Points of interest

This section is dedicated to sites and scenes around the San Pedro area which might be of interest to visitors and local habitants. Whether you are visiting for a short time or you have lived in the area for some time, some of the following places may peak your interest in visiting or revisiting.

Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, Universal City, The Aquarium of the Pacific, and other major tourist attractions are not included on this page. Places like these need no further embellishment here.

This page will deal with some sites that may be old but are new again. There are places that may have been forgotten about, or taken for granted. There are places that were not easily accessible when Ke-Alians went to high school that are now open and interesting.

White Point County Park/ Royal Palms

Located on the coast where Paseo Del Mar meets Western Avenue, there is a place of many memories. It is a place that has changed over the years. A new parking lot at on the top of the cliff greets visitors. There are new rest rooms, walkways, and play equipment there. White Point, White's Point, Whites Point, plaques along a walkway address the ever argued question; What is the place's real name? Modernization, better roadway, a more open environment are found when you descend down the steep road to "Royal Palms."

San Pedro High School Football Stadium

It is probably a good idea to see the new football field. If you remember when the Ke-Alians graduated, it was on a field that was short, had bleachers that ran down only one side, and ran basically east to west. It is safe to say that the biggest change in our little town is the new football stadium at San Pedro High School. The new field now runs basically north to south and has aluminum bleachers on both sides. The concrete arch that used to stand near the boys' locker room has been moved to behind the north end zone. The baseball fields that were on the original site are now on a lower portion of the property on what used to be 15th Street. Many houses were removed to make the new fields and enlarge the classroom areas.

Western Avenue

One of the most dramatic ways to tell how much life has changed since 1973, is to take a drive on Western Avenue between Palos Verdes Drive North and 25th Street. Suburbia wedges itself tightly into a string of condominiums, shopping centers, and traffic signals.

Traveling south on Western Avenue from Palos Verdes North, turn your head and notice the first of THREE Starbuck's coffee stores that now adorn Western. As you travel you will see Green Hills Cemetery on your right, but all the old Navy housing is empty. Lochmann Farms was long gone when they built the fitness center. The fitness center is gone too.

Continue south, look left--a new Albertson's is being built so the old Albertson's can become a Staples Office Supply. La Chispa restaurant hasn't been in that center for many years.

As you travel south, look to your right. See the houses? They are in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes! Continue, condos on your left, condos on your right. At Caddington, look left where the old Ark Gardens Nursery was, it is now public storage. Take a short jaunt through the Terraces on your right. When we were in elementary school, Thriftys, W.T. Grant, and Food Giant were the three big stores up the hill. The hill is now terraced! Regal Cinemas has six screens and shares the top level with a Do-It Center and Ballys Total Fitness. The second and third levels have many types of stores and eateries.

Where the Park Western Apartments once stood, now the giant Ralph's supermarket, shares a parking lot with an In and Out Burger restaurant at Capitol/Trudie Drive.

Notice as you pass McDonalds on your left that the restaurant on your right that you remember as I.H.O.P., isn't there anymore. It is now Alan's Pancake House.

From Crestwood Street to 9th Street sanity has prevailed somewhat and Western has remained calm.

At 9th Street is the last big change along Western Avenue. A driveway leads up to the Friendship County Regional Park. This area features a parking lot, play area, restrooms and the new Deane Dana Friendship Park Nature Center. There is a road that leads to the parking lot of the Bodanovich Recreation Center where the large gymnasium is still in use along with a large playground area, ball fields, and hiking trails.

Harbor Blvd./Front Street

Todd Shipyard and the Chevron Marine Terminal are both long gone. The land is used for container storage.

Near the Catalina terminal and just under the Vincent Thomas Bridge is the S.S. Lane Victory. History buffs might want to tour this renovated Victory Ship. Volunteers have done a terrific job in making the ship not only sea worthy but also a living history lesson.

Along Harbor Blvd. is the new fire boat station. The boat house used to be on Terminal Island but a modern dock was built for the boats. Nearby are areas to honor the merchant marines and our local fisherman. These are beautiful tributes to the people who helped build San Pedro and give it a unique character. The old ferry terminal is now a museum. It is the gateway to the restaurants, fish shops and Ports O' Call.

Carry a handkerchief when strolling through Ports O' Call; you might need to wipe a tear when you see the newest ghost town on the west coast.

Fort MacArthur Upper Reservation

When we were in high school, this area was still under military control and access was limited. Times has certainly changed for the better for this area. Now much of the space is open and there are many things to see and do.

The Fort MacArthur Military Museum can be fun for young and old. Walk through small dark tunnels that soldiers once raced through to man the big gun emplacements. Battery Osgood and Battery Farley are large concrete structures that supported large guns that could shoot a shell the size of a Volkswagen over Catalina Island. Picnic tables now stand where implements of war once stood.

The Angels Gate Art center is housed in many of the old barracks. Artists, clubs, and other groups meet in these city owned buildings. There is a model railroad club, ceramic workshops, and galleries that are open to the public at various times.

The Korean Bell is in an area near a youth hostel. Park lands, basketball courts, brush covered hills make a visit here interesting, and it all comes with a fantastic view of the Pacific Ocean. Many of these areas have been seen in countless movies, TV shows and commercials.

Shakespeare by the Sea/Music by the Sea

During the summer, the Point Fermin bandshell is home to a group of players that perform Shakespeare in the Park. Thursdays through Saturdays, two different plays by William Shakespeare are performed for free. Sundays are music days. Musicians play in the bandshell, vendors sell their wares, bar-be-ques abound, and everyone seems to have a great time celebrating beautiful Sundays in San Pedro.

Cabrillo Beach/Marine Aquarium

Many years ago the buildings at Cabrillo Beach included a museum, bath house, gift shop, and snack bar. These old structures are being renovated.

Cabrillo's beaches are still divided by the breakwater and remain popular especially during the summertime and on weekends.

The dynamic, educational and world renowned Cabrillo Marine Aquarium was built to replace the old museum and expand the knowledge of marine life. The aquarium features tours, classes and hands-on experiences for young and old alike. Grunion runs and whale watching tours are still part of the educational experience conducted through the aquarium. With a large auditorium, spacious offices, large water tanks and an abundance of marine life, visitors can enjoy learning about and observing marine life in an intimate setting.

Home!

Here is a list of names that need no explanation other than they are still here, (although they may not be in the same location that you remember) and you can't forget them. Pacific Diner, Utro's, Warner Theater, Slavko's, Dodson, Dana, elementary schools, Union War Surplus, Fisherman's Wharf, Mary Star of the Sea, the Post Office, YMCA, YWCA, Daniels Field, Pacific, Gaffey, Cabrillo Beach, Angels Gate Lighthouse, El Taco, Ray Deeter's Tire Town, Sorrento's, Ante's, Weymouth Corners, Coover's Pharmacy, Hillside Liquors, Sylvia's Bail Bonds, San Pedro and Peninsula Hospital, Ramona's Bakery, Canetti's, Averill Park, and Peck Park.