San Pedro
San Pedro is home to the Port of Los Angeles and just South of Palos Verdes. There are 2 lighthouses located here - Point Fermin (1874) a Victorian lighthouse with 2100 candlepower and the Angel's Gate Lighthouse (1913) which marks the entrance to the port on the breakwater (the rocks to make it came from Catalina). Point Fermin is not only home to the lighthouse, but it is a nice park on the bluffs with a great view of the ocean and the harbor and an amphitheater.
San Pedro also is home to Ports O' Call Village which offers great seaside dining and shopping. Many cruise ships, whale-watching tours, sport fishing & barge fishing tours, as well as the Catalina Express operate out of the Port of Los Angeles. The port is also home to Battleship Iowa and the S.S. Lane Victory which have tours available and the S.S. Lane Victory is available for cruises 3 times a year as it is still a fully operational ship.
Angel's Gate Lighthouse
The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium located on Steven M White Drive (other side of 36th Street off of Gaffey) in San Pedro. For a suggested donation of $5.00, you can see exhibits related to local marine life such as whales, dolphins and sea lions, fish and other ocean life in tanks to educate the public, and a tide pool touch tank. They have programs where you can visit the tide pools on Cabrillo Beach and the Salt Marsh near the museum.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Entrance
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Shark Exhibit
Ports 'O Call is located along the L.A. Waterfront in San Pedro and has many fish markets to dine at and enjoy the view of the boats cruising in and out of the harbor. There is also shopping available here as well as harbor cruises. Parking is free and it is a nice place to stroll along for a long way.
Ports O Call Parking and Stroll
The L.A. Maritime Museum is also located in San Pedro with exhibits and collections about the history of the Los Angeles Harbor. Admission is free to the Maritime Museum, but a suggested donation of $3.00 is requested. You can visit the museum and enjoy photos and other artifacts about ships, the lighthouses, fishing industry, and diving collections on display and learn about the history of the harbor. The Angel's Gate Tug Boat is visible from windows inside of the museum.
Angel's Gate Tug
To the North of the Maritime Museum is the Battleship U.S.S. Iowa. This World War II battleship docked at the Los Angeles Harbor in 2012 and is open year round for tours - except Christmas and Thanksgiving. Tickets are $18 for the tour for 1 adult.
San Pedro is also home to Cabrillo Beach. Cabrillo Beach has calm, protected waters and a kids play area on one side (near the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium) where little kids can play safely in the ocean. On the other side of the Cabrillo Bath House and breakwater which splits the beach into 2 sections, the other side is windy with lots of wave action - perfect conditions for windsurfing.
Cabrillo Beach
Cabrillo Beach Bath House and Anchor Statue
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