Rancho Palos Verdes - Point Vicente

Point Vicente is a gorgeous bluff top park with spectacular ocean views, beautiful park grounds, an educational museum, a walking trail, helpful docents, and a fully operational lighthouse. The Interpretive Center, Lighthouse, and Park are located at 31501 Palos Verdes Dr West, Rancho Palos Verdes which is on your right if you took Hawthorne Blvd. (Hwy 107 which turns into county road N7) towards the beach and made a left on Palos Verdes Drive. There is a dirt parking lot as you enter the facility close to the lighthouse and there are many additional parking spots available in the paved lot through the rest of the property. Parking is free and the facility is open from 10 am - 5 pm except on holidays. The park is on the bluffs and has spectacular ocean views to see Pacific Gray whales during the migration months or any whale species cruising by the point.

Bluffs of Point Vicente Overlooking the Ocean
Bluffs of Point Vicente Overlooking the Ocean

Point Vicente Lighthouse - Separated from the Interpretive Center by a fence, the property is owned by the Federal Govt and operated by the US Coast Guard. The lighthouse is open for tours from 10 am - 3 pm on the 2nd Saturday of each month except March, when it is open on the 1st Saturday of the month for the Whale of a Day festival. Admission is free. The USCG Museum on the property has several exhibits showing the rich history of the lighthouse since its construction in 1926. This site, vicentelight.org has some additional information about the lighthouse. To enter, persons over 18 years or older are required to show identification. Children 7 years or older and adults are permitted to climb the tower stairs. Large bags and back packs are not permitted in the tower and are subject to search. Food and beverages are prohibited on the Lighthouse grounds. Restrooms are available at the Interpretive Center a short distance away.

Point Vicente Lighthouse
Point Vicente Lighthouse

Interpretive Center - The facility is a beautiful building with a gray whale statue at the front (where the parking lots end) and an amphitheater off to the right as you walk toward the center where educational talks are given and a museum and gift shop in the building as well as many walking trails to enjoy the native coastal plants and views from the bluffs. The center does not have concession stands, but there are clean restrooms available. There is also a room called the Sunset Room available for party rentals and outdoor wedding rentals are available for up to 150 people. The views alone make it a wonderful place to take wedding photos. Most people come out to watch for whales, sea lions, and dolpins from the bluffs. The volunteers at PVIC, the Los Serenos docents are on hand to help pin point where you should look to get a good look at any marine mammals passing by the point. The docents at the center can provide you with a wealth of information about the Palos Verdes coastline, the history of the peninsula, and the local marine life of our coast.

Point Vicente Interpretive Center
Point Vicente Interpretive Center

Museum - The museum is very informative with great exhibits about the historical background of the Palos Verdes area. The include exhibits about the Tongva Indians, ocean life such as the kelp forest and tide pools, as well as models of whales and dolphins. This Los Serenos docents link has a great photo tour of the museum: Museum Photo Tour.

Gray Whale Mural at Point Vicente Interpretive Center
Gray Whale Mural at Point Vicente Interpretive Center

The Park at PVIC - Beautiful rolling grass knolls with large shade trees and picnic benches and tables on the bluffs while taking in a cool ocean breeze are the best way to describe this park. The interpretive walking trails take you by the Native Plant Garden and along the bluffs. The Seascape Trail will take you along the bluffs on an even, dirt footpath with great ocean views.

Pt Vicente Park Grounds
Pt Vicente Park Grounds

Pt Vicente Park View
Pt Vicente Park View

Pt Vicente Vista View
Pt Vicente Vista View

 

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