Going Coastal

The six-year-old Beach House is that Southern California rarity: an unpretentious haven with no floral frills, no cheeky modernist decor, just the clean lines and breezy feel of a Cape Cod hideaway. Sunken living rooms with fireplaces almost lull you into forgetting that you came here for the picture-perfect beach. But the hotel sits on the sand in Hermosa Beach, an emerging spot that's less touristy than Venice or Malibu and less snobby than Laguna Beach or Dana Point. Beers, margaritas, and conversation flow steadily at a pedestrian plaza nearby, but if that's not your thing, you can always dive into the water or ride a bike along miles of classic SoCal sand.