[vbmoneyspender]

You could take your kids for surf lessons in Manhattan Beach and then eat at the pier. Manhattan Beach is about 3 miles south of LAX so it is easy to get to.

Here are some links for various surf camps that operate in August. The Freedom surf camp is the one I enrolled my son in. It is $90 for the day per person. I think you can do a half day for less but call them to find out. The other camp is a little pricier - $90 for 90 minutes.

http://freeedom.org/surf/

http://www.campsurf.com/los-angeles-surf-lessons/private/#7ee67fe49807ecb69

[vbmoneyspender]

By the way, don't listen to the messages about the beaches in LA being horrible. The beaches from Manhattan Beach on south to Palos Verdes are very nice. You won't be bothered and you will have a nice relaxing time. I have lived in the South Bay for 25 years and surf almost every day and the beaches are nice and clean and safe with friendly people and a small town atmosphere.

If you wanted to do something fun after doing the surf camp I suggested in my previous post, you could go down to the Redondo Pier where they have a large fishermans market where fresh fish are sold and there are plenty of restaurants to eat at.