Torrance
Torrance is a city in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, in Southern California. Even though it is one of the larger suburbs of Los Angeles (147,000 residents in 2020), it is overlooked by the throngs of tourists that visit LA. Torrance is often called "Japan's 48th Prefecture" due to its large Japanese population, and large Korean and other immigrant populations give the city a very global feel. Visitors wanting a quieter Los Angeles experience will do well to visit Torrance.
Get in
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Torrance is just a couple of miles south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX IATA) on Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway). Take the 42A exit and go south on State Route 107 (Hawthorne Boulevard). While traveling south on SR 107/Hawthorne Blvd., look for the Del Amo Fashion Center (see "Buy" below) on the left. In terms of public transit, Line 8 of Torrance Transit offers service from the airport.
Torrance is also accessible from several other exits from the 405, including Redondo Beach Blvd., Artesia Blvd., Crenshaw Blvd., and Western Blvd. From the 110 south of the 405, heading west on Torrance Blvd., Carson St., 223rd St., Sepulveda Blvd., or Pacific Coast Highway will also land you in Torrance.
If you have a personal airplane or helicopter, you can land at TOA IATA1 Zamperini Field (Torrance Municipal Airport), 3301 Airport Dr, ☏ +1 310 784-7900.. It is a public airport open to private aircraft (no commercial flights). Call ahead to schedule a landing and to rent a hangar or other dock.
Get around
editTorrance is served by LA Metro, Torrance Transit, and GTrans, all of which are integrated with the TAP card payment system. See metro.net's South Bay and Gateway Cities map. However, public transportation is uncommon in Torrance. Better ways to travel would be ridesharing, such as Uber or Lyft, or car rental.
See
edit- 1 Torrance Beach. Neither glamorous nor fancy, this clean, large, busy beach attracts thousands from the surrounding area. Parking is limited but nowhere near as poor as nearby Hermosa Beach or Venice Beach. Just due south of Torrance Beach is RAT Beach (Right After Torrance), which can only be accessed from Torrance Beach.
- 2 Torrance High School, 2200 W Carson St. A must for television fans. In Beverly Hills, 90210, it served as the fictional West Beverly High. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it was Sunnydale High. It also served as the backdrop for other movies such as Fast Times At Ridgemont High, The Wild Life, Not Another Teen Movie, Bring It On, Whatever It Takes, Cursed, Wild Things 3, Bruce Almighty, and Less Than Zero. The building can be viewed from the outside but is not open to visits by the general public because it is a functioning school.
- 3 Del Amo Financial Center, 21515 Hawthorne Blvd (at Del Amo Blvd), ☏ +1 310 540-9300. The Del Amo Financial Center is located adjacent to the Del Amo Mall on Hawthorne Blvd and has the tallest building in the beach cities located within it.
- 4 Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center, 3201 Plaza Del Amo. The Madrona Marsh Preserve is a seasonal wetland with vernal pools that is believed to be one of the last remaining vernal freshwater marshes in Los Angeles County. The 43 acres (17 ha) site was used for oil production from 1924 to 2003 before the oil wells were removed and it was protected by the city as a nature preserve. Visitors can enjoy a walk through the preserve, and there is also an 8,000 square feet (740 m2) nature center located across from the marsh that offers exhibits about the nature and history of the marsh, including several live animals. The area is also great for birdwatchers, with more than 275 native and 50 non-native species of birds observed at the marsh since 1980.
- 5 Pacific Electric Railroad Bridge. The Pacific Electric Railroad Bridge or Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge now officially named the "Pacific Electric Railway- El Prado Bridge" is a historic double-tracked arch bridge spanning Torrance Boulevard at Bow Street, a short distance west of Western Avenue. It was once part of the north/south Torrance to San Pedro spur line of the Pacific Electric Railway, that agency's first interurban line to San Pedro.
Do
edit- 1 Columbia Park, 4045 190th St. Columbia Park (formally Columbia Regional Park) is a 52-acre (21 ha) recreational urban regional park that provides the community with soccer fields, baseball diamonds, bocce ball courts, community gardening beds, walking paths, and a jogging—competitive cross country running trail. It is one of thirty parks in the Torrance Parks system.
- 2 Western Museum of Flight, 3315 Airport Drive, ☏ +1 310 326-9544. F-M 10am-3pm. A museum dedicated to the history of general and military aviation. Has a large collection of planes and aviation memorabilia. Adjacent to the main building of Torrance Airport; parking is shared with the airport.
