Heading south from LA along PCH, beyond the runways of LAX and the oil refineries of El Segundo, begins the eight-mile coastal strip of the quieter and less pretentious South Bay beach towns: Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach . Each has a beckoning strip of white sand much more open to the public than those around Malibu and Manhattan and Hermosa are especially well equipped for surfing and beach sports. They're also well connected by the regular #439 bus to downtown LA. To the south are Long Beach and Catalina Island .