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Daycations: Just for Laughs & Giggles – Hermosa Beach, CA

By Aly Wagonseller

When was the last time you laughed?  I’m not talking a wimpy little girlie giggle; I mean tears in your eyes, smile muscles quivering, abs burning as if you’d just survived a sadistic P90X workout, belly kinda laugh?  It’s a sad but true fact that many of us haven’t had a good laugh in awhile.  And, whether it’s due to the monotonous routine of everyday life, a birthday that’s a few ticks higher than you’d like to admit, or a life changing event like the kids flying the coup, if you’re in need of a laugh,  Hermosa Beach, CA is the perfect place to find it. 

 What’s so Funny?

 A pleasant, four hour drive from the Las Vegas Strip, Hermosa Beach is the epitome of a lovely Southern California beach town. Filled with the requisite lot of bathing beauties, amazingly agile beach volleyball players and casual restaurants that offer the simple, yet flavorful cuisine that has helped put California on the culinary map, it may not seem different than any other coastal town along this beautiful stretch of the Pacific Ocean. But look closer and you’ll find that this energetic slice of paradise offers weekend opportunities for some seriously funny encounters that include mad lib people watching, laughter yoga on the beach, and one of LA County’s most famous comedy clubs.

 Say Car Car – Bye Bye

Road trips are always a gas, but finding a locale that allows you to get there on a Friday evening, then valet park the car until it’s time to go home makes for a vacay that’s liberating and spontaneous.  The Beach House at Hermosa Beach (310-374-3001,www.beach-house.com)  is just such a place. Residing in the heart of Hermosa Beach, along the expansive, 26-mile beachfront bike and walking path known as The Strand, The Beach House is a beautiful boutique hotel just one block from Pier Avenue, the hub of Hermosa which houses numerous restaurants, bike rentals and clubs. Each loft style room boasts separate sleeping and entertaining areas, with spacious balconies and either partial or full ocean views.  Best of all, once you’re here, there’s no need to kill that smile buzz by having to navigate the LA freeways; everything you need for a good laugh is a short walk or bike ride away.

Upon check in, you’ll need to stretch your legs, and what better excuse to do so than foraging for happy hour supplies? A two minute walk takes you to the Beach Market (1325 Hermosa Blvd.), a small convenience store stocked with the makings for your favorite libations – from mimosas to martinis. They also carry a modest snack selection, but a quick trip to Whole Foods before you leave town may be in order for more sophisticated palates.  There are plates, glasses, a wine cork, silverware and a fridge all waiting in your room, making it easy to sit back on the balcony and enjoy your bounty. When you’re ready for dinner, venture out for everything from steaks and chops at Union Cattle, tapas found at Mediterraneo, Mediterranean cuisine at Zanes, or Brazilian BBQ at Silvio’s, just to name a few. All are within walking distance, located on either Hermosa or Pier Avenues, or in the Pier Plaza.  For more hotels and restaurants in the area, visit http://abouthermosabeach.info.

 Laugh ‘til You Drop

 You’ve got some laughing to catch up on, and there’s no problem finding it from sun up to sun down here in Hermosa. You must simply first immerse yourself in the frenetic, Southern Californian culture; meaning, let loose, lose your inhibitions, and do as the natives do.

 The Strand

 Start your day off with a bike ride along this expansive, paved ocean side path of…well…shall we say, colorful characters you’ll only see in California.   It’s a gigglefest for the eyes with many donning super tight dolphin shorts and rollerblades, the odd cowboy hat, and quirkily coifed pedigree pooches, but there’s also room for laughing at oneself, especially if you haven’t ridden a bike in a while. The Strand stretches from Torrance to Santa Monica, with Hermosa being somewhat south of the action.  Ride as far north as your legs will take you, passing AVP volleyball action in Manhattan Beach, stunning beachfront real estate along the path to Marina del Rey, and the pinnacle of people watching locales, Venice Beach.  Bike rentals can be found right next to the hotel at Hermosa Cyclery (310-374-7816), and rent for about $20.00 for the entire day.  They also provide combination locks, making it safe for you to leave your bike and lock it up, should you choose to go off the beaten path for lunch.

 Laughter Yoga

Available for advanced booking through the hotel’s spa or directly through Yoga Under the Trees (323-841-3606), laughter yoga isn’t as much about structured poses as it is about simply letting go. You choose the location (the true adventurer plops right out on the beach, in full few of curious onlookers), and an experienced coach, Hilary Kimblin, leads you through scenarios and drills that just plain make you laugh till it hurts. There are only three rules, and they make this form of healthy release a breeze to accomplish: you must maintain eye contact, you can only speak gibberish, and fake laughter is allowed and encouraged. You’ll feel euphoric when you’re done, and the flashbacks you’ll take with you are sure to make you laugh for months to come. (Especially if an onlooker video tapes you with their cell phone and posts it on YouTube!)

 The Comedy and Magic Club

 If you’re a fan of stand-up what better way to end the evening than by seeing one of your favorite comics?  The Comedy and Magic Club (www.comedyandmagicclub.com) is within walking distance of the hotel and has long been know as one of LA’s best comedy clubs, showcasing such talent as Craig Shoemaker, Daniel Tosh, Kathleen Madigan, John Pinette, Sarah Silverman, Roseanne Barr, Robin Williams, Gary Shandling and many more.  Jay Leno performs there almost every Sunday evening, and the small venue lets you get up close and personal to the action. You’d be surprised at whom you’ll find on their calendar, with ticket prices (Daniel Tosh is performing for an unheard of $25.00 pp) being far more reasonable than a Vegas showroom. Book tickets online and get to the venue early, as seating is usually first come, first serve.

So lighten up and get it going on again. Trade in that humdrum you and laugh to your heart’s content in a place that embraces the unconventional.  You’ll feel ready to take on the world, no matter what life brings.

 

Top Picks for Breakfast, Dinner and Drinks

Don’t miss Good Stuff restaurant, 1286 The Strand, for a fabulous breakfast.  Portions are huge, service is super friendly, there’s outdoor eating with an ocean breeze, and they serve some of the best homemade, green chicken chili verde omelets this side of New Mexico.

Dinner calls for a visit to a local secret haute spot, Chef Melba’s Bistro (310-376-2084), where only fresh, organic or natural ingredients are served in quintessential California fashion. Don’t let the humble décor of this place scare you off, you’ll need reservations for some of the best food in LA county. 

After dinner drinks or a tasty Irish brew on the deck at Hennessey’s (8 Pier Ave.) is a must do for in-depth people watching on The Strand and an incredible Pacific Ocean view.  They also serve mimosas for Sunday breakfast.

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