Great views! Can't lose coming here and taking a few pictures for posterity. Make sure to bring a…read morejacket just in case the weather is cold though.

This location is noted on maps as "Scenic Outlook - Vista Point" but we just call it the Hawthorne…read moreOverlook. Considering the light traffic in the area, the spot is as popular as one would expect...i.e., not crowded. It must be accessed going uphill on Hawthorne due to the median. Heading up, the overlook is steps before the stoplight at Vallon Drive. There's room for about 5 cars in the turnout (no meters). There's also a bus stop (bus line 344) but in more than a decade I've never seen a bus. No overnight parking is allowed - from 10pm-5am. The overlook has one bench, that's it. But people pull over to take in the panoramic views often without getting out of their cars: Terranea Resort far below, Catalina offshore, protruding peninsulas to the south. You'll sometimes see a red-tailed hawk circling around. And when yellow wild mustard covers the surrounding hills in early spring, hang onto your hat. The view is dramatic in any weather conditions, including fog. Sunrise, sunset, clear days, overcast days.....the changes in the landscape & sky are the enticing draw. Easy to understand why I take this "scenic route" when driving up the hill to do errands. I've never not been able to pull over & park - people don't stay long, just long enough to snap a few photos/videos. A couple days ago the view was so stunning that a lady pulled her car in behind me & jumped out so fast with camera she left her car door wide open. I'm so glad this overlook exists because there's really no other place to park on this stretch of Hawthorne offering unobstructed views. So if you're driving up or down the coast, take a minute (literally) to go up Hawthorne to check it out. The rugged beauty of the Palos Verdes Peninsula coastline is truly breathtaking. I'm completely in love with this magical area.

Park at abalone cove shoreline park…read more Parking opens 9am. Cost 12 dollars for 2 hours. Super scenic hike as you loop through the beach and up the hills. Recommend you bring some water shoes if you want to go look at the tide pools. The park benches are clean.

California has so many great places to hike and this is one of the nicest trails out there. We…read morestarted at Del Cerro Park and hiked down to the beach just east of Inspiration Point using the Archery Coastal trail. The hike wasn't difficult as the cool ocean breeze helped keep the temperature down. Our watch showed almost a 7 mile roundtrip route.

I was born and raised in Southern California, and for the almost 60 years I've been on this planet,…read moreI have known about Palos Verdes ("PV" as I always heard it) for most of those years. When I moved to Arizona back in the 80's, there is a part of Phoenix called Paradise Valley, and they refer to that as "PV." Having come from CA and knowing the REAL "PV" is out there, I would have none of this Paradise Valley "PV." But I digress. I have old, old movie footage of walking with my mom (dad was shooting the movie) in and around Marineland. Marineland, however, faded into oblivion long ago, and for so long, all that remained was a parking lot overgrown by grass. That was it. Until 2009, I think, when the lovely Terranea Resort came to life........ but my heart remains with Marineland, and if you were a kid back when I was, you know why. It's just hard to let go, that's all. Then, there's Wayfarer's Chapel, so exquisitely situated on Portugeuse Bend of the peninsula.....an all glass chapel where thousands have wisely chosen to marry amidst all that beauty and scenery. It can't be beat, and thank goodness, that is still here to view. PV is quiet, lovely, breathtaking, and pretty much out of my price range for buying a home overlooking the dazzling Pacific Ocean.........but driving around is for free, stopping by some of the sights is also free, and I'd encourage you to do that. I have my own little history here........ you can make your own, too !

Although it is such a far drive from my area, it was so worth the drive…read more I had an amazing time on this hiking trail to the beach. It was a beautiful day, not too hot nor sunny for an afternoon walk. The Trump golf course was a pleasant site too. I saw plenty of seagulls flying by, lizards, rabbits, dolphins swimming close to the shore, people walking their dogs on the beach, and sadly a deceased seal. You don't have to pay for parking. It was a pretty fun hike that didn't take a lot of effort. Definitely a great place to unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature. I loved it. FYI: Even if it's not that sunny outside, you should still put on sunscreen. I learned the hard way -_- ugliest tan-line ever! Good thing I have the entire summer to even it out. Enjoy.

