Relocating to Palos Verdes and the South Bay Part 3 - Recreational Opportunities of the South Bay

The U.S. Air Force relocated me and my family fivealso very popular. And did I mention jet skiing?
times in less than ten years. So if you are looking atFarther a field, Long Beach's Belmont/Naples area
relocating I understand your challenge. If you areoffers great kayaking in calm water, perfect for a
relocating to the South Bay area of Greater Losfamily activity. Or, you can ocean kayak along the
Angeles, those challenges come with significantbeaches and rocky coast of the Peninsula.
opportunities and I am writing this series of articles toSo, you prefer your water sports under the surface?
help inform you and your family.Well, the local waters are excellent for skin and scuba
In this, Part 3, we will explore the recreationaldiving. Need equipment or lessons? Don't worry,
opportunities that abound in and around the Southmany local dive shops will take care of you. And if
Bay. Whether your games are golf and tennis oryou are already an expert, there are many
surfing and paintball, the South Bay offers anopportunities to dive the local islands such as Catalina,
abundance.just 26 miles away.
Golf and Tennis:Equestrian:
Let's start with the traditional sports. The PalosWestern or English saddle, the South Bay is home to
Verdes Peninsula has four major golf courses, PVboth. If you have horses, there are many horse
Country Club, Rolling Hills Country Club, Los Verdesproperties and stables in the area. If you don't know
Public Golf Course, and Trump National. Additionally,how to ride, several local stables offer lessons from
there is a nine hole executive course at the Terraneabasic to jumping. And there are miles of local trails to
Resort. Torrance also has a very nice course and is aexplore.
great place to learn the game. Many fine courses alsoHiking and Running:
ring the area, including golf courses in Long Beach andMiles of trails in Palos Verdes offer visually beautiful
closer to LAX.treks from gentle to challenging. The local Sierra Club
Tennis is big in the South Bay. Popular racket clubssponsors weekly walks. Runners have many good
make their home in Rolling Hills Estates, PV Estates,training opportunities from Paseo Drive in San Pedro
and Torrance. Many professional players have calledto the green belt in PV Estates. The long stretches
the area home, there is even a development in PVof sandy beaches also make for good runs. Back
Estates where nearly all the homes have their ownwhen I trained for high altitude trekking, my regular
courts. Good public courts can be found at most oftraining run was from Trump Golf Course, up the
the high schools, many of the parks, and at Fortswitch backs at the bottom of PV Drive East to
MacArthur in San Pedro. Many condo/townhomeCrest Road which I ran up to the radar site at the
developments also have their own courts.top of the Hill-a 3.5+ mile run with an elevation gain
Water Sports:of over a thousand feet!
So you already know how to hang ten or youThis article only touches on the opportunities that
always wanted to learn how to surf. Well, you are inawait you in the South Bay. Just a few of the things
luck. You will make many like minded friends, lessonsthat I haven't mentioned are flying lessons at
are available, and local surf shops will cater to yourTorrance Airport (or maybe you need a place to
every need. Too wait for good surf? Well, Sanhangar the plane or helicopter you have now), skiing
Pedro's inner Cabrillo Beach offers some of the bestin the local mountains, bicycling and roller-blading along
sail-boarding there is.the beach, motorcycling around the Hill and out to
Speaking of sailing, Redondo Beach and San PedroPoint Fermin (the café near the park is a favorite
have large yacht harbors and the local yacht clubsof bikers), and bird watching (we have the largest
offer lessons. Power boating and sport fishing areflocks of peacocks in Los Angeles.