Red Car, San Pedro
Ports O' Call Village, San Pedro ©Keith Lin
San Pedro is one of California’s most historic and picturesque fishing villages. It’s also home to the largest commercial and cruise ship port on the West Coast. A wonderful walking town, San Pedro seamlessly blends small-town charm with seafaring roots and delights visitors with its abundance of historical sites, art galleries, shops and restaurants.
A good home base, the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor is ideally located for exploring San Pedro on foot. The 244-room contemporary hotel overlooks historic downtown San Pedro as well as the entire Port of Los Angeles, and the World Cruise Center is just four blocks away. Nearby, the 226-room DoubleTree Hotel is nestled among hundreds of pleasure boats. Its proximity to the ocean offers views, and for those looking to visit Old Town San Pedro, the hotel features a convenient shuttle service.
From there, getting to know San Pedro is easy. A great place to start is the Port of Los Angeles’ recently completed promenade, which stretches a mile along the waterfront from the cruise ship terminal. Visitors can stroll along a two-tiered, palm tree-lined path, enjoy local artwork, or just sit and watch the massive cruise ships pass by. A kiosk packed with visitor information is open at the Cruise Terminal at the Port of LA, Pier 93.
At the end of the promenade, the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, the largest maritime museum in California, offers an in-depth look at the maritime history of coastal California with exhibits that include ship models and navigational equipment. Just north is the Fireboat #2 (The Ralph J. Scott) museum, which pays homage to the harbor’s firefighting boats.
From just outside the museums, you can take the San Pedro Trolley Red Car north to the World Cruise Center, the busiest passenger port on the West Coast. Once there, follow your ears to Swinford Street and Harbor Boulevard, where San Pedro’s brand-new water feature, Fanfare at San Pedro Gateway, is located. Fanfare features 58 choreographed water jets that jump and sway to a lineup of well-known songs. From there, walk east under the bridge to the S.S. Lane Victory. This fully restored WWII cargo ship is open for tours and contains a museum of ship memorabilia.
The Red Car also travels south to Cabrillo Marina. From there, connect with the trolley for Cabrillo Beach and the aquarium. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium houses a fine collection of saltwater aquariums filled with Southern California sea life. Across the parking lot is Cabrillo Beach, which offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles Harbor as well as tide pools for low-tide exploring.
For shopping enthusiasts, look no further than Old San Pedro. This historic town has become one of LA’s major art districts, with many artists finding inspiration in the bohemian atmosphere. The result is a boon for art collectors with edgy tastes. Mesa, Seventh and Sixth streets offer several working studios and shops behind unassuming storefronts. The best time to visit the art district is weekdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with several studios open until 6 p.m. There are several galleries worth exploring in the area, including Gallery 478, Medea Gallery, Studio 343, The Loft Galleries, and The Art Colony, all of which are featured on the San Pedro 1st Thursday Artwalk.
To the south, Ports O’Call Village is filled with small shops to peruse. Visitors often find their best souvenirs here: beautiful, ocean-inspired trinkets at Sea Breeze, Botanica’s Mexican candles, a sweet array of treats at Candy Town and many more. Ports O’Call offers a wealth of treasures for everyone.
Whether you’re a cruise passenger or a visitor looking for a great seaside town, San Pedro continues to offer more and more attractive options.
