What makes the Strand, ‘The Strand’ are the people and the communities it supports. There is so much activity going on. Hundreds of volleyball nets span the beaches from Hermosa to Manhattan. Local surfers congregate near each of the piers. Stand up paddle boarders make their way up and down miles of coastline. The beach cruiser is the primary mode of transportation, roller skates come in a close second. At night, bars come to life with the sound of local music. There is no need to travel far! Just walk, rent a bike, or roller skate your way from activity to activity. The perfect day is waking up at dawn to shoot the sunrise. Then spend the afternoon surfing, paddle boarding, riding, or walking. After an afternoon nap, photograph the sunset, grab a bite, and then catch some live music! Tomorrow we will go on an epic cruiser bike ride from Hermosa Beach to the canals of Venice.

Weekend Photo Vacation Logistics: All the images you have seen thus far in this series, including today’s, were taken within walking distance of the Beach House Hotel at Hermosa Beach. I really had no idea where to stay, but it was the only place on the beach that was centrally located. It turned out to be the perfect base camp for a photo weekend in a southern California beach community. There was never a need for a rental car.