"Hermosa" means "beautiful" in Spanish. Few people would accuse this beach of dishonest advertising practices.

Hermosa Beach is sought out for a cleanliness and small-town feel missing from the rowdier Santa Monica scene to the north. All the amenities are here, including sports-equipment rental, bathrooms, showers, volleyball nets and lifeguards to ogle—um, we mean, to prevent you from drowning. This beach and town considers itself California's surfing birthplace; 2003 inaugurated the pier's Surfers Walk of Fame, with charter stars given to Bing Copeland, Hap Jacobs, Greg Noll, Mike Purpus, Jeff Stoner, Dale Velzy and Dewey Weber. (Sixteen other pioneers have also been honored.) The town itself is only 1.3 square miles, so post-sunset dining and/or mai tai options, which are plentiful, are quaint and close.—Lonny Pugh