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Point
Vicente Lighthouse, 31550 Palos Verdes Drive, Rancho Palos
Verdes, California. Call (310) 541-0334. |
California lighthouses
Point Vicente is one of the prettiest lighthouses to
grace the Southern California coastline. Although there are only a few
light stations in the populated region of more than 10 million
inhabitants, this lighthouse shares stunning hilltop views with the
homes and parks of Los Angeles County's Palos Verdes neighborhoods or
Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates. On a clear day, migrating
whales can be seen traveling north or south, a view enjoyed also by
residents of homes situated on the brown cliffs of this south L.A.
county region.
A stunning drive along Highway 1 with its windy roads
that drop into multi-million dollar housing tracts or to beaches and
parks offers an enjoyable view of the topography of land visible south
of here at Sunset Beach, Belmont Shore and Long Beach. Turn west onto
Palos Verdes Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes to find the lighthouse
treasure, located around the bend from Portuguese Bend.
Point Vicente is located 10 miles north of San Pedro's
Point Fermin lighthouse. It features a third order fresnel lens mounted
in a reinforced concrete tower that stands 55' tall and 185' above the
water. First opened in 1926, Point Vicente was named after an 18th
century Spanish friar.
The lighthouse tower is open for tours on the second
Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (310) 541-0334. An
interpretive center located in a trailer north of the lighthouse
features brochures and information. Several picnic tables near the
trailer are available for view dining. From the location, guests can
look south to the lighthouse or west to the Pacific Ocean.
There are no hotels located in this mostly residential
area but travelers can enjoy oceanfront accommodations in Redondo Beach
to the north or slightly inland in Torrance.
