San Pedro has two outstanding beaches, each with its own natural features and character.

Cabrillo Beach has a long expanse of calm, sandy shoreline, protected by the Los Angeles Harbor breakwater.

But move just outside the breakwater and you’ll find open waters that are renowned for their great windsurfing and other water sports. This area is known as Hurricane Gulch because of its strong (but not really hurricane strength) winds.

This close-in beach has picnic facilities available in grassy areas under shady trees.

At the end of the harbor entrance breakwater is Angel’s Gate Lighthouse.

This is also home to the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse, a vintage 1932 example of the kinds of bathhouses that were frequently found along the California coastline. The bathhouse was using for boating events during the 1932 Olympic Games, served as a museum, and has been extensively restored in recent years. Its upstairs ballroom, outdoor patio arcade, and first floor gallery are available for events.

Cabrillo Beach is also home to the Cabrillo Beach Marine Aquarium, a well regarded and very active aquarium and marine research facility. The aquarium offers an extensive regular series of educational activities and programs for all ages. The facility, 21,000 square feet in size and designed by architect Frank Gehry, houses the largest collection of Southern California marine life on display in the world, an outdoor tidepool touch tank, teaching laboratory, auditorium, research lab, and gift shop. The Exploration Center and the Aquatic Nursery, as well as a new 3,000 square foot Virginia Reid Moore Marine Research Library, and the S. Mark Taper Courtyard were added more recently.

Parking is available onsite at the beach, free for the first 20 minutes, $1 an hour thereafter up to maximum of $9 per day.

Cabrillo Beach City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro, CA 90731 310-548-2909 Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse 3800 Stephen M. White Drive San Pedro, CA 90731 310-548-7554 Click here for the Cabrillo Beach surf report

Cabrillo Beach Marine Aquarium 3720 Stephen M. White Drive San Pedro, CA 90731 310-548-7562 www.CabrilloMarineAquarium.org Click here for a map to Cabrillo Beach

White Point and Royal Palms County Beaches, located at 1799 Paseo del Mar, is a Los Angeles County park with picnic areas.

The beach is rocky with many tide pools along the shore. The parking area is located at the bottom of a steep bluff and varies from $2 to $10 per day. White Point Beach 1955 S Paseo Del Mar San Pedro, CA 90731 310-519-1751 Click here for a map to White Point and Royal Palms County Beaches ​