An improvisational climbing structure near the Maritime Museum
BOUNDARIES: Pacific Ave., Los Angeles Harbor, First St., Seventh St.
DISTANCE: About 1.5 miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy
PARKING: One-hour free parking is available in the lot for the battleship USS Iowa and Los Angeles Maritime Museum.
Due in large part to its coveted waterfront location and mild climate, LA’s San Pedro district is ripe for gentrification. In recent years, the home of the Port of Los Angeles has been undergoing revitalization and redevelopment, including the relocation of the impressive Battleship USS Iowa naval warship—now open for tours—at Berth 87 and the addition of a picturesque waterfront promenade next door. Next up is a planned revamp of the kitschy and rundown Ports O’ Call Village just south of the redesigned waterfront. Your best bet for visiting downtown San Pedro is during a First Thursday celebration, which features gallery openings, street vendors, and entertainment between 6 and 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month.
Begin south of First Street in the parking lot for the 
Battleship USS Iowa and the 
Los Angeles Maritime Museum. The Vincent Thomas Bridge and the loading cranes and shipping containers of the Port of Los Angeles create a colorful backdrop for the magnificent gray warship. Head away from the ship to reach the promenade walkway that runs alongside the parking lot, and then turn left to head south. The promenade has dancing fountains, benches, attractive landscaping, and even exercise equipment.
Soon you’ll pass the fire boat station, which features a pleasant picnicking area and a giant ship’s wheel out front.
As you step down to the wooden walkway alongside the docks, you’ll notice a selection of enormous anchors on display to your right.
As you approach Sixth Street, you’ll see the Downtown/Sixth Street stop for San Pedro’s waterfront Red Car line. Until recently, this vintage electric trolley shuttled visitors between the World Cruise Center north of downtown and Ports O’ Call Village to the south in replica railcars patterned after the 1909 Pacific Electric cars. At the time of this writing, the line had closed with plans to reopen as part of the Ports O’ Call revitalization plan, but a free waterfront street trolley still runs during summer weekends (see sptrolley.com for details).
Take some time to explore the artifacts displayed in front of the Maritime Museum, including a ship’s anchor and steering wheel, a memorial propeller from a World War II warship, and the front of the hull of the USS Los Angeles. If you have a few dollars and some extra time to spend, you can explore the museum itself, which boasts an impressive collection of ships, models, and navigational equipment, as well as rotating exhibits.
Turn right on Sixth Street. At the corner of Harbor and Sixth Street is the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial, which consists of a beautiful fountain sculpture by Jasper D’Ambrosi that depicts one man rescuing another from the sea. Follow Sixth Street west toward Old Historic San Pedro. The sidewalk on both sides of the street is lined with plaques for athletes and sports professionals who have some connection with either San Pedro or Los Angeles.
After crossing Centre Street, Sixth Street becomes trendier, featuring an assortment of boutiques, bistros, and breweries, as well as more-established businesses and art galleries housed in historic storefronts. The Art Deco 
Warner Grand Theatre is located at 478 W. Sixth St. The theater opened in 1931 and is on the National Register of Historic Places; today it serves as a venue for shows, concerts, and classic films.
Turn left on Pacific Avenue and walk one block.
Turn left on Seventh Street to enter the heart of the Downtown San Pedro Arts District, which features more galleries, shops, and eateries. This area also includes the inevitable upscale loft developments that show up in any burgeoning artists’ community. The Bank Lofts in the historic Bank of San Pedro building are located at the corner of Mesa Street. Continue on Seventh Street all the way back to Harbor Boulevard.
American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial
Turn left on Harbor Boulevard to take a stroll through 
John S. Gibson Memorial Park. Owned by the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, the park is home to the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial as well as a striking Fishing Industry Memorial.
Turn right when you reach Fifth Street to cut back into the waterfront promenade, and then turn left to follow the walkway back to your starting point in the USS Iowa parking lot.
San Pedro Waterfront
Points of Interest
Battleship USS Iowa 250 S. Harbor Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90731; 877-446-9261, pacificbattleship.com
Los Angeles Maritime Museum Berth 84 (foot of Sixth Street), San Pedro, CA 90731; 310-548-7618, lamaritimemuseum.org
Warner Grand Theatre 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro, CA 90731; 310-548-2493, grandvision.org
John S. Gibson Memorial Park Harbor Boulevard between Fifth and Sixth Streets, San Pedro, CA 90731; 310-548-7618, lamaritimemuseum.org
