27 Apr 2012
By Land or by Sea, this Port City is Brimming with Best-Kept Secrets
LOS ANGELES—(April 22, 2012)—San Pedro is perhaps LA's best-kept secret and a serendipitous welcome for visitors. Home to the Port of Los Angeles and its bustling Cruise Terminal, this seaside destination is steeped in maritime history and aquatic attractions.
San Pedro has a vibrant waterfront, and Berth 93 is home to the World Cruise Center at The Port of Los Angeles, the busiest passenger port of call along the West Coast. It served as the backdrop for Aaron Spelling's television series "Love Boat," and current-day passengers can set their own course for adventure aboard a pleasure cruise to Baja California, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, Alaska and the Panama Canal. Many passengers book pre- and post-cruise options to explore Los Angeles, using San Pedro as their home base.
The waterfront is also home to several other attractions, including a 10,000-ton ship-turned-museum that served as an ammunition carrier during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Housed in a streamlined, modern building constructed in 1941 by the Public Works Administration (WPA) is the Los Angeles Maritime Museum—the largest maritime museum in the state—with more than 700 ship and boat models and hundreds of artifacts. Several waterfront memorials add to the landscape and pay tribute to the men and women who have served in the various branches of the armed services.
A mile-long stretch of sand is home to Cabrillo Beach, a popular outpost for swimming, surfing, SCUBA diving and volleyball. Angelenos and visitors enjoy coming to this locale, hoping to spot massive gray whales as they make their way from Alaska to the warm waters of Mexico. Observing grunions, silvery fish that emerge from the water during a full or new moon to lay their eggs, is another popular pastime along these velvety sands. Nearby is the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, with its 38 saltwater aquariums containing sea creatures of all types, including crabs, sharks, eels and octopi. Touch tanks and interactive exhibits add to the free-admission experience.
It's also possible to enjoy the open waters on a high-seas adventure with Spirit Cruises. Enjoy an hour-long harbor voyage while viewing some 50 points of interest, from massive cargo ships and million-dollar yachts to frolicking sea lions sunning themselves on buoys. No two cruises are alike.
Perched high atop an ocean bluff is the Korean Friendship Bell, an imposing bell given as a gift to the people of Los Angeles by the people of the Republic of Korea in celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976. Patterned after the Bronze Bell of King Songdok and cast in 771 A.D., the bell is housed under a pagoda-like structure and is rung just four times a year: Fourth of July, Korean Independence Day, New Year's Eve and every September to mark Constitution Week.
A vintage trolley coated in a bright red hue connects the waterfront attractions, stopping at the base of Sixth Street, the start of San Pedro's charming downtown district. Historic buildings along this avenue house art galleries, coffeehouses, delightful pubs, chatty bistros, wine bars and more. Among its many gems is the Warner Grand Theatre, a lavish, art deco movie palace that opened to the public in 1941. During its heyday, it was the gathering place for first-run movies and was the first sound-equipped theater in LA's South Bay region. Today the Warner Grand, which continues to be restored to its original grandeur, is managed by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and is home to foreign and classic film series, as well as special events.
Contacts:
World Cruise Center
Pacific Cruise Ship Terminal
100 Swinford Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
001-310-514-4049
Media contact:
Theresa Adams Lopez
Public Information Director
001-310-732-3507
tadams-lopez@portla.org
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
370 Stephen M. White Drive
San Pedro, CA 90731
www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org
Media contact:
Margo Kennedy
001-310-548-7562
margo.kennedy@lacity.org
San Pedro Historic Waterfront BID
390 W. 7th Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
Contact:
Stephen A. Robbins
001-310-832-2183
srobbins@sanpedrobid.com
Los Angeles Maritime Museum
Berth 84
Foot of 6th Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
www.lamaritimemuseum.org
Warner Grand Theatre
434 West 6th Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
www.grandvision.org/warner-grand.asp
About The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is a private, nonprofit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for leisure travel, meetings and conventions. Though not part of City government, Los Angeles Tourism is recognized as the City's official tourism marketing organization. For more information, visit the official visitor information website of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com. Please visit our FaceBook page at facebook.com/LosAngelesFan or follow us on Twitter @discover_LA.
Los Angeles International Pow Wow is supported by the following Premiere Partners; Brand USA, Los Angeles World Airports, and Visit California. The Premiere Event sponsors are Cirque du Soleil, Hollywood & Highland and Universal Studios Hollywood. The Platinum sponsors are The GRAMMY Museum, LA Waterfront, Metro, and Wolfgang Puck Catering.
The Gold sponsors are Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, CityPASS, Coach America, DFS, Downtown Business Improvement District, The Grove, Hollywood Entertainment District, Merlin Entertainments Group, Miles Marketing Destinations, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Original Farmers Market, Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities CVA, Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission, Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau, Starline Tours & Tour Coach Charters, Temecula Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau. The Silver sponsors are Beverly Center, The Capital Grille, Citadel Outlets, City of Santa Clarita, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Malibu Family Wines, Premium Outlets, and Visit Mendocino County. The Bronze sponsors are da Vinci Villa, El Monte RV, Integrated Transportation Services, and Japanese Assistance Network.
Media contacts:
Carol Martinez Beth Brett
Vice President, Communications Director, Communications
phn: 213/236-2357, fax 213/425-1457 phn:213/236-2397, fax 213/452-1497
cmartinez@LATourism.org bbrett@LATourism.org
For more information on Los Angeles visit www.discoverLosAngeles.com
Visit us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LosAngelesFan
Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/tourism_LA
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(04/12)
