Found along the southwest corner of Los Angeles County, the South Bay could be considered one of the best-kept secrets in Southern California and among the most desirable places to live in the world. The region’s name comes from its location on the southern shore of the Santa Monica Bay. A 22-mile paved pedestrian/bicycle path, referred to as “The Strand”, begins at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades, meanders its way along the beautiful Southern California coastline and ends at the southern Torrance Beach.
The South Bay consists of many cities, each with its own distinctive personality and history. The following overview of South Bay’s cities illustrates why so many real estate investors and home buyers choose this beautiful and unique locale.
Redondo Beach
Split into the distinct sections of North Redondo Beach and South Redondo Beach, this highly coveted coastal city is renowned for its beautiful coastline and beaches. Adding to the unique ambience is a bustling harbor, marina and pier, offering an array of seaside restaurants and cafes. And the Riviera Village, a charming pedestrian-friendly district, highlighted by more than 300 one-of-a-kind boutiques, restaurants, galleries, salons and more. The 12 public schools within the Redondo Beach Unified School District are also among the finest distinguished schools in the country.
Hermosa Beach
Sprawling shoreline landscapes, a laid-back vibe with year-round sand and surf makes this idyllic beachfront city appealing to active residents of all ages. Whether seeking spots for beach volleyball, surfing, skateboarding, skating or biking you can find it here. Other favorite activities include jogging or walking along the scenic greenbelt, the Hermosa Pier and “The Strand”.
Manhattan Beach
This affluent coastal town is known for some of the most gorgeous beaches on the West Coast, complete with 2.1 square miles of shoreline. Potential homeowners will find several different areas to consider, each with its own personality. Among them: The Sand Section, an area along the coast featuring incredible beach landscape; The Tree Section, boasting streets named after popular trees, and The Hill Section, complete with multi-million-dollar estates on large view lots. Education is key here, with Mira Costa High School ranked in the top 1% of high schools nationally.
El Segundo
Located just a few minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, this hidden jewel has earned a reputation for its friendly, small-town charm and an ever-growing district of diverse businesses. The city earned its name (“the second” in Spanish) as it was the site of the second Standard Oil refinery (renamed Chevron in 1984) on the West Coast. Many high tech and aerospace companies are located here in El Segundo. Its central location along the Los Angeles coastline makes it easy to access everything Southern California has to offer. From a scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway to popular Los Angeles attractions. El Segundo is a thriving community of trendy shops, great restaurants, unique businesses, a marvelous school system and home to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings.
Torrance
Residents here enjoy Torrance Beach and access to top-notch schools as well as year-round cultural events and numerous recreational facilities. This family-friendly town is home to the Del Amo Fashion Center, one of the largest shopping malls in America. You will also find 33 parks (one with a four-level rocket ship!), a wealth of museums and theaters and an alluring historic downtown area. The Torrance Unified School District prides itself on its academic excellence and the high achievement of its students. The district includes 17 elementary, eight middle and four high schools. Additionally, there are multiple continuation and alternative high schools, as well as three adult school campuses. Torrance Beach is a long wide sandy beach (and the only beach) in Torrance. This is the southernmost of the big beaches on Santa Monica Bay.
Palos Verdes Estates
One of the earliest master planned communities in the United States, Palos Verdes Estates is known for its abundance of beautiful cliffs and interesting terrain overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You’ll discover parks, bridle paths, a golf course and several miles of coastline free of development, just a short drive from the bustling metropolis. The historic Malaga Cove Plaza highlights some of the Peninsula’s earlier buildings. The northernmost and sandiest beach in the city of Palos Verdes Estates, Malaga Cove is actually the south end of the long sandy shore that includes Redondo Beach and Torrance. Surfers enjoy this beach as do scuba divers, sunbathers and swimmers. This area tends to be less busy than the others because of its off-the-beaten path location.
Rancho Palos Verdes
Rancho Palos Verdes, the largest city on the Peninsula, sits atop the bluffs and is known for its spectacular ocean views of the South Bay and Catalina Island. It has the most tract-type homes on the hill, and it also hosts a trio of golf courses, including the popular Los Verdes Golf Course and Ocean Trails Golf Club. Some of the many attractions found here: the 102-acre Terranea Resort, one of Southern California’s top luxury oceanfront getaways; the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Wayfarers Chapel, known for its unique modern style of architecture and scenic location on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific; Point Vicente Interpretive Center Park (adjacent to the Point Vicente Lighthouse), listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Rolling Hills
This private, gated equestrian community has been named one of the best places to live in Los Angeles and the No. 1 spot to raise a family in California, likely due to its highly rated public schools and plentiful parks. Found along the picturesque hills of the Peninsula, the neighborhood also is rife with spectacular ocean and city views. Incorporated in 1957, Rolling Hills is the smallest city on the Peninsula, with most of its lots coming in at more than an acre.