Valmonte is my favorite neighborhood in Palos Verdes Estates (with Malaga Cove in second place &…read moreLunada Bay third). Valmonte borders the Hollywood Riviera neighborhood of Torrance on the north & Palos Verdes Golf Club on the southwest. Valmonte homes are on both sides of Palos Verdes Drive North, a picturesque road with a wide, tree-filled median. (PV Dr N takes you into Rolling Hills Estates as you leave Valmonte heading south.) That PV Drive median is so generous because it was intended to accommodate a train during the development of the City of Palos Verdes Estates in the early 1900s. For various reasons the train didn't happen....but today the lengthy median boasts a lovely, curving, gravel walking path & an adjacent wood chip trail for horse riders from nearby Palos Verdes Stables. Yes, horses, meandering right down the middle of the divided road. The residential area called Valmonte Grove is my choice walking territory on the planet. It's downright enchanting, especially just before sunset when golden glowing rays beam thru tall eucalyptus trees, casting shadows of intricate patterns. The green hills of Malaga Cove are the background. The ocean is a few blocks away. I took an out-of-towner, someone who has travelled the world for decades, on a walk though Valmonte Grove. He remarked, "This is the prettiest little neighborhood I've ever seen, anywhere. All the trees!" Yeah, all those trees. To preserve the character of the area, the city won't allow for them to be removed unless diseased. It's not unusual to count 15-20 eucalyptus trees on a single property. Gutters & lawns fill up with endless tree debris and, although eucalyptus seem to have shallow roots, not so great for underground plumbing pipes, I'm told. And the trees have been known to topple over occasionally. Worth the hassle for such unique beauty? I say yes. I see Valmonte Grove as a collection of vintage homes, of many different architectural designs, built into a eucalyptus grove. I've heard, but can't confirm, that the eucalyptus were originally planted there more than 100 years ago to be cut down & used for firewood. That would explain their density. Valmonte has no streetlights, sidewalks or traffic signals....only stop signs. There is an Art Jury, in place since the City of Palos Verdes Estates was created, that oversees any new residential building projects, including size & style of homes, as well as modification to existing houses. Changes to exterior doors & windows, roofs, even landscaping....must be approved. Exterior paint colors are restricted. If your new porch railing does not conform to your 1940s Colonial style house, you'll be replacing it. Strict, yes. But stroll through Valmonte & you'll understand why such rules endure. Photos cannot capture the intoxicating scent of eucalyptus, the sound of song birds or the charming peacefulness of Valmonte. The prettiest little neighborhood anywhere, where sunlight filters thru tall trees, where kids can safely play on narrow quiet streets, where meticulously manicured flower gardens abound, where neighbors all know each other.....this is where I've wandered on foot for years, allowing the magic to envelop me. It never gets old or boring - it only gets better as time passes.

12/14/24 You hear the gentle sound of the waves…read more... Love the beauty of this city. Getting here is quite a trek but it is very much worth it. Sometimes we just drive around to see the gorgeous & well manicured lawns of the beautiful homes. It is peaceful & scenic at the overlook. Come see for yourselves. There's free parking at the scenic viewpoint-- be aware, all entry by the palatial homes are being monitored/recorded.

The city of Rancho Palos Verdes is quite beautiful. When you are at the top of Hawthorne boulevard…read moreand driving southbound down the hill, you can view the ocean from the right hand side and in front of you. The city is clean. The fire department is awesome. Be careful not to speed because the sheriff's will definitely catch you and give you a speeding ticket. The downside is the fact that many of the drivers in this city drive poorly. There is a reason automobile insurance is higher here than off the hill. Due to the close vicinity of the post office, mall, grocery stores, large parks with playgrounds, gas stations, and five different Starbucks within a five mile radius, there is really no reason to leave the city. The neighborhood is very safe.

