Monday, 6/30/97 Beach hot spots heat up summer RESTAURANT:
Restaurants, shops and secluded areas offer wide variety of fun
By Dayna Michaelsen Daily Bruin Contributor Planning to hit the
beach this summer? If so, a trip down the coast may reveal several
jewels. While many UCLA students have probably visited the beaches
near Santa Monica, fewer have seen all that the Southern California
beach cities have to offer. With the Third Street Promenade and the
Santa Monica Pier so close to each other and only a short bus ride
away from UCLA, a day at the beach in Santa Monica can be filled
with all kinds of sights and sounds. From shopping and sightseeing
on the promenade, to carnival rides and games on the pier, there is
a lot to do. Restaurants and specialty shops abound at this tourist
attraction that has been featured in numerous movies and draws all
types of people, from street entertainers and students, to locals
and tourists. Those who are familiar with Southern California
beaches will say, however, that Santa Monica is just a small part
of the beach experience. A little farther down the coast, you’ll
find a series of beaches, each with their own attitude and
atmosphere. Take Manhattan Beach, for instance. Among the shops and
restaurants in this beach town, is Michi Restaurant and Bar, an
adventure in fine dining. One look at the menu at Michi lets the
diner know that they are in for a unique meal. A mixture of
Italian, French and Asian tastes combine to create innovative and
unique dishes. These speciality dishes include a seafood paella
(black mussels, baby clams, sea scallops, calamari and shrimp) with
saffron rice, roasted bell peppers and Kentucky green beans, and
Linguine with Japanese mushroom, abalone and brown butter soy. Like
its menu, the atmosphere at Michi is also a blend of several
styles. With architecture and decorations that give it an airy,
open feeling, Michi is right at home in a California beach city.
Students beware though, prices for entrees range from $11 to $25.
Nevertheless, Michi is a great choice to impress a date or
celebrate a special occasion. Farther south lies a series of
beaches that includes Long Beach, Seal Beach, Bolsa Chica and
Huntington Beach. It is easy to laze the day away at any of these
beach cities, each of which offers a variety of sights, sounds and
tastes that gives the area its own special flair. Anyone who has
spent time in Long Beach has most likely seen the legendary boat,
the Queen Mary. It is visible for what seems like miles. Throughout
the year, the area surrounding the Queen Mary is brimming with
activities. When the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach comes to town
in April, all of Long Beach echoes with the roar of the cars. With
a new aquarium being built, and the popular Shoreline Village
nearby, this area continues to draw many visitors. A walk along the
canals in the Naples area of Long Beach makes for a relaxing
evening, especially when topped off by dessert at "Grandma
Sugarplums" on Second Street. With many specialty shops and
restaurants, the sidewalks of Second Street are often bustling with
people taking in the warm California sun or enjoying a laid-back
evening. If a little more excitement is what a beachgoer is looking
for, Main Street in Huntington Beach is the place to be on a
Southland weekend. With shops and restaurants galore, Main Street
jumps when the sun goes down and the bars and clubs come to life. A
popular club in Huntington Beach is "Old World," one of the few
that is open to people under 21. Locals of Huntington Beach say
that "Papa Joe’s Pizza" on Pacific Coast Highway near Main Street
is a must, as is "TK Burger" on First Street and Pacific Coast
Highway. Seal Beach has the reputation of being slightly calmer
than Huntington Beach, but there is still plenty to do and see.
Walking down Main Street, one passes old-fashioned ice cream shops,
plenty of surf and beach stores, and a variety of restaurants that
lead to the Seal Beach Pier. At the end of the pier is Ruby’s, a
’50s style diner that is always packed. Those visiting Ruby’s for
the first time should be warned that when the diner shakes and
rolls there is no reason to be alarmed. Though the eyes of the
customers widen and many first-timers to Ruby’s gasp in alarm, it’s
not an earthquake shaking the restaurant. It’s just a large wave
hitting the pier that the restaurant sits on. For those who enjoy
just hanging out on the beach itself, there are also places to have
a great bonfire and to set up camp. Bolsa Chica, just south of Seal
Beach, is a great place to have a beach barbeque or roast
marshmallows. A popular campground near the beach is San Onofre
State Beach. Campsites go fast, so it’s best to make reservations.
Rumor has it that if you hike down a certain trail near San Onofre,
you’ll end up on a hidden nude beach. Other popular camping areas
include San Elijo and San Clemente. For those who abandon the sand
in favor of the waves or just enjoy watching the action on the
water, there are several spots that draw local surfers. While one
can almost always see them riding the waves from the piers, when
big swells move in, many surfers head to popular surf spots such as
"The Wedge" at Newport Beach and "The Bowl" at Sunset Beach. So,
for a relaxing day at the beach or a hot night in one of the towns
that pepper Southern California’s coast, head south. With such a
variety of things to do and see, an escape to one of these lesser
known beach cities can help make the summer unforgettable. Previous
Daily Bruin Story Suntans and surfbums, July 29, 1996