Golden Hills, Redondo Beach, CA

Golden Hills rises in the northwest corner of Redondo Beach, where North Redondo's streets start to roll toward the Hermosa Beach line. The grades give the upper blocks a look west, and much of the building here has been about reaching that view. Many of the older houses have been remodeled, raised or replaced, and some newer ones put the living room on the top floor to catch the light and the ocean line. Lots feel narrow, and neighboring houses often sit only a few feet apart on the side yards. Andrews Park on Rockefeller Lane is the neighborhood's main patch of green, and two small pocket parks, Ford Parkette and Beverly Parkette, fill in between blocks. For a bigger workout, Aviation Park in Villas North has a lighted track and a full field. The sand is a bike ride or short drive west. Aviation Boulevard is where the neighborhood eats. Pursue Coffee, at 1503 Aviation Blvd, is a specialty coffee shop that anchors a small strip with a pizza place and Paddy O'Brien's Irish Pub a couple of doors down. Over in Villas North, Blue Salt Fish Grill on Artesia does beer-battered fish and chips. Errands mostly happen on Artesia Boulevard, where Albertsons and Grocery Outlet share a lot at 2115 Artesia in Villas North. North Redondo sits closer to LAX than any other part of the city, and the Metro K Line ends at Redondo Beach station a short drive north. Parking is the daily tradeoff. Garages are small, many streets lack sidewalks, and curb space fills up in the evening as more houses add bedrooms. On the upper streets, though, a tall house with a roof deck can look out over Hermosa's rooftops to the water.