Wow! A beautiful and intriguing fountain in the middle of a small parking lot…read more The mermaids are in a peculiar stance and doing special things with their hands. Don't remember too much of those poses/statues in high school history classes.

Dec. 2011 review update:…read more I'm obsessed with this fountain. I might need an intervention. I'm in Malaga Cove Plaza every couple days: post office, market, coffee shop, cafes, gift shop, newspapers....recently I was there to get my hair done. I got to Malaga 40 min early so I could check out fountain photo ops. I was almost late for my appt.. Two hours later, hair cut & colored, I'm back at the fountain waiting for sunset. I was freezing. I was hungry. Should've gone potty before I left the salon but was in a hurry to get back to the fountain....(TMI, apologies). Sometimes in the plaza I avoid looking at the fountain. Resist. Don't take that first pic, you'll be hooked. A couple times they shut off the fountain's water & I felt a sense of panic. Withdrawal symptoms. I never check-in here. People will get wise. She's at the fountain again. Complete transparency: I haven't posted all the pics I've taken, not even close. It's embarrassing. This has been going on for 8 years. I'm exhausted. That Beach Boys song, "Help Me Rhonda", plays in my head but I altered the words: Help me Neptune Help, help me Neptune Help me get him out of my head. I've seen a lot of beautiful fountains in my day (e.g., Chicago's landmark Buckingham Fountain) but none so captivating as this one. It's got me. And there are no barriers here to keep people at a distance. It's so easy to use the sky as a photo backdrop, as water squirts & drips from every cherub, mermaid & dolphin orifice. Flowering trees surround the fountain in late winter/early spring. And Neptune, the star of the show, appears to reach for clouds & contrails. Sometimes it looks as if they emanate from his giant hand. He's powerful. I'm smitten. Another Yelper managed to capture Neptune holding the moon, well done. And then there's that pic where the stature is purple, captioned "photo class". Creative. And btw....about that fig leaf: Originally Neptune was not wearing one, which apparently caused a bit of an uproar as did the topless mermaids which remain. I'm guessing that today, almost a hundred years later, there'd be an even bigger uproar over a completely naked Neptune in the middle of a parking lot. So we've got half-nekkid Nept with the girls spraying water from their bosoms & a crazy lady taking pictures & everybody's just doin' their thing. A glimmer of hope: I'm not tempted to take photos when it's raining. Yet. But whoa, what interesting shots those could be. Uh oh

Cute place! If it…read morewere taller, I'd think that Rapunzel lived here! Actually, real people do live here in this one bedroom/one bathroom structure, but we didn't invade their privacy. We just quickly walked around the front after parking the car on the side of the road. It's a curvy, narrow road, so we didn't stay for very long. We really liked the way the mailbox matched the tower! Cool, huh?

The city is looking for a tenant/caretaker right now…read more https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/12/07/this-tiny-medieval-like-stone-tower-in-palos-verdes-estates-needs-a-new-caretaker/amp/ The city will not be doing a remodel of the interior and they would have to clear any changes to the tower. "Nobody would be able to come in there and gut it and make it into a triplex," he said. There was discussion about making it a non-occupied historical monument, but there was worry that it would require security or police presence. "It was decided the most logical and practical way to deal with this is to have a tenant who cares about the property," he said. "For some people, it's like a dream come true." To inquire about applying for tenancy, contact the Palos Verdes Estates City Manager's Office at Citymanager@Pvestates.Org

