The 10 Best Things to Do in Hermosa Beach, California

Perfect Your Beach Volleyball Game

Learn how to play beach volleyball and get your game on with a class at VolleyCamp Hermosa by Better at Beach, which offers public classes, private lessons, and beach volleyball camps meant to help you hone your skills. Whether you're just starting out with the fundamentals or working on your technique at a higher level, it's sure to be a good time.

Celebrate the City at Fiesta Hermosa

Every year for Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, the entire city comes together to throw Fiesta Hermosa, a block-party-meets-craft-fair sort of event that's said to be the largest arts and crafts fair in all of Southern California. Celebrate alongside the locals all weekend long with live music, rides, a petting zoo, and more than 300 artists from the area who come each year to show off their wares.

Walk or Bike Along the Strand

The Strand is a cement pedestrian path that runs along the beach, stretching not just across Hermosa Beach but north to Manhattan Beach and south to Redondo Beach, as well. Since the climate in Southern California is ideal year-round for sporty activities, you can always find skaters, joggers, dog walkers, rollerbladers, and every other type of outdoor enthusiast moving along this scenic pathway. Not only are the beach views incredible, the homes that line the Strand truly are incredible pieces of real estate. While the properties are likely out of most people's price range, it doesn't hurt to take a stroll and fantasize about your future summer home on the beach.

The beach cruiser is the quintessential SoCal bicycle, and you'll see people riding them up and down the Strand, throughout downtown Hermosa Beach, and even traveling with them to nearby cities. If you're visiting the area and want your own bike to explore, stop by one of the many bike rental shops located along the waterfront. Pick up a bike to use for a couple of hours or the whole day; you can even ride it all the way up to Santa Monica along the beachfront pathway. Considering the traffic and limited parking around Los Angeles County, taking a bike is sure to be less of a headache regardless of where you're headed.

Watch the Sunset at the Pier

The piers jutting out into the ocean are an iconic part of the Southern California coast, and while the Santa Monica Pier may be the most famous, the one at Hermosa Beach is just as charming. Throughout the entire year, you'll find locals and visitors walking the pier, rollerblading, fishing, or just enjoying the views. At sunset in particular, there's nowhere better in the South Bay area to watch the sun as it falls into the Pacific Ocean. If you need a bite to eat or a drink, there are plenty of restaurants and bars to keep you satisfied around the pier's entrance.

Sit Out at the Beach

The word hermosa means beautiful in Spanish, and it's easy to see where Hermosa Beach got its name. The two-mile stretch of sand is easily one of the most desirable beaches in the area, which is saying a lot considering the quality of the Southern California coast. Rain and overcast skies are rare, with an average of 283 days of sunshine each year. Because of the cool ocean breeze, even the infamous LA smog that typically covers the area doesn't have much of an effect on Hermosa Beach. The beachfront is filled year-round with sunbathers, swimmers, volleyball players, and locals who come to enjoy this piece of paradise.

Learn About the History of Hermosa Beach

At the Hermosa Beach Historical Society and Museum, visitors can explore 3,500 different artifacts that tell the story of Hermosa Beach's history. While the city has the feel of a hip little beach town without much more to tell, the roots of it actually stretch back to the 18th century when it was part of a rancho belonging to a landowner in what was then colonial Spain. Learn about this and more through old-time photographs, newspaper clippings, postcards, and other bygone artifacts at this quaint museum, which, as an extra bonus, is free to enter.

Spend Friday at the Farmer's Market

California cuisine is most associated with in-season produce, fresh ingredients, and sustainable farms, so it should come as no surprise that farmers markets are practically considered sacred to the locals here. The Hermosa Beach Farmers Market is held downtown every Friday throughout the year (even in the winter) from noon to 4 p.m. Local farmers show up and show off their in-season fruits and vegetables, freshly-laid eggs, homemade yogurts and cheeses, and organic honey, among other items fresh from the farm.

Take a Surf Lesson

Learn how to play beach volleyball and get your game on with a class at VolleyCamp Hermosa by Better at Beach, which offers public classes, private lessons, and beach volleyball camps meant to help you hone your skills. Whether you're just starting out with the fundamentals or working on your technique at a higher level, it's sure to be a good time.

If you're an avid surfer, Hermosa Beach isn't known for having the best waves along the California coast. It is, however, a popular spot for those who are just starting out and want to get a feel for the board. Surf schools like Aqua Surf and Wavehuggers are available up and down the beach, where you can sign up for a private class or join a surf camp. Those who are too young to surf (or just too uncoordinated to stand up on the board) should try boogie boarding instead, as it's just as fun.

Do an Art Crawl

While they heyday of the thriving arts scene that Hermosa Beach was once associated with has come and gone, the city has welcomed a revival of sorts in recent years. Now, art galleries can be found peppered up and down Pier Avenue, with standouts like the Resin Art and Photography Gallery definitely worth a visit. If you're visiting Hermosa Beach in June, don't miss the city's Hermosa Beach Fine Arts Festival, which is family friendly and a great way to introduce yourself to the city's local artists and craftspeople.

Grab a Cold one

Feeling thirsty after a day on the beach? Hermosa Beach is a great spot to kick back and enjoy the burgeoning local craft brewery scene. Longstanding favorite Hermosa Brewing Company opened their first tasting room in the city in 2018, and shortly after became one of this tiny beach town's go-to local hangouts. While their brewing facility is not on-site (they brew out of Rouleur in Carlsbad and 14 Cannons in Westlake) Hermosa Brewing Company is still a great hang out spot in the city, particularly if you love clean beers with subdued fermentation flavors.