Rancho Palos Verdes

On a nice relaxing day, I headed out to Pointe Vicente Interpretive center I had heard so much about. Parking and entrance fees are free. It can get busy on weekends.

It's an educational center about whales and cetaceans with charts and displays regarding when whaling began in California, the natives who lived there, and the trades they made. It talks about how when whales sleep, half their brain stays awake, while the other half rests.

Tongva, the native inhabitants of Palos Verdes, were hunters who traded salt, shell beads, and dried fish with inland native tribes. They didn't hunt whales, but they did use the bones of whales left behind to make tools, and seats.

The above whale display is great for kids. They can open each door to see the function of the whale's organ.

There is a shop there with marine theme. 

The Los Angeles Chapter of The American Cetacean Society has volunteers (above Photo) who conduct gray whale census on the patio of Pointe Vicente Interpretive center. After you leave Center, start walking toward the water, and you will see the volunteers in a roped off section with binoculars, watching, counting, and tracking Gray Whales, humpback, Risso and bottlenose dolphins, and other sightings which may also include the bald eagle, owl, osprey, and other birds. Everything is recorded on a chart, according to the season.

The day that I visited, the lighthouse was closed, but I still enjoyed looking at it from a distance.

The hiking grounds are fenced off, and some are numbered. So, if you get separated from your friends, you can call them, and say for example, "I'm at 137. Where are you?"

This is such a lovely area, and you will want to stay there forever, especially when the temperatures are comfortable, and the sun is out.

I went for an easy hike, but had a hard time hiking, because I kept wanting to stop, and take in the beautiful views.

There is a resort called Terranea, about a seven minute drive, that's worth a visit. Parking is $20 plus tipping the valet. The grounds are pretty, and the vibe is chill. They have several restaurants, and one of the more casual ones is called Nelson's. The ocean view is nice, especially at sunset, but if you're vegan/vegetarian, and don't eat fish, skip it. They have one salad on their menu, and it's pretty awful. Another option was mushroom with cheese and fries which I turned down. Also, don't order the nachos because they don't use real cheese. My friend had a shrimp taco and said it was good.

But honestly, if you want to catch the sunset, bring a picnic dinner, and go back to the patio of pointe Vicente Interpretive center with benches, tables, and incredible views, or sit on one of the wooden benches along the hiking path.