Manhattan Beach is a curious name for a place of sand and surf, smack in the southwest corner of Los Angeles County, yet the naming has a logical source:  The town’s developer, Stewart Merrill, was a proud son of the Big Apple.  There is another parallel:  This capital of Beach Volleyball is one of the most expensive parts of LA, even outpacing Beverly Hills in the Big Bucks department.

No one turned their nose up at yours truly, though, when I rolled on up from Lomita, on March 22.  After a good night’s sleep at Lomita Motel and decent breakfast at Hot n’ Tot Family Restaurant, I was ready for the completion of one trifecta- the South Bay Beach cities (having visited Redondo and Hermosa Beaches two years ago) and making Manhattan Beach the first of three stops on that lovely Saturday (followed by Venice/Marina del Rey and Santa Monica Pier).

The morning started briskly enough, walking downhill to the water’s edge.

The famous Beach Volleyball Tournament was getting started, as I walked down towards the pier.

 

There is a nice beginning of a community garden, along Manhattan Beach Strand.

After looking at this for a bit, with a curious Filipino boy and his mother, I set my sights on the main focus of the morning, Manhattan Beach Pier, and its aquarium.

 

 

Of course, the walk along the pier afforded some fine sights, of beach and surf.

 

 

The aquarium was being cleaned by a patrol of Girl Scouts, under the watchful eyes of their Scoutmistresses. It was a good thing, as within earshot of the girls were a trio of foul-mouthed fishermen, who only shut up when the old Mexican snack bar vendor went out and told them  “Tienes respeto por las ninas”.

In the donations-only facility, there are several small tanks, featuring both marine invertebrates and small ocean fish.  There are a few skulls of marine mammals, such as these porpoises.

 

The Great White Shark would require two of this size facility.

 

 

The little critters seem quite content, though, especially with the girls cleaning the outside window panes of their tanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The South Bay still has much which I will explore later, including its Botanical Garden, near Redondo Beach, as well as San Pedro, Seal Beach and the looming presence of Long Beach.  Awaiting me  next on that day, however, was Marina del Rey.