USS IOWA
Does your group want easy access to the big city while enjoying small-town charm? Then San Pedro’s waterfront is the place for you. On the southern end of Palos Verdes Peninsula, San Pedro, with a population of 90,000 over 12 sq. mi., is historic and picturesque. The surrounding Los Angeles Harbor area is a bustling port serving cruise and freight lines.
San Pedro’s diversions are many. Star of the show is USS Iowa, a World War II battleship that now serves as a museum. This is the ship that President Franklin Roosevelt took to meet Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin at the Tehran Conference. USS Iowa was also in Tokyo Bay when Japan signed documents of surrender aboard the USS Missouri, its sister ship.
What to Do
San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant
Ports o’ Call overlooks the Port of Los Angeles, the largest working port in the nation. A New England-style village with cobblestone streets, it encompasses 15 acres of shops, restaurants and attractions. Attendees can take a harbor cruise, go deep-sea fishing or whale watching and pick out their own fish to eat at San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant. The restaurant also handles large groups.
Other sights to see include Los Angeles Maritime Museum near Ports o’ Call Village, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, SS Lane Victory, Warner Grand Theatre and Mueller House, operated by San Pedro Bay Historical Society. The 1st Thursday ArtWalk downtown provides opportunities to attend local and visiting artists’ openings at the various galleries or watch artists at work. In the evening there are an array of food options and live entertainment throughout town.
During the rest of the weekend, those who prefer to not walk around can jump on free propane-powered trolleys, which operate Thursday through Sunday.
Where to Meet
San Pedro offers convenient venues for meetings, including hotels such as DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro-Port of Los Angeles (226 guest rooms, 16,000 sq. ft. of meeting space), and Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel (244 guest rooms, 12,500 sq. ft. of meeting space).
Both the Maritime Museum and the Warner Grand are available for rental. The Warner Grand, located downtown, is a 1931 Art Deco movie palace that has become a thriving community performing arts center. It is listed on the National Historic Register and is a City of Los Angeles Cultural Historic Landmark and seats 1,525; the theater also has an annex space for small group events.
For more on our Ultimate Los Angeles Guidebook for Meeting Planners – click here
