Lincoln Dealership serving Manhattan Beach Geo
Manhattan Beach Has
Much More to Offer than Just The Beach
Anyone who has live for a period of time in the Southland
recognize Manhattan Beach as one of a string of beach town that run for the
Palos Verde peninsula to the south to Malibu Beach to the north. What most
don’t know, including many locals, is that the area behind the beach now filled
with houses, condos, and apartments, were all sand dunes until about 100 years
ago.
At that time developers scraped off the sand to reveal the
soil beneath. But where did the sand go? Actually it was distributed in several
different ways. Some was used to build the Pacific Coast Highway, some was
shipped north a dozen miles for use in the construction of the Los Angeles
Coliseum for the 1932 Summer Olympics, and believe it or not, some was shipped
to Hawaii to replace and cover some of the volcanic rock on their beaches. So
if you’re a Southern California and you’re headed to Hawaii, remember that the
sand you feel beneath your feet at the beach may have originated back home.
Here are five other points of interest in Manhattan Beach, some
of which may be unknown even to long-term locals.
Roundhouse Marine
Studies Lab and Aquarium
The Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium is a tiny
facility located at the end of the Manhattan Beach pier, and is free to the
public. While called The Roundhouse, the building is actually octagonal. The
Aquarium includes a shark tank, tide pool touch tank with animals common to Southern
California, tanks with lobsters, and baby sharks as well as brightly colored,
non-native fish and invertebrates. The aquarium is open Saturdays and Sundays,
from 10 am to sunset and Monday through Friday 3 pm to sunset. Group and
education tours are offered.
Sand Dune Park
Developed in 1964, this park was named for the 100-foot high
sand dune located there; one of the few reminders of what the terrain in the
area was like prior to development. Steps and switchbacks lead up into the
nature area as a trail that provides different ways to reach the top. The trail
winds through plant life including the local, rare Orcutt's yellow pincushion.
The top of the dune provides a panoramic east-facing view of the City.
Currently, use of the sand dune portion of the park is by reservation only,
which must be made in advance at City Hall.
AdventurePlex
Beach Cities Health District opened AdventurePlex a Manhattan Beach fitness center for kids and their families in 2002, filled with mazes, tunnels, outdoor rock climbing walls, complex ropes courses, and an indoor gym. AdventurePlex challenges children physically and intellectually in health-focused recreational activities. But there are activities for grown-ups as well, including adult fitness classes, as well as facilities for team building activities and parties.
Manhattan Beach Art
Center
The Manhattan Beach Arts Center seeks to create connections
among artists, cultural organizations, community groups, businesses, visitors
and residents that sustain and promote a thriving, diverse, creative city. The
Center’s mission is grounded in a belief that learning about the arts is integral
to human development and continual personal growth. The Manhattan Beach Art
Center offers exhibitions, classes and workshops in painting and ceramics, as
well as Summer Concerts.
Manhattan Beach
Botanical Garden
Although the most recent drought has passed, experienced
Californians understand that the next drought may only be a few years away. The
Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden dedicated to promoting Earth-friendly
gardening techniques, encouraging the use of drought-tolerant plants including
California natives, and conserving our natural resources. On display are
examples of California native grasses, shrubs, succulents, and trees that
thrive in this environment without additional water. Also on display are
non-native but non-invasive grasses, shrubs, and trees.
There are many great sites to visit in the Manhattan Beach
area and what better way to see them all than in a new Lincoln automobile or
SUV from South Bay Lincoln.