San Pedro, CA

San Pedro is a major seaport in the Los Angeles Harbor area. The seaside town was annexed by the city of Los Angeles in 1909. San Pedro can be accessed by the entire Southern California freeway system, as well as train and bus lines and several area airports. The area has many attractions of its own, in addition to all of the happenings in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. San Pedro is home to more than 76,000 residents.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Some of San Pedro's notable areas include:

• Downtown San Pedro is filled with art galleries, restaurants, antique shops, boutiques and live music venues. Downtown is the place to be for entertainment and activity, and is also home to Old San Pedro, an historical district.
• Ports O' Call Marketplace is styled after a New England seaside village. This area contains stores, restaurants on the harbor and other sites on the cobblestone streets of the area. A large number of cruises sail out from Ports O' Call, including fishing boats, dinner cruises, whale-watching tours and sailing cruises.
• The east side of San Pedro, near Long Beach, includes smaller and older homes for middle- and working-class residents. Parts of the east side have the feel of an artists' community.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Once supported by fishing, San Pedro later became a working-class neighborhood of Los Angeles. Now, it's the busiest port of call for passenger cruise ships on the West Coast of the United States and home to the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center. With major cruise lines coming from San Pedro, tourism is a major part of the economy, as many cruise passengers stay in the city before and after their vacations.

Health centers include San Pedro Health Center, which has chiropractic and nutritional services available and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro, a nonprofit, Catholic healthcare system offering a wide range of services including a cancer center, orthopedics, rehabilitation, emergency departments and other comprehensive patient care services.

BEST BETS

• Warner Grand Theater: The Warner Grand is a beloved historic landmark in the downtown arts-and-culture district. Plays, musicals, concerts, orchestra performances and art events are presented at the Grand Annex in this beautiful theater, which has recently been restored.
• Port of Los Angeles Waterfront Red Car Line: This 1.5-mile, vintage trolley line connects the World Cruise Center and the Fanfare at San Pedro Gateway with several other waterfront attractions, such as the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and 6th Street. The Red Cars run on this line each weekend and on certain weekdays when cruise ships are docked.
• S.S. Lane Victory: This is a 10,000-ton, fully restored and operational World War II cargo ship that serves as a memorial to civilian Merchant Marines and Naval Armed Guard who have been lost at sea. The boat takes day tours to Catalina Island six times a year.
• Cabrillo Marine Aquarium: The aquarium displays marine life, including eels, sharks, fish and crabs in 38 aquariums. The museum features interactive tide pools, displays on California gray whales and special educational programs. The building was designed by Frank Gehry and offers free admission.
• Los Angeles Maritime Museum: Located in San Pedro, this museum, formerly the Municipal Ferry Building, explores the rich maritime traditions of California's Pacific Coast with exhibits, photographs and the museum's own tug boat and other ships and models. It is California's largest maritime museum.
• Fanfare at San Pedro Gateway: This new fountain next to the Los Angeles Cruise Terminal is a popular attraction at Swinford Street and Harbor Boulevard-water shoots from jets in time to popular and classic songs. It can be reached on the Red Car trolley line.

EVENTS

• First Thursday Art Walk: Held in Downtown San Pedro every first Thursday of the month, this event brings residents and visitors together to enjoy restaurants, free music, galleries, dancing and shops open late on Thursday evenings, with some restaurants offering First Thursday specials.
• Farmers Market: Held on Fridays on 6th Street, this farmers market is a community event for all ages, with free musical performances and fresh produce from local vendors.

EDUCATION

• California State University, Dominguez Hills: This four-year university in Carson serves the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It offers 45 undergraduate programs, 24 graduate degrees and other educational programs to a diverse student body.
• Los Angeles Harbor College: LAHC is a two-year community college in the Los Angeles Community College District.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Sports fans turn to the nearby city of Los Angeles for professional athletic teams.

• Los Angeles Dodgers: A major league baseball National League team
• Los Angeles Galaxy: Professional major league soccer team that plays at the Home Depot Center
• Los Angeles Kings: NHL team
• Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers: Professional basketball teams. The Lakers and Clippers both play at the Staples Center and are rivals.

LOCAL MEDIA

• The Daily Breeze is a daily newspaper distributed in Los Angeles County.
• San Pedro Today is a monthly magazine for the San Pedro area.
• Random Lengths News is a free, liberal, alternative newspaper published in San Pedro.