Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/510262
SPRING/SUMMER 2015 DREAMSCAPES 43 M y daughter and I were among the 50-odd passengers searching for the whales that cluster around the Redondo Submarine Canyon, a rare oceanographic phenomenon that is one of only five sub- marine canyons in the area. Along with Captain Andy, his crew and the naturalists, we had already watched Archie—the resi- dent humpback grey whale—repeatedly arch his back and slide under the water and out of view. During the three hours we spent on board, on this typically sunny and 21-C February day in Los Angeles, we observed whales, sea lions, dolphins and one bikini- clad surfboarder. A BEACHY PLAYGROUND Whale-watching is but one of the many marine activities in this seaside play- ground, which includes the glass-bottomed SSV Looking Glass, a 19-passenger USCG- inspected semi-submersible underwater vessel; sport fishing; sailing; kayaking; pedal boating; diving; surfing; paddle- boarding; boogie boarding; and swimming. Fitness buffs play beach volleyball while youngsters frolic in the sand at the Seaside Lagoon, swim in the saltwater pool or ogle ducks, geese and koi at the Hopkins Wilder- ness Park. For me, cruising the ocean, walking the beach, shopping along the pier (and at the Riviera Village Farmers' Market) and dining in seafood-centric restaurants are reasons enough to visit Redondo Beach. Redondo Beach is the largest and farthest south of the South Bay communities in greater Los Angeles County. The scenic and uncrowded community boasts charming street-side cottages, the area's deepest har- bour, a romantic seafront esplanade with sunset views and three kilometres of sandy beaches with easily accessible beach parking. In the early 1900s, it was the major shipping point between San Francisco and San Diego and the place where Hawaiian lifeguard George Freeth introduced surfing to the mainland. It also enjoyed a distin- guished history as a setting for Hollywood movies and TV shows and as the place where Meistrell twins, Bill and Bob, devel- oped the first wetsuit, which eventually became the iconic Body Glove brand. Today, it's a year-round resort town with a walkable waterfront studded with hotels, restaurants and compelling sights including a memorial to the twins located just a few blocks from the Dive N Surf shop they founded. BY IRVINA LEW OPPOSITE: Redondo Beach pier at sunset. Sahani Photography/Shutterstock ABOVE: Your California adventure in Redondo Beach features a family-friendly seaside playground packed with hidden treasures. Irvina Lew