Introduction to Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Rancho Palos Verdes, California, in Los Angeles county, is 6 miles SW of Torrance, California (center to center) and 11 miles W of Long Beach, California. The city is situated on top of the bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. It includes numerous coves and cliffs. The municipality is regarded as an upscale suburb of Los Angeles. The main commercial area for the Palos Verdes Peninsula is located in nearby Rolling Hills Estates.
Rancho Palos Verdes History
The Palos Verdes Peninsula was originally home to the Tongva Indians. In 1827 Don Jose Dolores Sepulveda acquired a part of the Rancho San Pedro Spanish land grant and called it Rancho de los Palos Verdes. He created a notable cattle ranch on the property. In 1882 the land was purchased by Jotham Bixby who then leased the land to farmers. Later, most of the acreage was purchased by a group of New York investors who established the Palos Verdes Project and sold parcels of land that were converted to horse ranches and residential communities.
Rancho Palos Verdes Attractions
Wayfarers Chapel is known for its unique modern style of architecture and scenic location on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Point Vicente Lighthouse is included in the National Register of Historic Places. The city includes unique shops and a wide variety of restaurants. The beautiful South Coast Botanic Garden is worth a visit. There are numerous attractions in the area including Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the Maritime Museum and the Manhattan Beach Pier.
Point Vicente Park is a great location for viewing the migration of whales. The Promenade on the Peninsula is a popular upscale shopping location. Visitors can travel down to San Pedro and take a ferry to Catalina Island. Nearby Redondo Beach is a well known beach town and features a beautiful pier and harbor.
Rancho Palos Verdes Activities
Being situated along the ocean, Rancho Palos Verdes offers residents and visitors opportunities for swimming, sailing, surfing and beach volleyball. The area is often used for horseback riding, bird watching, and bicycle riding. The Palos Verde Peninsula is known for its extensive horse trails and includes numerous scenic nature trails. Universal Studios, Disney's California Adventure and Disneyland are less than 30 miles away.
The water park named Soak City U.S.A. is nearby and is popular with families. Los Verdes Golf Course and Ocean Trails Golf Club are popular with golfers. There are a large number of quality golf courses in the area. Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, Martingale Trailhead Park and Del Cerro Park are popular destinations.
Rancho Palace Verdes Transportation
Air travel is available at the nearby Los Angeles International Airport.