There are a ton of places on and around Pier Avenue. Try Good Stuff on the strand, Aloha Sharkeez (310-374-7823) or Cafe Boogaloo on Hermosa Avenue (310-318-2324). Out on the mauka side of PCH just south of Pier Avenue, you'll find the favorite surfer-stuffer, the Big Wok -- it's one of those all-you-can-eat Mongolian-style barbecue places where the chef will stir-fry anything you hand to him -- bring a cat.

The Sea Sprite wins points here for their location, and because they have a great web site -- check it for links and events in Hermosa Beach. Sea Sprite Ocean Front Motel and Apartments, 1016 The Strand, 310-376-6933.

Other motels:

Grand View Motor Hotel, 55 14th St., 310-374-8981

Hermosa Hostel, 26 Pier Ave., 310-374-9298

Hotel Hermosa, 2515 Pacific Coast Highway, 310-318-6000

Quality Inn Hermosa Beach, 901 Aviation Blvd., 310-374-2666.

There is no shortage of diversions around here during the summer. For all the details, pick up the Easy Reader. You'll find the nightlife right around Pier Avenue -- live music and all. The Brew Works on 11th Street is a good place to start, then there's the Lighthouse, or you might check the marquee at the Hermosa Beach Comedy and Magic Club (310-376-6914), where Jay Leno grooms his monologues every Sunday night.

Hermosa Beach (and the surrounding South Bay) has one of the largest collections of surf shops anywhere. One of the older favorites is ET Surf (next door is Just Long Boards), followed closely by Becker and Dive n' Surf. Here's the list:

Becker Surfboards, 301 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, 310-374-7626 or 310-372-6554

Dive n' Surf Inc. (Body Glove outlet), 62 Del Amo Fashion Square # D, Torrance, 310-370-6371

ET Surf, 912 Aviation Blvd., Hermosa Beach, 310-379-7660

Jacobs Hap Surfboards, 717 Valley Dr., Hermosa Beach, 310-374-4098

Jeff Biggs Surfboards, 1926 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance, 310-618-9118

Just Long Boards, 914 Aviation Blvd., Hermosa Beach, 310-376-8847

Matthew Calvani Surfboards, 644 Cypress St., Hermosa Beach, 310-372-7733

Players Surfboards, 3804 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach, 310-545-9626

Point Southside, 16210 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena, 310-515-1237

Rick Surfboards, 644 Cypress St., Hermosa Beach, 310-372-8843

Soul Performance Surfboards, 1905 Mackay Lane, Redondo Beach, 310-379-1910

South Redondo Surf Co., 1700 S. Catalina Ave. Suite 105, Redondo Beach, 310-374-8602

Spyderboards, 2461 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, 310-374-8276

Spyder II, 25 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, 310-374-2494

Surf Concepts, 2001 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, 310-545-7397

Try Surfing, Hermosa Beach, 310-374-7184

Vanguard Surf Culture, 201 Herondo St., Redondo Beach, 310-798-8331

Vanguard Surf Culture, 5205 Pacific Coast Highway # C, Torrance, 310-373-2501

Wayne Miyata Surf Boards, 717 Valley Dr., Hermosa Beach, 310-374-231