10 Things to See & Do in San Pedro, CA

The waterfront area of San Pedro offers a multitude of fun things to see and do. One of my favorite experiences is boarding and taking a self-guided tour the Battleship IOWA, enjoying brunch at the new French Bistro La Buvette Bistro, strolling through CRAFTED and taking a two-hour whale watching trip along the coast in search of dolphins, pelicans, sea lions and whales.Escape the heat during the summer or enjoy a staycation at the Port of Los Angeles exploring and participating in the following 10 favorite San Pedro activities:

Take the free Red Trolley offered by the San Pedro Historic Waterfront Business Improvement District for residents and visitors. Park your car near Ports O’Call Village. The route runs along the waterfront making stops at the Maritime Museum and the Battleship Iowa. Other stops include Crafted, the Brouwerij West Brewery, Cabrillo Beach, and the Lane Victory. Passengers are encouraged to get off and on at their convenience.
Climb aboard the a living history museum – Battleship IOWA. Also known as the Battleship of Presidents, USS IOWA was outfitted in WWII to be the flagship that carried President Franklin Roosevelt across the Atlantic in 1943 for meetings with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. This year’s San Pedro Fleet Week kicks off with a welcome party Thursday, August 29. This community event is open to all offering public ship tours, military displays and equipment demonstrations, a kids’ STEM Expo, aircraft flyovers, live entertainment. There will be the 10th Annual Conquer the Bridge Labor Day morning 5.3 walk/run over the iconic Vincent Thomas Bridge, and Galley Wars culinary competition between military branches through Monday, September 3, 2018.
Afterwards take a 45 minute or 2 hour whale watching Harbor Breeze Cruise. The 45 minute cruise is fully-narrated cruise takes passengers along the water to see iconic sights along the Los Angeles Harbor. See the Maritime Museum, USS IOWA Battleship, Lane Victory ship, and Mr. Steven – the sleek and fast SpaceX recovery boat. It’s wide net catches SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk’s rocket capsules before they hit seawater. The 2 hour whale watching trip cruised up to Terranea Resort and while turning around we had a super pod of dolphins swim next to the ship.
Sirens Java & Tea offers coffee, snacks, pastries and tea. Check out the new mural on the west side of our building.
Art Galleries & Studios dot the old Downtown San Pedro area. Walk along 6th and 7th streets to see all of the colorful street art.
Enjoy brunch or dinner at La Buvette Bistro offering rustic French cuisine and a wine list featuring 60 wines priced mostly between $30 to $90, as well as a selection of West Coast craft beers on tap to complement Chef Christoff Elce’s cuisine.
Be sure to see Angel’s Gate Park and the Korean Friendship Bell before sunset. This intricately-decorated large bell and pavilion was donated in 1976 to the people of Los Angeles by the people of the Republic of Korea. Not only was it given as a bicentennial of the U.S. independence gift, but also to honor veterans of the Korean War, and to consolidate traditional friendship between the two countries. The bell is patterned after the Bronze Bell of King Songdok, which was cast in 771 A.D. and is still on view in South Korea today.
Explore CRAFTED inside an old cannery offering over 50 local artist and craftspeople shops. Open Friday through Sunday it’s located on the Red Trolley stop. Take a jewelry making or water marble on silk class. Shop for some one-of-a-kind souvenirs, clothing, books and jewelry or decor for your home.
Walk across from CRAFTED to relax and enjoy a craft beer at the beer garden with local food trucks at Brouwerij West.
Visit the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium to be enlightened, enriched and appreciate the marine science education, aquaculture research and community recreation. The historic Frank Gehry-designed aquarium (1935) displays the largest collection of Southern California marine life in the world. Guests have a hands-on, interactive approach to learning about the marine environment of Southern California.