Experience Fourth of July like a local in Los Angeles

Here in Southern California we take our Independence Day celebrations very seriously! In fact, we spend the entire Fourth of July weekend giving a nod to the red, white, and blue. If you were to ask any Southern Californian what their perfect Fourth of July weekend consists of you'll almost always hear some variation of being at the beach, barbecuing, and watching a spectacular firework show with their friends and family by their side.

In the spirit of this great American holiday, I've enlisted the help of my partner-in-crime Annie Hofmans and we've put together a compilation of some hidden (or maybe not-so-hidden) gems at our most favourite beaches. If you happen to be cruising through California this summer, perhaps even for the Fourth of July you’ll be prepared to celebrate like a local. So grab your best beach chair, sun block and favourite summer sip and head to some of our favourite beach cities!

Santa Monica

Jasmine: If you haven’t heard of Santa Monica, today is the day you'll learn about the awesomeness I stumbled upon at this beach. Most people might recognize this as the West Coast beach that has the mega-ferris wheel and amusement park built on the pier, and the abundant shopping from very, very high end to more budget-friendly stores lined up and down the 3rd street promenade. You’ll also see some pretty impressive and jaw-dropping street performers while walking through the promenade and perhaps even a celebrity or two.

All of that is great, fine, and dandy, but as cool as that may be the Twilight Concert Series on the pier has to be the most irresistible part of this beach in the summer - at least for a music junkie like myself. I stumbled upon this gem one Thursday night just strolling the beach after work. It’s an outdoor concert series that features some up-and-coming and established musicians that is completely free, that’s right F-R-E-E (a word that's sure to light up tons of eyes).

Not often do you find anything good for free in LA, let alone a concert so take advantage because it's definitely worth it. And trust me, this is better than a good deal. You can be upfront in the action on the boardwalk where the main stage is or bring blankets and picnic baskets, find a spot next to the pier and immerse yourself in the sounds of the music and the last bits of sun before it sets. It truly is a full-sensory event and a MUST for anyone visiting from July - September.

South Bay

Annie: There are three beach cities that make up the South Bay coastal community. From North to South you have Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach. From the Manhattan pier to the Redondo pier these beaches only stretch a few miles, but the South Bay has so much charm and is jam packed with so many great pit stops that it has become one of our favourite beach destinations.

When you have a coffee fiend in the group like myself, the perfect beach day in the South Bay would start at one of my all time favourite coffee shops in Redondo Beach the Catalina Coffee Co. for their Sammy's Extreme blended coffee. They have a cosy vibe inside and as every good California cafe should, outdoor seating. I take mine to go and head straight to the sands of Hermosa Beach. What I love about Hermosa Beach is that if you're willing to park in a neighbourhood and walk a few blocks, you can usually find free parking. Quick side note: It's best anywhere in LA to be in a small car and have brushed up on your parallel parking skills.

Hermosa beach has a lot going on, so those people who can't just nap, read, and sun bathe on the sand all day, this can be a fun place for you. That being said, you do have to take some time to just sit quietly on the beach. Feel the sun, the sand and the salty air, take a dip in the ocean, listen to the crash and fizz of the waves and bask in the warm ocean breeze. There's nothing like it.

Pier Avenue and Hermosa Ave is where you'll find a lot of action in Hermosa Beach. I always bring my beach volleyball because Hermosa Beach is one of the big meccas for the sport. It won't take you long to notice the countless nets across the entire beach. Be careful when looking to play a game of pick up, some of these people are professionals and will kick your butt. Not to worry, you can almost always find a court of wonderful people who are out there just to have a good time. If you're really lucky you can find some folks who can teach you a fun game called "Ace".

Right off the pier you can rent a bike and cruise up and down the strand. This is your chance to do some great people and pup watching and dream about living in one of the insanely gorgeous and elaborate mansions that literally have the ocean in their backyard. I like to bike or walk along the strand from Hermosa to neighbouring Manhattan Beach to one of my favorite little lunch stops, Becker's Deli. Everything about this place is simple and scrumptious! Grab a friend to share one of their huge sandwiches on soft fresh baked bread and finish your lunch off with one of their signature cupcakes!

