My last article was on The Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro. This piece will take you from the urban side of the town to the more rural bluffs overlooking the ocean.
San Pedro is eclectic. The population is a mix of blue-collar workers, yuppies and the homeless. The restoration process of the city center is a blend of old merging with the new giving the downtown potential but the headlands are perfect!
The best place to enjoy this area is in several parks. The parks here have the most stunning panoramic views of sea and city. It’s the ideal place for recreation with children, romance with a loved one or just a place for peaceful contemplation.
Heading south on the 110 Freeway to San Pedro you’ll pass through the gritty industrial areas of Wilmington with their refineries belching smoke into the sky. Along with these factories, the large merchant ships berthed at the Port of Los Angeles are in view. When you see the green towers of the Vincent St. Thomas Bridge you know that you’re coming into San Pedro.
The freeway ends at Gaffey Street, the main thoroughfare. Despite the roughness of the area, this road will eventually lead you to the most scenic ocean views in the LA region. You’ll pass through the typical strip malls, fast food joints and a variety of dwellings as you make your way up the street into the more residential area of the hills.
For myself, every time I crest the rise on Gaffey to see the open ocean, I make a bet at whether I’ll be able to see Catalina. The marine layer can be unpredictable so when it’s a clear day and the island emerges into view it takes my breath away. As the channel is the narrowest here from the mainland, it’s the best place for viewing the island.
The first park to stop at is Angel’s Gate Recreation Center. This is where the Korean Friendship Bell stands. It was a gift from The Republic of Korea to the people of Los Angeles in 1976 to honor our country’s bicentennial. Housed within a colorful and decorative pavilion, the large bronze bell is detailed with intricate carvings depicting Korean spirits and symbols.
This park use to be part of Fort MacArthur, an old Army base that still stands not too far from the business district on Pacific Street. The main base is now used as Air Force housing.
However during its time, the outlying areas of Angel’s Gate were where they housed the gun emplacements to protect the harbor. The guns have been removed however you can still see remnants of the old battlements from their protective vantage points.
Because of the constant winds at this park you can often find families flying a kaleidoscope of kites here on the weekends. There is also a small playground and basketball court.
The next site to see is Point Fermin Park. Head back out the main entrance of Angel’s Gate, turn right and go down the hill to where Gaffey ends and there you’ll find this wonderful gem. The crowning glory of this park is the Point Fermin Lighthouse.
This is like no other lighthouse I’ve ever imagined or seen. Instead of the usual tower it looks like a Victorian Mansion. This is due to the fact it was built in 1874, during that era. The lighthouse has a long and interesting history but for decades it was closed to the public. However that changed in 2003 and is now open as a museum. Its hours are from 1:00 to 4:00 pm Tuesdays through Sundays.
The park itself has picnic areas with dramatic views of the coastline. It also has an amphitheater, which has plays in the summer such as Shakespeare by the Sea and of course a children’s playground.
After enjoying the merits of Point Fermin Park, head back out onto Paseo Del Mar, turn left and follow this road down to White Point Park. On the way you’ll see plenty of small greenbelts within a residential area where you can easily stop for a picnic or just enjoy the view.
White Point is a lovely little park with a small children’s playground and a baseball field that’s perched on the cliffs. Below is the Royal Palms State Beach complete with tide pools. I’ve often watched scuba divers enjoying the water from this outlook.
As always, I have to mention the films or television shows that have used the areas in my article. The San Pedro headlands have been seen in such movies as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and most recently in “Over Her Dead Body” with Eva Longoria. The basketball court at Angel’s Gate and the Royal Palms State Beach has been used in commercials.
I’ve often been in the area and observed film crews doing their thing because of these striking views. I stopped at a convenience store the last time I saw some filming going on and asked the proprietor what the project was. At first he look stupefied and then replied:
“I don‘t know… they’re always filming something out here!”
This is one of the unique things that make LA awesome. Being in such close proximity to Hollywood, can give you the opportunity to see them in action.
Other than films, I’ve seen wedding parties with their photographers using this incredible backdrop for their keepsake memories. I can’t imagine anywhere more romantic.
So if you’re looking for a great playground for your children, a place for romance or just to enjoy the ocean panoramas, visit the headlands of San Pedro!
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