In addition to San Pedro being
one of the largest and busiest
deep-water ports in the nation, it offers a wonderful vacation. Cruise ships,
red car trolley, a maritime museum, Korean Freedom Bell, beaches, an
aquarium, a WWII historical site, a pleasure harbor, lighthouse, whale
watching and Ports o' Call shopping are a few attractions in this wonderful
city offering some of the best views of the ocean in all of Southern
California.
Along with Wilmington and Terminal Island,
San Pedro forms Port of Los Angeles, serving not only the economies of the world with
its import/export facilities, but also the tourism industry with around one
million people leaving harbor each year on cruise ships. It is also home to some
of the largest fishing fleets anywhere.
Tourists and local visitors can fish
for free off the San Pedro pier. Extending 1,200 feet into San Pedro Harbor,
the pier (built in 1969) features parking, wheelchair access and a
location inside the north end of the Los Angeles Harbor breakwater.
Anglers sometimes find mackerel, white croaker and even a halibut.
Location: Cabrillo Beach Pier, 3730 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro, CA 90731
San Pedro is located at the eastern end of the rocky
Palos Verde peninsula. It was named by Spanish navigator Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602. In 1771, monks who began moving to a newly established
San Gabriel Arcangel mission 40 miles inland were prohibited from conducting
business with other countries and were restricted to two ships a year carrying
goods from Spain’s House of Trades. Despite restrictions, San Pedro prospered.
100 years later when railroads connected the west to the rest of the U.S. in the
mid 1800's, the shipping industry skyrocketed. Never slowing down, it continues
to thrive and grow.
Along the shore are palm trees swaying
in the breeze but gazing out to the port you see Vincent Thomas bridge and cargo
cranes dotting the skyline. With Pacific Rim importers such as Japan and
China moving cars and other goods to a hungry, consumer oriented nation, San
Pedro's Port of Los Angeles is extremely important to world economies.
Things to do in San Pedro include
Ports O' Call, a village designed in New England style. Restaurants, shops
and boat excursions around the bay, day trips to Catalina Island and
helicopter tours depart from there. There are also several museums and
numerous historic landmarks and houses to visit.
Red Car Trolley Ride - Take a
1 and a half mile journey on a replica Red Car that once carried passengers
from the mountains to the sea throughout Southern California. As you ride
the rail, you'll pass by several museums, statues, and often see large
cruise ships in the harbor. Connecting the Red Car to Cabrillo
Beach is a shuttle that runs throughout the day during, Friday - Monday, to
coincide with the scheduled runs of the Red Car. For a mere $1, you can ride
the Red Car all day for free. And you can take the shuttle to the beach for
free, as well. Parking for both are available at a free lot on Harbor and
22nd Street.
The Los Angeles Maritime Museum near
Harbor and 6th Street is filled with historic displays and a gift shop loaded
with items. Give yourself time to see several floors of models, actual
items from historic boats and ships and photos and information. Next
door to the Museum, you can see two ships being built. And in front of the
building are memorials to Marine Merchants and war veterans.
Other things to see in San Pedro
include the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Point Fermin
Lighthouse, beaches and dozens of historic houses and buildings.
