Palos Verdes is at the very end of the South Bay. Driving south along the coast, you will go through Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance. PV as locals call it, is that big hill you see in the distance.
I would start a Palos Verdes tour in Malaga Cove, which is for instance 30 minutes away from LAX.
Malaga Cove is the first neighborhood you will reach driving from the South Bay.
I recommend parking at Roessler Point to admire the view you will have on the entire bay of Los Angeles from there. There is free public parking, so it is really easy. Then for a first beautiful yet quick little hike with ocean views, I recommend parking a few minutes further away on the side of Paseo Del Mar and look for the start of Bluff Cove Trail (check this little map above), a downhill trail that will lead you to a beautiful rocky beach. It is a 1 mile out-and-back mini-hike with extensive views of the Pacific. The beach itself is often used by surfers so you can also watch them from the cliffs that you will be hiking down from.
This is my favorite place to hike in Palos Verdes. You will start from the heights of PV and hike down to the ocean, offering views on the Pacific and even Catalina Island when the weather is clear.
The best time of year to do that hike is in Spring, in March/April.
This hike will have wildflowers and particularly mustard flowers that are sometimes taller than you, creating beautiful and vibrant yellow corridors. It is a good hike year long, but Spring will give you that extra burst of colors.
This hike is 6 to 7 miles long depending on how much you explore in the Sacred Cove Bluffs area, and it is out-and-back.
To get started, you want to park at the very end of Crenshaw Boulevard, close to Del Cerro Park.
Be mindful that on weekends, free street parking fills up quickly so it is best to start this hike in the morning before crowds arrive.
You will find the beginning of the trail easily right past Del Cerro Park. It is easier to hike Burma Road Trail all the way down until it crosses Klondike Canyon Trail. The objective of this hike is to hike down until you exit the Portuguese Bend Preserve on Palos Verdes Drive.
So you can technically use other small trails in the preserve branching off of Burma Road that will also take you down to Palos Verdes Drive. But to help you with precise directions , here are the trails you want to take (they are all marked with little brown signs):
Stay on Burma Road as it curves past the Kelvin Canyon, Ailor, Eagle’s Nest, and Water Tank trails and pick up the Toyon Trail at about 1.5 miles. From here, it’s a quick right on the Garden Trail, a left on the Water Tank Trail and a quick left onto the Vanderlip Trail. At about 2 miles, you’ll make a right on the Peppertree Trail, and immediately after make another right onto Ishibashi Farm Trail. Walk through an unmarked intersection, and you’ll hit Palos Verdes Drive at about 2.6 miles. Once you do, make a right and you will have to walk on the ocean side of the road for 5 minutes (0.4 miles) before reaching the cliffs of Sacred Cove. Follow the Sacred Cove trail that opens up towards the ocean and let it lead you to to Inspiration Point to enjoy the views on turquoise coves. If you want a closer look at the ocean and its tide pools, you can even take the Cliffside Trail down to reach the beach.. if you still have energy!
Don’t forget that you will have to hike back up to where you started eventually, though!
(or if you are really tired, I have once called an Uber to drive me back up to Del Cerro park so I could pick up my car and drive down to pick up my family. Lazy option for sure, but sometimes it can help!)
To recharge and rest after that hike, do NOT miss my recommendation of a place to grab a drink or lunch at the bottom of this page!
The Point Vicente Lighthouse is located at 31550 Palos Verdes Drive.
The Point Vicente Interpretive center is a beautiful park around the lighthouse that makes a perfect stop for a quick stroll to enjoy the views on the Pacific ocean. Especially in Spring when the coastal purple bluff flowers are in full bloom.
Another great spot for a picnic, it is also a great area to look for whales during their migration (December to April). You are so high above the horizon that it makes it easy to spot their blow or mist. The Interpretive Center in the park features exhibits about the Pacific gray whale, and you will sometimes find people with telescopes around the center that are looking for whales.
If you have not done the Portuguese Bend hike to Sacred Cove, you can also enjoy the beautiful coves by driving to this park.
It will cost $6 to park your car, and from the parking lot you will have a network of short trails that can take you down to the beach of Abalone Cove or even up to the Sacred Cove Cliffs.
If you are looking for a place to have a picnic, this is a fabulous spot. The tables are next to the parking lot and offer gorgeous views of the ocean.
Before you leave the park, don’t forget to check the unique Wayfarer Chapel across the street.
This beautiful chapel made of glass was designed by Lloyd Wright in the late 1940s and built in 1950.
Instead of a list of places, I will recommend MY favorite spot: Nelson’s, a cliff-top eatery that is part of the gorgeous Terranea Resort.
Located between Point Vicente Lighthouse and Abalone Cove, the Terranea resort in itself is a great place to go for a stroll. You can park for free and walk the perfectly groomed grounds of the resort, which will offer fantastic views on the ocean paired with beautiful succulents and flowers blooming.
Nelson’s is perched right above the coves and is THE perfect place to rest after a hike, or grab lunch outside or a drink at sunset. Their menu is rather classic ( Southern California favorites like Baja fish tacos, salads, sandwiches, burgers) but the food is good and the scenic views are unbeatable.
Be mindful that there may be a waitlist on week ends, so knowing they open at 11am, try to show up rather early.
Address: 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275