I'll take Manhattan...
To mark the official last day of our Spring Break 2010, I decided to take the kids to our very favorite discovery so far in LA; Manhattan Beach!
It's a little bit further away from Burbank than Santa Monica beach but as traffic is much more family drive friendly on the weekend we made it there in about 30 minutes. I wasn't driving very fast either, as I had my exciting new purchase strapped to the back of my little red compact (that's what they call a teeny car here in America; it's actually a normal sized family vehicle in Europe).
So what was my fantastic new purchase???? A bike rack! I bought a strappy metally barry sort of a structure thingy that hooks on to the back of my hatchback and permits us to transport our three bikes with us when we go on a beach venture. I must admit I felt somewhat nervous as the bikes bounced around in my rear view mirror; the thought of them falling off in the middle of a seven lane freeway had me sweating all the way to the beach.
We made it safely though, and went immediately to the wonderful "Uncle Bill's Pancake house" on Highland Avenue. We always go to this adorable breakfast/lunch restaurant whenever we go to Manhattan Beach for the day. The very best, must try, item on the menu is the Potatoes Stroganoff or the deluxe version (with avocado) the Potatoes Del Riego. My kids love the chocolate chip pancakes and the banana buckwheat pancakes make you feel like you're making a somewhat healthy choice! The view from this hillside terraced restaurant is of the ocean on one side and some of the most beautiful beach side real estate I've ever seen on the other. You can check it out here www.unclebills.net
After brunch we retrieved the bikes from the car and rode up and down the beach, dreaming of one day calling this gorgeous south bay town home. Unlike Santa Monica Beach, you can ride any direction at Manhattan and be greeted by gorgeous people and their stunning homes. Everyone at this beach looks ecstatically happy; either because they're the luckiest people in the world and get to live there or they're just thrilled to have discovered such a gorgeous spot.
Volleyball is big at Manhattan Beach; it's a bit like the Wimbledon of beach volleyball, and if you're not too intimidated by the six packs on legs there are plenty of nets for everyone to get some practice. Don't miss the pier too (well you can't miss it...it's that big structure built out in to the ocean) you get a bird's eye view of the surfers from the end, and then can polish off the day at the cafe with some funnel cake; a specialty that deserves a blog spot all of it's own, and a frothy coffee worthy of Blackpool pier.
It's a little bit further away from Burbank than Santa Monica beach but as traffic is much more family drive friendly on the weekend we made it there in about 30 minutes. I wasn't driving very fast either, as I had my exciting new purchase strapped to the back of my little red compact (that's what they call a teeny car here in America; it's actually a normal sized family vehicle in Europe).
So what was my fantastic new purchase???? A bike rack! I bought a strappy metally barry sort of a structure thingy that hooks on to the back of my hatchback and permits us to transport our three bikes with us when we go on a beach venture. I must admit I felt somewhat nervous as the bikes bounced around in my rear view mirror; the thought of them falling off in the middle of a seven lane freeway had me sweating all the way to the beach.
We made it safely though, and went immediately to the wonderful "Uncle Bill's Pancake house" on Highland Avenue. We always go to this adorable breakfast/lunch restaurant whenever we go to Manhattan Beach for the day. The very best, must try, item on the menu is the Potatoes Stroganoff or the deluxe version (with avocado) the Potatoes Del Riego. My kids love the chocolate chip pancakes and the banana buckwheat pancakes make you feel like you're making a somewhat healthy choice! The view from this hillside terraced restaurant is of the ocean on one side and some of the most beautiful beach side real estate I've ever seen on the other. You can check it out here www.unclebills.net
After brunch we retrieved the bikes from the car and rode up and down the beach, dreaming of one day calling this gorgeous south bay town home. Unlike Santa Monica Beach, you can ride any direction at Manhattan and be greeted by gorgeous people and their stunning homes. Everyone at this beach looks ecstatically happy; either because they're the luckiest people in the world and get to live there or they're just thrilled to have discovered such a gorgeous spot.
Volleyball is big at Manhattan Beach; it's a bit like the Wimbledon of beach volleyball, and if you're not too intimidated by the six packs on legs there are plenty of nets for everyone to get some practice. Don't miss the pier too (well you can't miss it...it's that big structure built out in to the ocean) you get a bird's eye view of the surfers from the end, and then can polish off the day at the cafe with some funnel cake; a specialty that deserves a blog spot all of it's own, and a frothy coffee worthy of Blackpool pier.
Labels: bikes, breakfast, coffee, Manhattan beach, pancakes, volleyball
posted by Cat Mayer at
8:58 PM
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