# San Pedro

San Pedro is a district of Los Angeles County on the South Bay harbor, immediately east of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

## Get in

San Pedro is located at the southern end of the Harbor Freeway (CA-110), which you can take directly from Downtown L.A., or you can take the Vincent Thomas Bridge (CA-47) west from Long Beach.
Metro provides transit service, although public transit to San Pedro is somewhat limited. The fastest service to Downtown L.A. is the Silver Line express bus service, although it requires an extra fare and not all buses travel all the way to San Pedro; check the schedule in advance. Regular fare $1.75; Silver Line fare $2.50. You can also take the 232 from LAX and transfer to the 550 at Western Ave.

## Get around

* Metro operates a bike share system, with several stations scattered along the harborfront in San Pedro and neighboring Wilmington. Single trips are $3.50 for 30 minutes of use (credit or debit card required), or you can load a monthly pass onto a TAP card for $20 which gives you free rides shorter than 30 minutes and $1.75 for every thirty minutes after that.

## See

* 33.7388-118.281 American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial, South Harbor Blvd At West 6th Street. An impressive monument to the unsung heroes of World War II, the men of United States Merchant Marine Service. These men took the same risk as U.S. Navy vessels without the benefit of being in an armed and armored ship to provide needed supplies to Allied forces in the Europe and Pacific War theatres. Free.
* 33.7086-118.25162 Angel's Gate Lighthouse, End of the Los Angeles Harbor breakwater (the closest land viewpoint is from the fishing pier at the end of Oliver Vickery Circle Way). A historic lighthouse that has stood watch over the Port of Los Angeles since 1913.
* 33.7423-118.2773 Battleship Iowa, 250 S. Harbor Blvd, ☏ +1-877-446-9261. Daily 10AM-4PM. A WWII-era battleship, the USS Iowa, which is open for tours. $29.95 adults, $26.95 seniors 62+/military, $21.95 youth 6-11, free for children 5 and under. (updated Dec 2024)
* 33.7113-118.2854 Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen White Dr, ☏ +1 310 548-7562, info@cabrilloaq.org. Tu-F noon-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-5PM, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. A small, but complete aqauarium. Learn about the natural history of the area through live exhibits, beach tours and classes. Free, but suggested donations are: adults $5, children and seniors $1. Parking: October through May $1 per hour (max $7), June through September $1 per hour (max $9).
* 33.7119-118.29625 Fort MacArthur Museum (Battery Osgood-Farley Historic Site), 3601 S. Gaffey St (Angeles Gate Park), ☏ +1 310 548-2631, fax: +1 310 241-0847, ftmac@ftmac.org. Tu Th Sa Su holidays noon to 5PM.
* 33.709678-118.2938146 Korean Bell of Friendship and Bell Pavilion, Gaffey and 37th Street (Angels Gate Park). This bell was presented to the people of Los Angeles by the people of the Republic of Korea in 1976. The bell is rung four times each year: the Fourth of July, August 15 (Korean Independence Day), New Year's Eve, and every September to coincide with bell ringings around the country to celebrate Constitutuon week. Free.
* Los Angeles City Fire Department San Pedro Museum 36, 639 S. Harbor Blvd, ☏ +1 323 464-2727. Sa 10AM-3PM. This museum is in the old Los Angeles City Fire Department Station 36. It features historical fire apparatus and account of some of the most historical fires in the Harbor area of Los Angeles with a section dedicated to marine firefighting. Free, donations suggested.
* 33.7387-118.2797 Los Angeles Maritime Museum, 600 Sampson Way (Berth 84, Foot of 6th Street), ☏ +1 310 548-7618, fax: +1 310 832-6537. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. This museum of maritime history, housed in the former San Pedro Ferry Terminal building, includes 700 ship models and other nautical paraphernalia. Adults $3, youth and senior citizens $1, children free.
* Marine Mammal Care Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St (Angels Gate Park), ☏ +1 310 548-5677, fax: +1 310 548-6394, info@marinemammalcare.org. Daylight hours. Watch while volunteers tend to recuperating seals, sea lions and other animals. Free.
* Muller House Museum, 1542 South Beacon St.. 1PM - 4PM, first three Sundays of the month. A beautifully restored historic home, the Muller House has tours of the interior of the house three times a month. The Colonial Revival house, built in 1899, is furnished with examples of Arts and Crafts furnishings and hosts rotating exhibits. Tours are also available by appointment. There is an onsite gift shop. Free, but donations appreciated.
* 33.7054-118.2948 Point Fermin Lighthouse and Park, 807 Paseo Del Mar, ☏ +1 310 241-0684. Tu-Su 1-4PM. This lighthouse, built in 1874, can be seen seven days a week from the park surrounding it. Tours of the interior are given every hour during operating hours. No longer in active use, the lighthouse has a fascinating history, including usage as a military lookout post during World War II. The highlight of the tour is a climb to the lighthouse tower. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and children less than 40 inches in height may not be admitted to the tower. Free; donations are requested.
* 33.714444-118.2747229 S.S. Lane Victory, Berth 49 (take the Harbor Blvd. exit from either the 110 or 47 and continue straight down Harbor Blvd to the end of Miner St), ☏ +1 310 519-9188, sslanevictory@juno.com. Daily 9AM-3PM. The S.S Lane Victory is a World War II-era Merchant Marine vessel that carried cargo for the war effort. The ship is open to explore and contains two museums, one in each of its cargo holds. $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, $5 for children (5 to 14), active military w/ ID is free. (updated Dec 2024)

