream :)

Fortune was on our side, and we managed to back to back. And then everything went like clockwork. The shuttle took us not just to the terminal, but to the right entrance, above which there was an Aeroflot inscription. At the check-in desk, we checked in our luggage and were left light - backpacks on our backs and camping foam. We had already flown with this foam to Bozeman and returned to Los Angeles, but it was just before the flight home that the security officer asked: “What is this?”. Damn it! I don’t understand well in Russian why it’s called that, and how it is called in the English lexicon, I have no idea. I had to point fingers. Only later did I realize how stupid I looked :) I would say that this thing is for camping, and that's it.

And then everything went smoothly. But when leaving the USA, they don’t put a stamp in the passport, which was a little embarrassing. But at the information desk they confirmed this to us, and we calmed down. Ahead was a 12-hour flight home...

Instead of an afterword.

Summing up the whole trip, I declare that it was worth it. Despite the overall budget of the trip, every dollar was well spent and brought a lot more impressions, as if we succumbed to the hysteria about the crisis and waited for better times. Life is short, and the prospect of change for the better is so foggy that you need to live here and now.

Did we like America? Undoubtedly! Would we like to stay there? Here, not everything is so clear. Perhaps, but if we talk only about New York, and specifically about Manhattan. There is something attractive about this "big apple". It cannot be expressed in terms of objects or subjects, it is a special atmosphere.

Destroying the stereotypes imposed on us by our own media, the Americans have nothing to do with Russia. Unlike our news, where there is a massive propaganda of an external threat, coverage of events in Ukraine and Syria, and everything else, except for events within the country. We did not see reports on foreign policy in the American media, although we specifically included both CNN and FoxNews. Instead, they discuss domestic affairs, their successes and achievements. How much we talked with the locals, when they found out that we were from Russia, we were always warmly welcomed. Not once did we feel any aggression or hostility, only a lively and genuine interest. Nobody asked about Putin, so his fame abroad is greatly exaggerated. But those who know at least something about Russia note how beautiful St. Petersburg is in our country, and how they like Moscow :)

As for cultural differences, they certainly exist. They are felt in everything. Americans are open and very friendly. Any dialogue begins with a smile, a greeting and a standard how do you do. Moreover, if in response you do not ask how they are doing, it will be considered rude. And the dialogue itself can start at any moment. Even just walking around Yellowstone, someone was talking to us every now and then. Our knowledge of the language does not allow us to have a casual conversation, but between them they “hook with tongues” only in this way. Many times we have witnessed how in the same cafe between a waiter and a visitor a dialogue with how do you do develops into a discussion, for example, of colleges where their children study.

Separately, it is worth noting the manner of conducting a conversation. Americans talk a lot and do it loudly. And it does not matter on the street, in the subway or in a restaurant. If an American speaks, then he can be easily heard by everyone around. Therefore, we very often eavesdropped in the same cafes :)

At first it was difficult to navigate the prices. Everywhere they are listed without taxes. And in the service sector (cafes, restaurants, hotels), tips are added to the cost. As a result, the price for lunch can increase by almost half relative to the menu. However, we noticed one interesting feature. Wherever we ate, be it New York or San Francisco or provincial Cody or Jackson, the prices were plus or minus the same. If a classic burger costs $20-$25, it doesn't matter if it's in a big metropolis or a small town. This begs the question, is the standard of living across the country about the same?!

As for the sights, and especially nature. I can’t say that she is head and shoulders more beautiful than in Russia. They just know how to properly submit and sell it. What should we learn. After all, we have our own Yellowstone - in Kamchatka, but getting there is almost impossible. Yes, and our mountains are no worse, the same server Caucasus. I generally keep quiet about rivers and lakes.

In conclusion, I want to say. We have something to strive for and where to grow, but for this we need to get out of the information field that we are fed daily and look at the world more broadly ...

In the south of the sunny American state of California is the wonderful city of Los Angeles. In the ranking of the most he is in second place. It is the most important educational, scientific and cultural center. And also - the world's largest center of the entertainment industry in such areas as television, music, cinema and computer games. The famous Hollywood is located in this city. But there is something else that Los Angeles is known for. Beaches - that's what we're talking about. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and this feature is another reason that attracts a lot of tourists here.

Venice Beach

This is a very colorful place, which is visited by almost every person who comes to Los Angeles. The beaches that exist in the "star" city have their own characteristics. And in this case, there are many highlights. Many famous films were filmed here. The series "Baywatch", "Breathless" with Richard Gere, "Speed" with Sandra Bullock and many other works of cinema.

But the most interesting thing here is not the gentle sand and the warm ocean, but the coastal zone. Asphalt paths designed for walking and riding on wheeled devices; a platform with healthy lifestyle lovers who do incredible things (such as push-ups on their hands with their feet up, for example) and tricks; performances by street performers, rollerbladers, the work of artists and ... beautiful girls in bikinis. And medical cannabis is sold everywhere.

Manhattan Beach

Another amazing place to visit when visiting Los Angeles. The beaches of Manhattan are the most luxurious in all of California. The sandy coastline stretches for 2,100 meters and its width is 0.5 km. Above, by the way, is a photo taken in this heavenly place (Los Angeles).

Manhattan Beach is the place where the richest and most beautiful people spend their time. In the parking lots, cars worth more than one hundred thousand dollars flaunt. And the bikinis that girls wear cost how much, how much an average worker in Russia receives in a couple of months. This is elite Los Angeles.

The beaches here are beautiful - clean, with pleasant sand. On the one hand - expensive cottages. On the other hand, the boundless ocean. There are many sports and volleyball courts, bicycle and rollerblade rental points, as well as restaurants, bars, clubs and budget but cozy eateries. Surfers and divers like to relax on Manhattan Beach. And at the end of the central pier there is a free aquarium - where you can admire lobsters, sharks and other inhabitants of the ocean.

Santa Monica

This is a very cozy place, which is located in the western part of Los Angeles County. Santa Monica Beach is perfect for people who want to spend their holidays laying on the sand and swimming in the ocean.

From here you have an amazing view of the surroundings. Most importantly, the beach is not crowded. And this is especially appreciated by vacationers. Santa Monica is thought out both for lovers of a quiet and relaxing holiday, and for those who prefer to spend their time actively. There is a pier with various entertainment attractions, restaurants nearby, sports grounds for rollerbladers, skaters and cyclists.

Other beaches

There are still a lot of beautiful places intended for a resort holiday in a city called Los Angeles. Sunset Beach, for example. Its highlight is the fine golden sand, comfortable entry and crystal clear ocean water. This is one of the widest beaches in all of Southern California. Here is a real paradise for lovers of relaxation - silence, space, massage rooms right on the beach, showers with changing rooms, gazebos for relaxation. And on the embankment every evening they organize all sorts of cultural events - competitions, exhibitions and concerts.

Hermosa Beach is another great place that is perfect for diving, surfing, basketball and volleyball. For the same purposes, Zuma beach is good. It has endless sandy expanses. By the way, Zuma is recognized as the best wellness beach with crystal clear waters in the entire state. True, there is one caveat. In the western part of the beach, only experienced swimmers and water sports enthusiasts can relax, as strong waves are constantly observed there due to the specific geographical location.

Finally, talking about the beaches of Los Angeles, I would like to pay attention to Bolsa Chica State, founded 57 years ago. It stretches for 4.8 kilometers. This is a natural attraction, a great place to relax and an area appreciated by ornithologists. Migratory birds often gather here. So this beach is of particular interest to specialists who study birds. Nearby, by the way, there is a picturesque park and a tent camp.