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.

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.

Landmark in Rolling Hills Estates, California…read more.. I've had this place bookmarked for years, but wasn't in the area and didn't make time to find the Palos Verdes Flower Talking Clock. This evening after dinner, we searched our lists of things to do. I drove to this shopping plaza and finally found The Flower Clock at the exit lane of a bank. I should have parked on the street, but I was so happy to see The Clock that I ran out of the car and blocked the driveway! My impressions: It's very pretty with live flowering plants! The hands of the clock work! It's amazing! After reading a few reviews, I learned that at noon, it plays The National Anthem daily! It also announces the time on the hour! Michel Medawar, a watch repairer from Beirut, Lebanon, created this masterpiece in appreciation for his new country (The USA) when he moved here in 1975. The Talking Flower Clock was dedicated in 1987 by Actor Danny Thomas. I'll have to return at noon someday!

Located off Silver Spur Road in Palos Verdes. You can park on the street to quickly check it out…read more It's working clock with everything made of flowers. It also is supposed to talk but we didn't hear anything maybe it does every hour, 30 mins or 15 mins I dunno there was no signage mentioning it. Overall something interesting to see lol.

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

The South Bay is very peaceful. We enjoy our surrounding away from the city streets. The weather is…read morealways breezy and feels fresh. Many views and hikes and nature all around.

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 !

San Pedro has a wonderful Arts District. Me and my girlfriend love coming down here to window shop…read moreand people watch. I like the little shops and places to eat here. I have only been coming here for a little while. Its like a small knit community with Theaters and Tattoo shops here too. We like to have coffee here too. The vibe is fun here. Not too bad with finding parking. You should check out the Arts District San Pedro.

The Arts District of San Pedro is a strange little conglomeration of galleries, shops, restaurants,…read morea pawnshop or two, a couple of bars, a thrift store, a coffee house, a tattoo shop, the old Warner Theater, and various places that people claim are galleries but they are simply living inside of these business/industrial spaces perhaps creating their art inside. Or, maybe not? This area is basically defined by 6th and 7th Street, South of Pacific Avenue. Though one could argue it stretches a little bit farther in the various directions. There are certain art complexes in L.A., (say Bergamont station is a great example), where when you visit you will be confronted by numerous galleries that are open and exhibiting their various styles of art. This, however, is not the case with the Arts District of San Pedro. What you do find here, in terms of art galleries, are store fronts that are closed and are open by appointment only. Thus, the question has to be raised, is this an Art's District at all? For me, I look at it as an overall expensive area of San Pedro that was once a functioning downtown but has lost that definition long ago. Thus, the storefronts are simply a place where you know art exists but the chances are you will never truly see it. Therefore, You must see this area as art onto itself. So, when you go here, do not necessarily expect to see any personal creations of art. Simply understand that you have to believe that there is art in the structures, the businesses, the restaurants, and the people that are hiding behind the closed and locked doors that they claim are galleries.

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

Lunada Bay Fountain has reviews elsewhere online so 'bout time it appears on Yelp…read more The original fountain dates back to 1965. It was named "La Fuente de los Ninos" or "The Children's Fountain"/"The Fountain of the Children"....because more than a couple hundred children from the neighborhood raised money to design & build it. Fast forward to 2008 when the fountain, which was by that time in a pretty sad state of deterioration, was restored under direction & funding from Lunada Bay Homeowners Association using the fountain's original design as a guideline. Can't miss this lovely fountain - it occupies a space along the Palos Verdes Drive West median at Yarmouth Road, across from Lunada Bay Plaza & Park. The refurbished fountain is also referred to as the "Snelgrove Memorial Fountain", dedicated to G. Brooks Snelgrove who was the engineer for the 1923 Palos Verdes Project. That "project" was the creation of the City of Palos Verdes Estates. Snelgrove also took part in the installation of Malaga Cove's ornate Neptune Fountain. Although Lunada Bay Fountain & Neptune Fountain are as different in style as night & day, each has its own history & unique story. Lunada Bay's fountain is lighted at night & is surrounded by seasonal landscaping - again thanks to LBHOA. You won't see any tacky parking meters within miles of this location, so street park anywhere...or use the free lot across the road by the park/plaza. Check out the friendly & adorable little independent businesses while you're there (market, hardware store, pet store, cafes, ladies clothing shop & more). The ocean bluffs are a few blocks away. And a walking/running path extends along the tree-filled PV Dr W median from the overlook at Paseo Del Mar to the Rancho Palos Verdes border. Flowering plants around the foot path are now in full bloom, beautiful. I think those fundraising children in the 1960s, perhaps wise beyond their years, would appreciate this quote: "That which the fountain sends forth returns again to the fountain." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow