Between Long Beach And Santa Monica Is A Coastal City With A Beautiful Beach And Laid-Back Charm

California has no shortage of beachside towns, and many of them are notable travel destinations, such as Venice Beach, Laguna Beach, or Santa Barbara, a quieter coastal getaway compared to LA and Malibu. However, if you look at the area surrounding LA, there are several lesser-known beach cities that often fly under the radar because they don't have world-famous attractions or scenery. One such place is El Segundo, which sits about 20 minutes south of Santa Monica and 30 minutes north of Long Beach.

A big reason for El Segundo's second-tier status is that the area was chosen as the site for a Standard Oil refinery in 1911. In fact, that's where the city got its name, as it was Standard Oil's second refinery in California, and "el segundo" is Spanish for "the second one." While oil was the primary industry for decades, the arrival of LAX next door made El Segundo an aerospace town, more attractive to workers than tourists.

Even today, the city isn't as notable for its attractions and amenities, but it does have an incredible stretch of sand, aptly called El Segundo Beach. So, let's take a look at this laid-back coastal city and discover what makes it such a hidden gem.

El Segundo Beach is one of the city's main draws for visitors seeking an alternative to California's busier shores, with more options among the 12 best hidden beaches in California for a coastal getaway. The oil refinery is still in operation, and it sits next to the beach, although it's not as much of an eyesore as you might expect. El Segundo Beach is often less crowded than its better-known neighbors. So, you can enjoy more of the sand and waves without having to fight for a spot near the water.

That said, another benefit of visiting this beach is that you can simply stroll either north or south and visit more "tourist-friendly" options. To the north is Dockweiler Beach, a popular destination for many Angelenos who want a beach day without having to drive too far. To the south is El Porto Beach, which is part of the more upscale city of Manhattan Beach. Overall, you can easily spend the entire day enjoying the coastline, and with so much of it open to the public, you can really stretch your legs and avoid any overly large crowds.

Alternatively, if you want to be outside but not next to the ocean, you can take advantage of El Segundo's various parks. The largest of these is Recreation Park, which has facilities where you can play tennis, horseshoes, or lawn bowling. There's also an inline hockey rink and a community center with a pool and indoor games like ping pong. The city also has other aquatic centers and indoor pools.

One of the best things about traveling to El Segundo is that it's literally next door to LAX. So, once your plane arrives, you just have to drive about 15 minutes south to reach the city center. Or, if you prefer to avoid LAX crowds, fly into one of the most efficient and traveler-friendly airports, Long Beach, which is southeast of El Segundo, with driving time depending on traffic. Also, because of its proximity to LAX, you can find a wide variety of hotels, some offering shuttles to and from the airport for added convenience. 

But beyond the beach and the city's green spaces, what else is there to do in El Segundo? Well, if you or your children are fans of Barbie and Hot Wheels, check out the Mattel factory store, as the company is headquartered here. Or, Plaza El Segundo is an outdoor shopping mall with brands like Nordstrom Rack and Ulta Beauty. Or for more of a localized experience, you can wander through downtown El Segundo by strolling along Main Street. In addition to shopping, check out Handprint Alley for unique artwork or visit during the El Segundo Art Walk, which takes place in August. 

There are also some great restaurants in and around the downtown area, such as Unico Tokyo Pasta, which blends Japanese and Italian flavors in its dishes. Or, if you love brewpubs, there's a small cluster of them at the intersection of Main Street and Franklin Avenue, so you can indulge in a pub crawl. Then, make sure to check out a show at the Old Town Music Hall nearby. This is a vintage 1921 silent movie house that showcases old films in a timeless setting.