This is going to be a long list, and I'm only going to scratch the surface, so let's get started. The list is in no particular order--just the way it popped into my head after living in the area since 1989.
The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a 26.3 square mile area located in the southwest corner of Los Angeles County. The Peninsula is 23 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
1) The Climate: Average temperature in January--66 degrees. Average temperature in July--77 degrees.
2) The Coastal Location: It's the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean kisses three sides 24/7.
3) The Views: Ocean to the south and west. LA city lights to the north and LA Harbor to the east.
4) The Schools: PV is home to a top ranking public system and a plethora of top-notch private schools.
5) The Open Space: A drive around Palos Verdes reveals lots of wide open space. There's room to breathe.
6) The Variety of Housing: From condos to cottages to mega million compounds it all available in PV.
7) Urban Amenities: At your fingertips but not in your backyard.
8) Horses: They are welcome in many areas of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
9) Trails: If you have horses you need trails and PV is laced with riding trails.
10) Foghorns and Lighthouses: Does it get anymore coastal than that?
11) Great Libraries: I know you can find everything on the Internet, but there's something about books...
12) Great Parks: Many PV parks have stunning views.
13) A World Class Resort/Hotel: Terranea offers luxurious accommodations in an ocean front location.
14) Recreation Opportunities: Five golf courses, tennis clubs and miles of hiking trails to name a few.
15) Beaches: I can't believe this one didn't pop into my head until now.
16) The Untamed Beauty: Towering cliffs and a craggy coastline showcase some of nature's best work.
17) 278 Days of Sunshine!
18) Trees: We don't like them to block our views, but we love their shade and beauty.
19) It's Dark at Night: There's very little neon in PV, very few traffic lights and even fewer street lights.
20) The International Flavor: The cultural stew is varied, food choices abundant and people mix eclectic.
21) Wayfarers Chapel: The glass church on "The Hill" designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's son.
22) Abalone Cove Shoreline Park and Ecological Center: Graced with bluffs, tide pools, and incredible views.
23) Point Vincent Interpretive Center: Great whale watching site.
24) Whale Watching Boat Rides: Get up close and personal with the gentle giants of the sea.
25) Catalina Express: Will speed you the 26 miles to Catalina Island in just over an hour. Great day trip!
26) Secret Surfing Spots: The locals hold these surf spots close to their chest.
27) Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead: Load up the kids and the ski gear. You can be on the slopes in 3 hours.
28) Palm Springs and Other Glorious Desert Destinations: Just over 2 hours away and you're ready to play.
29) South Coast Botanic Garden: Former landfill a bloom with local floral including a rose garden.
30) Roses: They thrive in the coastal climate of Palos Verdes.
31) Bougainvillea: You will see the brilliant colors throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
32) Norris Center for the Performing Arts: Voted best live theater in the South Bay.
33) The Art Center: PV's art community is alive and well.
34) The Queen's Necklace: Where the ocean meets land along the beach cities coastline. PV top view!
35) Trump National: Great place to golf or simply walk--I do the latter almost daily.
36) George F. Canyon Nature Center: 36-acre park with educational center and hiking trails.
37) Ice Chalet: Daily ice skating available at the Promenade Mall.
38) Starbucks with a panoramic ocean view at Golden Cove Plaza i.
39) The Promenade Mall: Never too crowded and always a good movie playing.
40) Torrance Beach: Located in the shadow of the Palos Verdes Peninsula with white sand and bike path.
41) Cabrillo Marine Aquarium: Much smaller than the one in Long Beach but great for kids.
42) Vincent Thomas Bridge: The much-photographed bridge connects San Pedro to Long Beach.
43) Sunrises
44) Sunsets
45) Bedrock: It's earthquake country, but most PV homes are built on solid bedrock
46) Deep Canyons and Towering Cliffs and Hills: The topography is anything but boring.
47) Paragliders: The PV cliffs are a magnet due to the thermal drafts.
48) Ocean Breezes
49) Tide Pools: Filled with little creatures of the sea.
50) The Restaurants at Terranea: I've eaten at all of them--no favorite they are all delicious.
51) Trump National Restaurant: Best breakfast spot is on the outdoor patio with a view of the Pacific.
52) RAT Beach: Tucked beneath the hills of Palos Verdes Estate this is a fabulous beach for kids.
53) The Getty Museum: Overdose on art at your leisure. I once gazed at Van Gogh's Irises for hours.