Rolling Hills Estates
The third-largest city on the Peninsula is highlighted by a unique rural environment laced with 25-plus miles of equestrian trails. Not only does it offer some of the largest lots (with many areas zoned as equestrian), Rolling Hills Estates also has six city parks and is neighboring the South Coast Botanic Garden, featuring 87 lush acres spotlighting more than 2,500 different species of plants.
A mile-long commercial district that includes open-air shopping plazas with a movie theater, and a blend of specialty restaurants, popular national retailers, and local merchants.
San Pedro
Situated on the southern end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, this historic and picturesque region blends small-town charm with top cultural attractions, eclectic shopping, America’s Port, and a world-class cruise center. Several commercial and residential developments are now under way that promise to improve the quality of life in Downtown San Pedro and the Los Angeles Waterfront. Among these exciting projects: The San Pedro Public Market, a $150 million offering set to include restaurants, shops, a food hall, amphitheater concert venue, playgrounds, parks, bike, and jogging paths, a 1.9-acre promenade, a 4-acre town square and much more.
Lomita
Lomita (a Spanish word for “little hills”) is nestled between Harbor City, Torrance, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Among the neighborhood hot spots is Lomita Pines, a remarkable area of town bordering the Palos Verdes Peninsula that offers upscale housing, parks, schools and an overall optimal lifestyle. Top attractions include a wealth of antique stores and the Lomita Railroad Museum, dedicated to the proud era of the steam engine.
Carson
About 13 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, this well-known industrial center is also a culturally diverse community that serves as an attractive place to live and work. The city features 120-plus acres of parkland, numerous restaurants, retail shops, museums, and interesting attractions. Home to California State University, Dominguez Hills Campus, Carson is also the location of Dignity Health Sports Park, a multiple-use sports complex that consists of a 27,000-seat soccer stadium used by the Los Angeles Galaxy of major league soccer, a tennis stadium, a track and field facility and a velodrome, currently the only cycling track of its kind in the United States.
Gardena
Famous for being the former berry capital of Southern California, Gardena is best known today as the “Freeway City,” since it’s surrounded by popular freeways in nearly every direction (Interstate 110, Route 91 and Interstate 405) providing quick access to countless activities in the surrounding areas. The diverse city spans a total area of about six square miles, and it’s filled with lush gardens, a variety of eateries and deep historical roots.
Harbor City
This highly diverse neighborhood in the Harbor region of Los Angeles was originally part of the Rancho San Pedro Spanish land grant, and then incorporated into Los Angeles with the port cities of Wilmington and San Pedro. A popular neighborhood in Harbor City is Harbor Pines dating back to 1936. One of the crown jewels of the community is the sprawling 290-acre Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park which includes a 45-acre lake, a natural water habitat for more than 300 species of migratory birds, native animals, and plants, this is the perfect family destination. The Kaiser Permanente Medical Campus and Hospital are located directly across from the park.
Lawndale
This inland city of Los Angeles offers a mix of an urban and suburban lifestyle, complete with prime access to Redondo Beach and the area’s major freeways. Residents also are privy to a wealth of coffee shops, top schools and parks—including Alondra Community Regional Park, the largest park closest to the ocean and beach cities of Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo. At 53 acres, it offers a setting of meadow lawns and woodlands amid a beautiful lake. Among Lawndale’s claims to fame? It was once home to famed Western actor and singer Roy Rogers.
Inglewood
Located in southwestern Los Angeles County, Inglewood is just a short distance from Los Angeles International Airport. The city of Inglewood is being revitalized by the recently completed SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. Savvy real estate investors and homebuyers realize the great potential for this area.
Hawthorne
Located just five miles from Los Angeles International Airport, access to the I-105 and I-405 Freeways is a breeze. Hawthorne is headquarters to SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company, founded in 2002 by Elon Musk. One of Hawthorne’s claim to fame: Each original member of the Beach Boys grew up here. The Wilson’s childhood home is commemorated by the Beach Boys Historic Landmark.