On Juneteenth I attended a celebration at the Korean Bell of Friendship to celebrate freedom by…read morehelping ring the bell. It was a wonderful day, and one I recommend for others to attend, not only to feel the vibrations of the bell when it is hit with a large hanging tree trunk, but also to celebrate the liberation that was given to a criminally oppressed people. And to also understand that liberation, although won at battles, still has not full embraced and enveloped all. So that bell has not fully been rung, and thus we must continue, until we hear the greatest knell in history the one that indicates that all humans have an unfettered chance to reach their best future with confidence. The celebration was sponsored by local political players. Suitably, there were a lot of speeches. But I never hate a speech just because its long. I genuinely hear speeches because they might contain words that move me into action or new perspective, and thus I always try to hear them to understand their value. One of the most memorable speeches of the day, was a person who explained that freedom and liberty has not reached all modern day people (duh!) because freedom, true freedom, means that all have a fair and equitable chance to attain economic prosperity. And from my limited perspective, what she said made sense, a whole lot of it. A person might have the freedom to wear what they chose, to eat what they crave, to dance in their style and funk, to offer their devotion to their deity. However, if all these freedoms do not include a chance to build wealth, without external interruption that is driven by who a person is, then freedom is superficial. Yes, money is the root of all evil, but money is also the foundation for legacy, protection and choice, and, well, freedom. And thus, she reminded all present that we must continue to fight against injustice and thus the bell rang and made each of us an instrument of peace. Beyond speeches from political leaders there was also songs performed by vocalists- a mother and daughter. A lot was happening fast, and sometimes the sound system gave up, so I am afraid I did not get their names. But I do remember them singing a song, right before the bell rung that had the following lyrics: "What would you do, if you had nothing to fight for and nothing to die for?" What would a person do in a world marked by substantial peace? Would we be happy or would we miss the fight? Meaning is the gift of the battle the persistence needed to continue even when all seems at rest? Injustice has created warriors that understand that a white flag will never be planted. The day was meant to celebrate freedom and deliver of message of positive togetherness as the moment celebrated Juneteenth using Korean spirt. But the speeches brought the seemingly opposing concepts together using the thread of a universal recognition that freedom is a wonderful thing. This link was greatly conveyed but fell short in the Mexican sweetbreads that had small Juneteeth flags planted on them. I know I am being petty because Mexican bread can be used to celebrate Juneteenth, for sure I get that. But I would have rather had celebratory bites from the Black/African American community. I know I am being petty, but, hey, that is my freedom. That choice seemed more convenient rather than being connected to the greater purpose of freedom. The last activity of the celebration was ringing the actual bell. Like 7 people, grabbed the wooden log. And we gently slammed it into the bell. The bell rung with vibrations that my skin could feel. We could slightly hug the bell to have ur bodies feel the vibrations. And the experience was memorable. I do not know how many people have the opportunity to hug a bell as it sends off vibration after being hit. But if you have the opportunity seize it, I think you will be a better person for it, or at least, know what ringing feels like on the skin not just the ear drums. As I walked back to the car, I enjoyed the blue views and ocean breeze. I also saw a kite flying high. Yes, it had a string to it, but it was flying free.

Why does it take years and moving away to actual experience places that's been there for a while. A…read morenice sunny afternoon driving around and seeing what's there to offer. Plus it's been decades since I was last around this area. There's so many stops along the way during our drive which this was the first along the path. It's a nice decent size park that it part of. A good amount of parking in the lot next to the basketball courts. Right along the bell is a massive grassy knoll where people were enjoying picnics and laying out. Of course today was beautiful but it was quite windy. Didn't help that the park was little higher than the rest so it made the wind a bit more aggressive. The focal point, the massive bell. With a walkway that leads you to the prize possession. Right in the middle looking out to the Pacific Ocean, she sits there on full display. The bright beautiful color of the details painted was a sight to see. Stairs leading up to the bell where you could walk around. It is roped off. Regardless whatever side you're looking at, it's was quite amazing. Something like this on a hill that's part of the city. If you walk down the grassy knoll, the view of the pacific ocean and cliffs were spectacular. Having a seat and just taking it all in was nice. It was windy so it did get cold but on a nice sunny and clear day, you could see miles and miles of the coastline and tide pools. These little hidden spots in the city are cute when you find them. There's also a little playground around the corner from the bell by the exit and entrance.