54) Beverly Hills: A fun place to visit and shop, but I'm always ready to head back to "The Hill" (PV).
55) The Nickname: The locals refer to Palos Verdes Peninsula as simply The Hill.
56) The Abbreviations: RH, RHE, PVE, RPV, PVDN, PVDS, PVDE, PVDW, PVP, and the list goes on...
57) Farmers Market: Sundays 9 AM to 1 PM at Peninsula Shopping Center.
58) Portuguese Bend Beach Club: Private beach with Palapas, firepits, and rocky beach.
59) Palos Verdes Beach and Athletic Club: Private ocean front club on the bluff overlooking the Pacific.
60) Jack Kramer Tennis & Swim Club: My kids loved playing tennis and swimming here.
61) Walks on the Wild Side: Lace up your hiking boots, grab the camera and explore PV.
62) Morning walks in coastal fog.
63) Wave Watching on a high surf day.
64) Staples Center: Sports and concert venue extraordinaire.
65) Horseback Riding: Saddle up.
66) Tennis, anyone?
67) Dining: From ocean view dining to tiny bistros, PV offers a wide variety of dining options.
68) Seniors: Aging in place is a popular option for PV seniors, and there is ample community support.
69) Palos Verdes Street Fair and Music Festival: Come join the fun.
70) The Traffic: Or lack thereof...
71) The Beach Cities: They are next door and offer an unlimited expansion of everything from dining to dancing.
72) Amusement Parks: From big daddy Disney to go-cart parks Southern Cali is the place to get your amusement park fix.
73) LAX: It may not be your idea of a good time, but it's close when needed.
74) JetBlue: When I have the option I fly out of Long Beach. JetBlue to NYC is the best.
75) World Class Shopping: Rodeo Drive, South Coast Plaza--from diamonds to discount malls it's all in LA.
76) Cruise Ships: Watch them leave, watch them arrive or board one in the LA Harbor.
77) Peacocks: Love them or hate them they are a part of the PV landscape.
78) See PV: Take a drive around the PV Peninsula on Palos Verdes Drive--PVDS and PVDW are not to be missed. Pull over often to enjoy the views.
79) Shakespeare in the Park: What's not to love about an outdoor play on a warm summer night?80) The drive up the coast.
81) The drive down the coast.
82) Starry Nights
83) Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific: It's a hands-on experience and a favorite of my grandchildren.
84) Hiking: The hills at Trump National are my gym of choice.
85) The Olmstead Brothers: Landscape architects for PVE. Their father, Frederick, designed Central Park in NYC.
86) Malaga Cove Fountain: It's a landmark and one of my favorite places to meet clients coming from the beach cities.
87) Paseo Del Mar: An ocean-view boulevard with stunning views and homes. Drive it or better yet, walk it.
88) The Greenery: PV is an oasis of vegetation in the concrete and asphalt jungle of Los Angeles.
89) Hills and Cliffs: The flat land of LA is a stark contrast to the rolling hills and towering cliffs of Palos Verdes.
90) The Atmosphere: The surrounding area is urban; PV has a small town feel.
91) Frank Vanderlip: For having the vision of what Palos Verdes could be and the money to develop it. He purchased the land without seeing it in the early 1910s.
92) Eucalyptus Trees: They are not native flora, but they are at home in Palos Verdes.
93) Whales: They can be seen along the coast from December to March.
94) Dolphins: They frolic along the coastline too.
95) Seals: Part of the local water fauna show too.
96) Hollywood Sign: Iconic symbol of LA and the entertainment industry--PV is a popular destination for filmmaking.
97) The View of Catalina Island: On a clear day you can see every crevasse and canyon on the Island and at night the lights of Avalon.
98) The Razzle Dazzle of LA's Lights: From the vantage point of PV, LA's city lights twinkle below like millions of holiday lights.
99) Advanced Placement Courses: My four children took many and graduated from the Palos Verdes School District with numerous college credits. Great way to save on college costs while living the Palos Verdes lifestyle in a little slice of paradise.
100) The beauty of it all.
Sell Smart, Buy Wise, and Live Well
Norma Toering, Broker-owner of Charlemagne Intl Properties
(310) 493-8333
PalosVerdesLifestyle- Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty blogs. Awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Lender411 blog review. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper. South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Based on information from the Association of REALTORS®/Multiple Listing as of the initial date of this article/blog publication and other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and Selling Agent.
