It’s Summer and time to go out and have fun with the family! One of my local favorite places to visit is San Pedro.
During the mid-20th century, San Pedro drew more than a million visitors annually. Today, with the Port of Los Angeles, the largest in North America (“America’s Port”) and Worldship Cruise Center, the 12.5-mile area has almost three million teeming its streets. Over the last couple of years, new attractions have paved the way, starting with the U.S.S. Iowa which, in 2012 sailed into the LA from San Francisco, to become a maritime museum.
There are lots of things to do, things to see and they have some of the best restaurants! You could easily spend the whole day there doing so many different things but here are a few of my favorites!
Have you been to the Pacific Battleship Center? The Battleship IOWA is a must-visit! I love the history of this amazing place and I love that they have an App especially for the kids! The Battleship IOWA Interactive Mobile Tour allows visitors a first-hand experience to live and serve on this historic ship. On my visit, I downloaded the App and found that this will be something great for the younger kids. The Tours is my favorite part of the App but it also has Maps, Augmented Reality which is really cool to check out when you are visiting the Battleship IOWA. There’s even a cute dog mascot named Victory (Vicky) that children can try to spot on the ship. There’s a matching game with a prize at the end of the tour in the gift shop so check it out!
U.S.S. Iowa: In the coming year, will put together a new virtual reality flight experience taking off from the ship and then landing wherever you want to go…maybe Paris? How about London? Singapore? And you don’t even have to leave the ship. Now, how cool does that sound?! https://www.pacificbattle
FREE: July 13, 8:00 P.M.: “Movies Under the Gun”: Justice League (2017). Directed by Zack Snyder. Written by Snyder and Chris Terrio. Starring Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, and Jason Momoa. Fueled by his restored faith in humanity, and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists newfound ally Diana Prince to face an even greater threat. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to recruit a team to stand against this newly-awakened enemy. Despite the formation of an unprecedented league of heroes in Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash, it may be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions. Bring the entire family for “Movie Under the Guns” on board Battleship IOWA. The unique movie series is FREE and held outdoors on the ship’s fantail. Limited seating is available. Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately, bring blankets and outdoor chairs. Concessions will be available, no coolers or outside food and beverages allowed. All movies will start at dusk. Subject to cancellation due to extreme weather conditions. Donations are greatly appreciated.
FREE: August 17, 8:00 P.M.: “Movies Under the Gun”: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017). Directed by James Gunn. Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Kurt Russell. Peter Quill and his fellow Guardians are hired by a powerful alien race, the Sovereign, to protect their precious batteries from invaders. When it is discovered that Rocket has stolen the items they were sent to guard, the Sovereign dispatch their armada to search for vengeance. As the Guardians try to escape, the mystery of Peter’s parentage is revealed. Bring the entire family for “Movie Under the Guns” on board Battleship IOWA. The unique movie series is FREE and held outdoors on the ship’s fantail. Limited seating is available. Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately, bring blankets and outdoor chairs. Concessions will be available, no coolers or outside food and beverages allowed. All movies will start at dusk. Subject to cancellation due to extreme weather conditions. Donations are greatly appreciated.
FREE: August 31 – September 3rd: Third Annual LA Fleet Week. LA Fleet Week® 2018 presented by Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime Video — Fleet Week is an annual, multi-day celebration of our nation’s Sea Services held on the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles over the Labor Day Weekend. Free to the public, the event features public ship tours, military displays and equipment demonstrations, live entertainment, a kids’ STEM Expo, aircraft flyovers, a 100 Years of Navy in Hollywood Film Festival, the 10th Annual Conquer the Bridge Labor Day morning 5.3-mile walk/run over the Vincent Thomas Bridge, the LA Fleet Week 5 on 5 Basketball Tournament, and a Galley Wars culinary cook-off competition between Sailor, Marine & Coastguard teams. The family-fun event is Aug. 31-Sept. 3. More information at LAFleetWeek.com.
FREE: September 21, 8:00 P.M.: “Movies Under the Gun.” Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). Directed by Rian Johnson. Starring Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega. Luke Skywalker’s peaceful and solitary existence gets upended when he encounters Rey, a young woman who shows strong signs of the Force. Her desire to learn the ways of the Jedi forces Luke to make a decision that changes their lives forever. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren and General Hux lead the First Order in an all-out assault against Leia and the Resistance for supremacy of the galaxy. Bring the entire family for “Movie Under the Guns” on board Battleship IOWA. The unique movie series is FREE and held outdoors on the ship’s fantail. Limited seating is available. Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately, bring blankets and outdoor chairs. Concessions will be available, no coolers or outside food and beverages allowed. All movies will start at dusk. Subject to cancellation due to extreme weather conditions. Donations are greatly appreciated.
FREE: October 19, 6:30 – 8:30 P.M.: “Movies Under the Gun.” Hocus Pocus (1993). A Halloween Trick or Treat will also be available starting at 5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Directed by Kenny Ortega. Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy. After moving to Salem, Mass., teenager Max Dennison (Omri Katz) explores an abandoned house with his sister Dani (Thora Birch) and their new friend, Allison (Vinessa Shaw). After dismissing a story Allison tells as superstitious, Max accidentally frees a coven of evil witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy) who used to live in the house. Now, with the help of a magical cat, the kids must steal the witches’ book of spells to stop them from becoming immortal. Bring the entire family for “Movie Under the Guns” on board Battleship IOWA. The unique movie series is FREE and held outdoors on the ship’s fantail. Limited seating is available. Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately, bring blankets and outdoor chairs. Concessions will be available, no coolers or outside food and beverages allowed. All movies will start at dusk. Subject to cancellation due to extreme weather conditions. Donations are greatly appreciated.
FREE: December 1, San Pedro 56th Annual Holiday Boat Parade. Sponsored by The Port of Los Angeles. Watch the parade route, as it sails by the Battleship IOWA Museum and along the San Pedro waterfront. Iowa visitors will have unobstructed views of the elaborately decorated boats.
About Battleship IOWA
Entering service more than 70 years ago, U.S.S. IOWA deployed to the South Pacific in the uncertain early years of World War II. The iconic battleship served with distinction in that war, and later during the Korean War. In the 1990s, U.S.S. IOWA concluded her active duty as the Berlin Wall crumbled. Battleship IOWA now serves as a historic naval ship museum. Forged in war, guardian of the peace, the proud ship keeps watch as the proud sentinel of the LA Waterfront. IOWA’s teak decks and steel bulkheads echo the words and deeds of history: three U.S. Presidents, six of the nine American five-star military leaders, countless foreign dignitaries, and most importantly thousands of her own heroic IOWA sailors. Visitors are awed by IOWA’s proud legacy as one of the fastest and most powerful ships ever to sail the world’s oceans. Battleship IOWA is open to the public daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our hours are 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with our last ticket sale. Please visit our website additional information on special events, group tours educational programs and Naval retirement flag service.
With its spectacular natural setting adjacent to Cabrillo Beach Coastal Park and the Port of Los Angeles, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is uniquely suited to its leadership role in marine science education, aquaculture research and community recreation. The historic Frank Gehry-designed aquarium displays the largest collection of Southern California marine life in the world. Since 1935, CMA has provided visitors with both a natural and interactive approach to learning about the marine environment of Southern California. I love seeing all the sea creatures at this Aquarium! I also love the Tide pools at Cabrillo Beach!
310-548-7562
Tuesday through Friday – 12 noon to 5 pm
Saturday and Sunday – 10 am to 5 pm
Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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