## Do

* Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 South Gaffey St, ☏ +1 310 519-0936, fax: +1 310 519-8698, info@angelsgateart.org. See website for event calendar. The Cultural Center offers a year-round schedule of gallery exhibitions, cultural events, and classes. It also provides work-studio space for 52 artists and musicians.
* LA Waterfront Cruises, 1150 Nagoya Way, ☏ +1 310-547-9916. Call for tour dates and hours. Boat tours of the Port of Los Angeles. Highlights of the tour include the Angels Gate Lighthouse, the Vincent Thomas Bridge, the L.A. Harbor Clock Tower, and the S.S. Lane Victory, a World War II-era Merchant Marine vessel. Or whale watching or deep sea-fishing.
* Grunion run, 3720 Stephen White Dr, ☏ +1 310 548-7562, info@cabrilloaq.org. See website for predicted run times. From March to June, a small, silvery fish called a grunion comes up on the shore to spawn in the late night hours. In March and June, grunion may be taken by hand (a California fishing license, which must be displayed, is required unless you are under 16 years of age). The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium offers a series of "Meet the Grunion" presentations. Warm clothing and a flashlight are recommended. Free to see the run on the beach. Carbillo program: Adults $5; seniors, students and children $1.
* San Pedro Skatepark, Under the 110 freeway at Channel Street. What started out as a renegade skate park is now a charitable organization-run skatepark with a round bowl, square bowl, and a vertical wall known as the “gnarwhal”.
* Knoll Hill Dog Park, 200-349 Knoll Dr, ☏ +1 310 514-0338. Daylight hours. Travelling with Rover? Let him run free in this off-leash park overlooking the Harbor. Free.

## Buy

* San Pedro Farmer’s Market, 396 W 6th St, toll-free: +1 800-779-2115. F 11AM-3PM. Farm fresh produce, baked goods, lunches, crafts, and plants.

## Eat

* Buono's Pizzeria, 1432 S. Gaffey St, ☏ +1 310 547-0655. Italian/catering $7-22.
* Busy Bee Market, 2413 S Walker Ave, ☏ +1 310 832-8660. This has got to be the best sandwich deli in L.A. The sandwiches are relatively inexpensive (±$7.25 a sandwich) with generous portions of meat, served fast but really long lines during the lunch hour. A little out of the way, but if you find yourself down south.... Around $7.25.
* Pacific Diner, 3821 S Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 310 831-5334.
* Rex's Cafe, 2136 S. Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 310 519-7190. American. Most items under $10.
* Slavko's Harbor Poultry, 1224 S Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 310 832-5723. Chicken/take-out. Friendly service from third generation San Pedrans. Try the deep fried nuggets and a bottle of Croatian beer. Most items under $5.
* The Corner Store, 1118 W 37th St, ☏ +1 310 832-2424. Charming coffee shop, market and community hang out. Under $10.
* The Lighthouse, 508 W. 39th St, ☏ +1 310 548-3354. American Under $10.

## Drink

* San Pedro Brewing Company, 331 W. 6th St., ☏ +1 310 831-5663. Daily 11:30AM-midnight. Has their own locally-brewed beers on tap as well as a rotating selection of microbrews from around the country. A menu of sandwiches and other pub-style food is also available.

## Sleep

* Doubletree Hotel (formerly known as Marina Hotel), 2800 Via Cabrillo Marina, ☏ +1 310 514-3344. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon.
* Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel, 601 S. Palos Verdes St, ☏ +1 310 519-8200.
* Vagabond Inn San Pedro, 215 S. Gaffey St., ☏ +1 310 831-8911, fax: +1 310 831-2649. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.

## Go next

* 33.758647-118.3458441 Palos Verdes
* 33.839722-118.2597222 Carson
* 33.835849-118.3406293 Torrance
* 33.768056-118.1955564 Long Beach
* 33.383361-118.4175765 Catalina Island