I am the kind of parent that childless people hate. I take my kids to hip restaurants and am not deterred by the complete lack of booster seats, high chairs, or chicken fingers on the menu. I am simply not content to while away my weekends at home or limit our outings to places that have designated stroller parking. I wheel our mammoth double wide into petite boutiques and carry my cooing baby into austere galleries. We boldly go where no family unit has gone before.

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23rd January 2011

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Blahnik’s At The Beach

Manhattan Beach, California is the closest thing to a family vacation paradise you will find in the greater Los Angeles area. The white sand beaches are beautiful, access is free, and options for shopping, dining, or strolling are endless.

Just like in the rest of LA, be prepared for sticker shock if you want to throw down your money at a trendy boutique or bistro. MB is a high-end beach town; there is no getting around that. Manolo Blahnik’s trump flip flops and the locals are not salt of the earth surfer types. However, the presence of mucho-monied denizens ensures that the ample public spaces all stay extremely clean and manicured, even after repeated use by the masses.

It may seem counter intuitive in such a tony zip code, but finding budget activities for families is a breeze. One of my favorite cheap thrills is renting bikes and tooling around the the Strand, a fabulous beach front bike path lined with multi-million dollar showplaces. It’s hard to keep your eyes on the path when you have crashing waves competing with the mansions in all of their synthetic splendor. If you want to take in the spectacle at a slower pace, you can walk or jog the Strand instead.

The green belt running between Manhattan & Hermosa Beach is another great place for a walk. Secret hideouts can be found in and under the lush plantings, and little explorers will tromp through the underbrush with glee.

Kids will love a visit to the tiny aquarium at the end of the MB pier. And the whimsical fountains in the Metlox courtyard are a great place to cool off. Sand Dune Park is another special spot, but unfortunately the city has limited public access to it due to overuse and resident complaints.

My favorite budget eats are Wahoos, The Kettle, Manhattan Bread & Bagel, and Mama D’s. Yes, yes, the pancakes at Uncle Bills are good, but in my opinion are not worth the perpetual wait.

For budget lodging you can’t beat Hawthorne Suites. It is a small hotel with a quiet courtyard located near the green belt. They often have rooms (with kitchenettes and sleeper sofas) for under $100; parking is free and a full, hot breakfast is included in the price! Note: Upon check-in they bestowed us with a welcome packet that contained such random gems as sample razors, bottled water, chocolate chip cookies and Advil (the cookies didn’t last long in our room).

http://www.manhattanbread.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mama-ds-italian-manhattan-beach

http://thekettle.net/

http://www.wahoos.com/

http://www.hawthornsuites-lax.com/

http://www.metloxmb.com/

Tagged: ParentingManhattan BeachCaliforniaWahoo'sMama D'sStrandbeachLos AngelestravelbudgetkidsManolo Blahnik'spierfamilyThe Kettlerestaurants

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  1. thefamilyunit posted this