Hermosa Beach has a problem with not enough parking on busy summer days. Other than that, it's a handy beach with shopping and restaurants adjacent to the central pier area. The town's business district parallels the beach, as well--so even if you're not near the pier, you have access to a various stores and dining opportunities. A wide, concrete path for biking, jogging, skating and strolling extends the entire length of Hermosa Beach. This path gets a bit crowded at times--and not just with tourists on the weekends, either. The local residents love their recreation path, and it's especially busy in the mornings before work, and in the evenings when the people get home. Hermosa Beach has a funny little pier. It's a modern, concrete pier, but it's rather short, and there's no restaurant at the end of it, like most of the metro area piers have, nor is there a restroom on the pier.
On the beach near the pier are numerous, permanently-set-up volleyball nets--Hermosa Beach is a big "beach volleyball" town, and both pro and amateur tournaments are held here from time to time. The beach itself is wide, and its sand is white and clean. It's a fine beach for swimming, as well. You can stroll onto the plaza across from the beach and pier areas without having to cross a busy street. The plaza is wide enough to accommodate a crowd of visitors in the summer, and even an occasional band playing a concert. Several restaurants are located on this plaza, including the casual Cantina Real, which serves reasonably priced Mexican food. There are parking lots behind the buildings of the plaza, which serve both the businesses and the beach. These lots are quite adequate most of the year, but fill up quickly on busy summer weekends. The parking lot situation is the reason that I prefer to visit Hermosa Beach during the off-season.