The best cycling routes around Rolling Hills

In 1936, the Federal Art Project partially funded the creation of a statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo by sculptor Henry Lion at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. The city provided the funding for the cost of materials, while the Federal Art Project paid for the labor. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was a Spanish (not Portuguese as frequently surmised) explorer and the first European to reach the coast of California in 1542. Cabrillo’s life story begins when he left Palma del Rio in Andalusia for Seville as a young man to sail to the Americas. He is thought to have served the empire in Panama in 1514 and then traveled to Cuba to become involved with Hernán Cortés as a boat builder. He participated in the conquest of Guatemala, married a Spanish woman in Seville in 1532, had several children, and continued to manage his estates in Guatemala until he was commissioned by its governor, Pedro de Alvarado, to build 13 vessels for an expedition to the Philippines and California. The fleet embarked in 1542, but soon after, Alvarado’s death left three of the ships under Cabrillo’s command—San Salvador, La Victoria, and San Miguel. While the bulk of the fleet split off to cross the Pacific, Cabrillo sailed north. After landing at Ensenada on September 17, he reached San Diego and anchored at today’s Ballast Point on September 28, remaining for five days. Cabrillo encouraged his crew to have friendly exchanges with the native people of San Diego and Catalina Island, both for their own safety and in pursuit of his ultimate goal—to find a short trade route to China. His fleet visited the Channel Islands without remarkable incident until December 1542, when Cabrillo set out in a landing boat to retrieve a group of his crewmen from the rocky shore. “As he began to jump out of the boat,” wrote eyewitness Francisco de Vargas, “one foot struck a rocky ledge, and he splintered a shinbone.” Cabrillo’s condition worsened so quickly that many assume he contracted a bacterial infection from the injury. He died on January 3, 1543 and is likely buried somewhere on Catalina Island, though his final resting place remains unknown.

Torrance Beach lies between Redondo Beach and Malaga Cove. The region shared by Torrance and Redondo Beaches is often called “RAT Beach” (short for “Right After Torrance” Beach or “Redondo and Torrance Beach”). This beautiful, soft sand beach has 40 acres of beach and is at the foot of cliffs which extend to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. There restrooms, a concession stand, showers, bike path, beach wheelchairs, and volleyball nets. Torrance Beach is great for swimming, fishing, scuba and skin diving, and surfing.

Memorial to the senator 1853-1901 who succeeded to locate LA Port here in San Petro instead of Santa Monica Bay, where the powerful railroad barons wanted it.

Palos Verdes Cove begins at Flat Rock Point and rounds into Rancho Palos Verdes. The cove is a protected marine preserve and a well-known surf spot, with both left and right waves. The views from the tops of the cliffs are amazing.

Noble Park is a small park right on The Strand. The Millennium Walkway winds through this small park that is a little more than an acre in size. This is a popular place for kids to learn how to ride a bike before graduating to the strand. There are tall palm trees here and a few grassy hills, but not much else. It's small and a nice stop along a beach ride.

Torrance Beach sometimes goes by another name: locals call the last sandy stretch before the Palos Verdes cliffs "RAT" Beach, meaning "Right After Torrance." Torrance Beach, nestled between Redondo Beach and Malaga Cove, features 40 acres of soft sand at the base of cliffs extending to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. With over 300 parking spaces, many at the end of the Esplinade, the beach offers restrooms, showers, a concession stand, bike paths, and volleyball nets. It's a popular spot for swimming, fishing, scuba diving, and surfing.

Miramar Park, located on 1.6 acres above Torrance Beach, offers pristine ocean views and easy access to the shoreline via a ramp or staircase. Owned and maintained by the City of Torrance, the park was dedicated in 1984 after a collaborative effort with Los Angeles County to secure beach access. It features benches, security lighting, whimsical animal statues, and a plaque marking the historic site of the Hollywood Riviera Beach Club, which existed from 1931 to 1958. The park also includes a “Fido Fountain” for dogs and marks the end of the upper Esplanade.

This lighthouse is still in operation and belongs to the National Registry of Historic Sites. Unfortunately, most days, access to the grounds and the lighthouse is restricted as it's used by the Coast Guard. However, you can still get a pretty good view from this point since the tower is 67 feet tall. After WWII the ceaseless rotation of the beam became a source of annoyance for nearby residents and a potential danger for drivers along Palos Verdes Drive. In response, caretakers took action by applying a layer of white paint to the inner windows facing inland, effectively eliminating the beacon's flash from reaching the windows of neighboring houses. It was during this time that the enigmatic figure known as the "Lady of the Light" first made an appearance. In the subdued glow seeping through the painted windows, a few observers caught glimpses of a tall serene woman in flowing gown, pacing slowly along the tower's walkway.