ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HERMOSA BEACH WITH KIDS
Hermosa Beach, one of the beach towns in the South Bay region of Los Angeles, is my favorite beach in LA. It has a relaxed, surfer vibe in a fun atmosphere—and it’s perfect for a family vacation.
I took the boys to the new Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood and decided to add a couple of beach days to the trip. I wanted to show them Hermosa Beach, and they loved it!
So, if you’re looking to take the kids to Hermosa Beach, keep reading for all of my best recommendations.
Before you leave, read over my best beach hacks for toddlers and babies!
What to Do in Hermosa Beach with Kids
Beach
First things first. Hermosa Beach is KNOWN for its stunning beach. It’s huge—it goes on for 2 miles, but also is very wide. (I always appreciate that it is always very clean too.)
There are volleyball nets scattered all over the beach. Hermosa Beach is very popular for volleyball enthusiasts, and you’ll see many pickup games happening throughout the weekend. You can sit down and watch them play, or find an empty one and have some fun on your own. Although there aren’t any actual playgrounds on the beach, there ARE several swing sets that you can use too.
During the winter months, the city creates hills of sands (to protect the beach from the intense surf). Hermosa Beach is one of the few beaches in LA that also offers sand sledding! You can bring a sled (or buy an overpriced one from one of the local stores like I did) and sled down.
Tip: Check about sledding before coming. I waited until I got here and was disappointed to hear that it was no longer happening anymore—and it was one of the reasons I came!
Bike the Strand
The Strand is a wide, paved path that stretches for miles along the beach. It’s perfect for walking, jogging, rollerblading, and of course- biking (there’s even a specific path just for bikes). It’s very family-friendly and safe. It can be a relaxing after-dinner stroll, a sunset bike ride, or just a fun walk during the day to hop around the different parts of the beach.
Hermosa Cyclery, which is right off the Strand rents out all kinds of adult bikes, kid bikes, and they have various attachments for kids too. All the employees are so friendly and helpful too! My little guy was having a full-on tantrum getting in the trailer and the employee helping us was so patient.
You can take it all the way to neighboring Redondo Beach Pier. It was about a 20-minute ride there and it runs you right into the parking lot, within steps of the pier. It’s super convenient! You can go the opposite way towards Manhattan Beach, but you’ll have to take a little detour off the Strand to get there or you’ll hit a dead end.
Pier
The Pier is popular for locals and tourists because it’s such a great vibe! The whole area is so walkable and there is a ton to do in the area.
You can take a stroll on the pier and enjoy the views and sounds of the ocean and the beach. It’s a great place to snap some pics.
Or you can walk right off the pier to the numerous restaurants, bars, dessert shops, and stores. And it goes on for blocks so don’t just stop once you hit the street. There are so many more options for dining and shopping if you keep walking. (Plus it’s a great way to get the kids energy out.)
Aaand during summer, the pier hosts all kinds of events—movie nights, concert series, classes.
Parks and Playgrounds
Hermosa Beach has a few playgrounds near the pier that are convenient to get to.
Two of the closest playgrounds are at South Park and Valley Park, they’re just a few blocks away from the Strand.
South Park has a playground with swings, slides, a sand pit, and play structures for different age groups. There are even cement slides. Plus, it’s shaded and has benches.
Valley Park is popular for families and has a playground with swings, slides, cute objects for climbing, and multiple play structures for different ages. There’s an open grassy area too for sports.
In addition, Hermosa Valley Greenbelt is a long, narrow park that runs through the center of Hermosa Beach. It has a walking path (again, great for getting energy out), but also a playground with swings and a slide.
Farmers Market
Hermosa Beach hosts a weekly Farmer’s Market every Friday from 12 – 4pm. It’s a charming little market with about 11 farmers with fresh produce and plants, another 20 booths with pre-packaged foods, and 7 booths with prepared foods. Check out the list of farmers here.
There’s a variety of foods offered, flowers, and local crafts. There’s also live music and some weeks have a face painter for kids! It’s a cute spot to stop to get some fresh food, support local farmers, and maybe get the kids faces painted.
Art Zone
If your kid loves art, this is the place to go! ArtZone offers art classes throughout the week, but they also have Open Studio hours where all kids ages 18 months and up can enjoy the art activities.
They offer painting, finger painting, clay play, print making, and drawing materials. Kids can also play dress up, play in the playhouse, cook in the mud kitchen, and splash around in a water wonders room.
On Friday nights, they offer a Parents Night Out… you can drop off your little ones (ages 3+) and they’ll have a pizza and art party from 5:30 – 8:30pm. You do have to make a reservation though.
Where to Stay in Hermosa Beach with Kids
There aren’t many hotels in the area, but there are a couple that are awesome.
This is where we stayed and we LOVED it. It’s right on the Strand, steps from the beach. Even the standard rooms were suites with separate bedroom and living room areas, and they are super spacious. They each have a kitchenette, a fireplace, two TVs, a work desk, patio, and Keurig coffee maker. They also offer free continental breakfast!
Seasprite is a charming beachy boutique hotel right on the Strand, next door to Beach House. There are only 34 rooms, and they range from standard rooms to junior suites to a 2-bedroom beach house.
They offer free breakfast and beach chairs and towels. There’s a courtyard with firepits right on the beach, plus a rooftop terrace with ocean views.
Just a couple of blocks away from the beach, H20 is a cool and hip option. It offers standard rooms plus junior and executive suites. Each room has a balcony with a city view and there’s also a rooftop terrace.
FAQs
Is Hermosa Beach good for families?
Yes! It’s a perfect location for a family vacation. The activities in the area are fun for all ages. With the variety of beach activities, parks and playgrounds, plus the dining and shopping, everyone will have a blast.
What is Hermosa Beach worth a visit?
I absolutely think so. When I lived in LA, I noticed that Santa Monica and Venice got a lot of the attention. But the South Bay region beaches are amazing! Hermosa Beach specifically gives off the true beach lifestyle vibe. It’s perfect for the whole family too— the beach, the pier, the Strand, and great beachfront hotels make for a great vacation.
Which is better Hermosa Beach or Manhattan Beach?
I love both areas, but with small kids, I prefer Hermosa Beach over Manhattan Beach. Hermosa Beach is more casual and smaller while Manhattan Beach is more affluent, bigger, and their beach boulevard is steep.
Wrapping up Hermosa Beach with Kids
Hermosa Beach is a perfect spot for a family beach vacation. The chill vibes and fun atmosphere offer an easy, relaxing vacation that all ages will enjoy.
Staying at a resort like Beach House, Sea Sprite, or H2O Hermosa will put you in the perfect location. You’ll be steps from the beach and from the pier, which offers all kinds of dining and shopping options.
Plus, activities like biking or strolling the Strand, hitting the beach, and trying the variety of foods and desserts offered on the pier all offer great ways to enjoy Hermosa Beach with kids.
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