Beaches in San Pedro, Los Angeles CA

San Pedro is an isolated district in the city of Los Angeles on the south side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It is squeezed in between the industrial areas of the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors and the posh housing communities of Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates. Five diverse beaches can be found in the San Pedro area.

For tide pools head to White Point Beach or Point Fermin Beach at low tide. Both of these beaches have broad rocky shelves that hold marine life for kids to discover. Just be careful not to step on them! For a family-friendly beach, head to Cabrillo Harbor Beach, just check in with the lifeguards about water quality before swimming. Cabrillo Park also has an Ocean Beach with waves sometimes large enough for surfing. Between the two Cabrillo Beaches is the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse, an historic building still used for weddings and other events. Another local surf spot is at Royal Palms Beach when conditions are just right. This beach is the site of an old hotel that once had a large therapeutic hot springs pool. The resort and springs closed in the 1930’s, but some evidence remains, including the tall palm trees that were planted at the resort. The next beach to the north is Rancho Palos Verdes Beach hidden below the Trump National Golf Course, still very near San Pedro.

There are several popular attractions in San Pedro. Angels Gate Park is a popular hangout in the evenings for taking in the superb sunset views. This is also the site of the Korean Friendship Bell which can be heard ringing on major holidays. White Point Nature Center has an educational visitor center and hiking trails in the adjacent preserve. Several military batteries and other historic structures can be seen at the Battery Osgood-Farley National Register Site. The Fort MacArthur Museum is also onsite at this park. Next to Cabrillo Beach is the kid-friendly Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. And finally the Point Fermin Lighthouse and the Sunken City of San Pedro can be seen at Point Fermin Park.

The best options for staying in San Pedro include the high end DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro and the budget-minded Hosteling International LA South Bay near Angels Gate Park. Several other lodging options exist in between these extremes.