It’s hard to believe but in the 1920s, there was so much white sand in Manhattan Beach that some of it was shipped to Waikiki Beach on Oahu. California”>Manhattan Beach’s sand also helped to build the L.A. Coliseum and the Pacific Coast Highway. The most northerly of South Bay’s beaches, Manhattan Beach got its name from one of its initial developers, whose hometown was NYC’s Manhattan. Made immortal through “Surfin’ U.S.A.’s” lyrics, the Beach Boys memorialized the city because they surfed there all the time.
Manhattan Beach boasts gorgeous white sand to this day, with perfect beach volleyball spots, sunbathing, and surfing. The bike path along the Strand is part of a long bike and pedestrian path that runs all the way from Santa Monica to Palos Verdes. Bordered by El Segundo, Manhattan Beach enjoys a charming small downtown near the beach and pier, along with more inland shopping areas along Sepulveda Blvd. and Rosecrans Ave. Sepulveda and Rosecrans offer high-quality shopping and dining from regional retail at the Manhattan Village Mall to Zagat-rated eateries offering dozens of cuisines, from vegan to contemporary Californian.
Manhattan Beach residents and local government have preserved the community’s intimate character and feeling by limiting development size. The Strand in Manhattan Beach boasts homes which have the highest square-foot price in Los Angeles County and among the highest prices in the United States. Several neighborhoods in Manhattan Beach offer choices of premium, executive, and estate homes, including the Sand Section with walk streets, Poet Streets, the Village, and Manhattan Heights. All of South Bay’s beaches are beautiful and gracious, but Manhattan Beach has received CNN Money’s award as #1 of the “Best Places for the Rich and Single” and the 9th “sexiest beach” according to The Travel Channel.
In addition to having some of the highest home values in the United States, Manhattan Beach schools are ranked top in California and in the nation. The Manhattan Beach School District is ranked #3 in California and has a number of high-performing elementary and middle schools, along with Mira Costa High School. Mira Costa High School will look familiar to fans of Disney’s Hannah Montana show: the school’s exterior was used in the show’s intro.
Manhattan Beach feels down to earth and is a charming place to live, surf, play, and shop although its beach lifestyle comes with an exclusive price tag. Whether seeking a beachfront estate home with the most modern amenities and unique architecture and design or an oceanfront condo getaway, prospective home buyers will find Manhattan Beach an enticing destination.