My perfect beach day would end sitting on the sand with a beverage in hand just taking in the sunset. If you want your beach day to turn into a beach night the options are endless. You can start with dinner at any of the countless restaurants at your fingertips in the South Bay. Fritto Misto and Waterman’s are a couple of my personal choices in Hermosa. And you don't have to stop with dinner, your beach night can turn into another beach morning (well at least until 2am) at a number of South Bay watering holes that Jasmine and I have had far too much fun in a number of times.

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Because there are too many wonderful places in the South Bay to mention, here is a quick list of shout outs for some notable places we love and why we love them.

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• Shellback Tavern in Manhattan- because you can play flip cup in a bar and we are damn good at flip cup
• Waterman's in Hermosa- we love a good salad and free chips and salsa, this place just has an overall great vibe
• Hot's Kitchen in Hermosa - if you're into craft beer and craft tacos, this is the place to be
• Simmzy's in Manhattan-open air and a great brunch, Bloody Mary anyone?
• Uncle Bill's Pancake House in Manhattan-because we are breakfast kind of people
• Underground in Hermosa- good prices, drinks, pool, darts, and a dance floor, oh my!
• North End Bar in Hermosa- for those nights we are feeling divey and want to rub elbows with some great people, maybe even a professional hockey player or two.

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O.C. / Huntington Beach

Jasmine: Just a little further south, Orange County has a plethora of beautiful beaches to enjoy some sun soaking, people watching, and all day activities. One in particular, the infamous Surf City USA aka Huntington Beach, is great for anyone who relishes in being at the beach from sun up to sun down. Especially for those of us that don’t necessarily live within a 5 mile radius of the surf and sand, packing for an all day beach adventure is very common.

Once you’ve had a taste of LA traffic you’ll come to understand it’s always good to come prepared for day and night, I had to learn the hard way a few times. The bright side of an all day and night beach excursion is the surplus of activities available.

During the day you can find tons of entertainment near the pier from street markets to live music, bikes, roller skating, and a variety of food and drink establishments along the way. The thing I absolutely adore about this beach and the reason it’s one of my tops picks is the bonfire pits they offer for any beachgoer. You can find them a little bit further south of the main pier which is nice because you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds. Be sure to get there early enough to stake your claim for a pit. These hot commodities (no pun intended) get snatched up pretty quickly. It wouldn’t be a proper bonfire without the classic s'more dessert, so whip out the marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers and have a taste of a true SoCal beach experience.

San Onofre

Annie: When you imagine a California beach scene I am sure you picture a sunny day, trimmed with palm trees and shaggy-haired dudes running into the ocean with their surfboards under their arm. If this is what you are looking for head further down south to San Diego County where you’ll find some beautiful beaches outside of the hustle and bustle that you can sometimes find at the aforementioned LA and OC beaches. Our favorite beach down south is San Onofre’s Old Man’s beach. You’ll want to pack a cooler with your food and drinks for the day because this beach is a bit more secluded. We love this beach because it is off the beaten path, which makes it peaceful and it's a great place for beginner surfers.

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No matter where you are a Fourth of July celebration would not be complete without a firework show to end your night. You could be almost anywhere and find a huge celebration nearby with music, parades and a firework display. Both Huntington Beach and Hermosa Beach have a spectacular firework show right off of their piers! And there's just something spectacular about laying on the sand and watching the explosions of red, white, and blue over the ocean! Whether you are coming to Southern California for an Independence day celebration or just to enjoy the sun drenched beaches we hope that these tidbits from a couple of local gals will help you find what you are looking for!

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If you want to spend your Fourth of July on the Los Angeles beaches, take a look at our hosts in the city now, or browse all our hosts in the United States.

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Cover image courtesy of Nicole Abalde.