LOS ANGELES FAMILY

A Hawaiian-style Getaway Close to Home!

I longed to go to Hawaii for my birthday, but with air travel more costly and difficult these days, I decided to celebrate locally. To avoid peak prices on Friday and Saturday nights, we decided to book a Sunday night at the Beach House in Hermosa Beach and take Monday off from work. My simple wish list included an ocean view room, a day of boogie-boarding, and good food, and at less than a one-hour drive from the foothills, the Beach House gave us a taste of Hawaii at a more affordable price.

Located on a 26-mile strand, this California/Hawaiian-style beach- front resort was a refreshing 20 degrees cooler than at our home. Our sec- ond floor room offered a balcony that allowed ocean breezes tofill our room as we watched roller bladers, bike riders and joggers pass by. To the south, the view of Palos Verdes evoked memories of Diamond Head.

The suite is ideal for families or romantic getaways. The sleeping area offers a King-size bed, television, writing desk, and bathroom with a sep- arate Jacuzzi bath and shower. I enjoyed the various Aveda bath products including facial wash and make-up removing wipes. Two steps down led to the sitting area with another television, a working fireplace, and a kitch- enette with a small refrigerator, two-burner stovetop, sink, and microwave. The sofa pulled out to a bed for our daughters. My only concern was I heard the guests above us on the third floor walking around in the evening and early in the morning. Next time, I will reserve a third floor room.

Since I wanted to boogie-board on my special day, we slipped into our bathing suits and put our valuables in the in-room safe. The water was a warm 73-degrees as we swam, rode gentle waves, built sand castles, flew a kite, and collected shells and rocks.

At sunset, we dressed for dinner and explored our dining options. With over thirty restaurants within a few blocks of the resort, there was no need to use our car. Italian cuisine is a familytradition for birthday dinners, so we walked over to the family-friendly Mama D’s. We’ve dined at the sis- ter restaurant in Manhattan Beach and have always been pleased with our meals. As we sat down, tasty, warm bread was delivered to our table and our drink order was taken. Throughout the meal, sample plates of meat- balls and shrimp in marinara sauces were offered to diners. Our little one took three helpings of the cheese pizza samples for her dinner. After our meal, a plate of homemade warm chocolate chip cookies was delivered with a treasure chest filled with colorful toys for our girls to select and take back to our room.

The resort offers a continental breakfast from 6:30 to 10:00 am. After a restful sleep, I brought a tray of food and drinks back to our room for ocean view dining. As the beach town started to come alive with joggers and dog walkers, I had the same feeling I have had in Waikiki Beach, a feeling of peaceful contentment.