- 3 Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd. 6AM–10PM. City park with universally accessible treehouse-themed play structure. In addition to the playground, there are picnic tables and facilities for basketball, horseshoes, sand volleyball, softball, roller hockey, and tennis. Splash pad for water play is open from April to December. Site of the farmers' market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8AM–1PM. Wheelchair accessible. Restrooms. Free.
Buy
edit- 1 Del Amo Fashion Square (Del Amo Mall), 3525 W Carson St (at Hawthorne Blvd (CA-107)), ☏ +1 310 542-8525. M-F 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 11AM-7PM. Once billed as the largest mall in the world (and still #5 in the US), the Del Amo Fashion Center a beautiful outdoor promenade, with an AMC and a Lucky Strike Bowling Alley, stores like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters, and decent restaurants like PF Chang's China Bistro. This mall has been used to film commercials, television shows and movies. Reno 911! regularly utilized the parking lots around the mall, and Jackie Brown was filmed in the International Food Court located in the mall.
Eat
edit- King's Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant, 2808 Sepulveda Blvd, ☏ +1 310 530-0050. Famous for their sweet Hawaiian Bread - this restaurant is owned by the same company. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make sure to take home some fresh breads and cookies from the bakery. $10-15.
- Iccho, 25310 Crenshaw Blvd (in the Rolling Hills Plaza), ☏ +1 310 325-7273. A Japanese restaurant that is open late serving decent food at reasonable prices to a bustling crowd. The sushi is uninspiring although not bad, the sake is good and reasonably priced ($6.25 for a large bottle), and the Japanese dishes are relatively good at prices between $4 and $10 per item.
- 1 Taco Sinaloa #3, 1647 W Carson St, ☏ +1 310 328-4208. 24 hours daily. A cheap and cheerful authentic Mexican taco restaurant, that serves one of the best tacos and burritos in Los Angeles. The atmosphere is a bit grungy, but most items are under $5 and they serve cervezas till 2AM. One of the perks is that they are open 24 hours a day. Beware of the hot sauce, most people think they can handle it- but usually they're wrong.
- Umenoya Ramen, 24222 Crenshaw Blvd. Torrance is known for many Japanese restaurants, there is numerous ramen restaurants scattered around the city. However this place stands out amongst the bunch, big bowls of delicious soup and noodles are fairly priced and consistently delicious.
Drink
editSleep
edit- Courtyard Los Angeles Torrance/Palos Verdes, 2633 Sepulveda Blvd, ☏ +1 310 533-8000, fax: +1 310 533-0564.
- Sonesta Select Los Angeles Torrance South Bay, 1925 W 190th St, ☏ +1 310 532-1722, fax: +1 310 532-9161.
- Holiday Inn, 19800 S Vermont Ave, ☏ +1 310 781-9100.
- 1 Miyako Hybrid Hotel, 21381 S Western Ave. Miyako Hybrid Hotel in Torrance, California offers 208 Japanese-style lodging accommodations and 12 suites, 3 meeting rooms and restaurant, sushi bar, and lounge Gonpachi, near local attractions.
- Residence Inn Los Angeles Torrance/Redondo Beach, 3701 Torrance Blvd, ☏ +1 310 543-4566, toll-free: +1 800-331-3131, fax: +1 310 543-3026.
- Sonesta ES Suites Torrance Redondo Beach, 19901 Prairie Ave, ☏ +1 310 371-8525.
- Torrance Marriott, 3635 Fashion Way, ☏ +1 310 316-3636, fax: +1 310 543-6076.
Stay safe
editTorrance is a safe city with a low crime rate. Del Amo Mall has experienced some violent crime, but you are unlikely to be assaulted, as long as you don't make anyone mad. Eastern Torrance is not as safe as the rest of Torrance, but again, you are unlikely to fall victim to any crime. Be careful on the Anza Ave. and Halison St. intersection. Accidents involving students from nearby middle school happen once or twice a year. Accidents are also fairly frequent on Hawthorne Boulevard, but are usually collisions with cars, and pedestrians are rarely if not never hit.
Generally, crime in Torrance is related to property, and usually is either in the form of shoplifting or break-ins.
Go next
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| Routes through Torrance |
| West LA ← Lawndale ← | N  S |
→ Carson → Long Beach |
| Santa Monica ← Redondo Beach ← | N  S |
→ Long Beach → Dana Point |