Palos Verdes Drive
I was wondering if the cold would ever really settle in this winter, but I think the recent weather indicates that the answer is “yes”. In fact, when we got back from our end-of-year trip our car was coated with a solid three inches of ice.
As I scraped the windshields I thought back fondly on our recent sojourn. It was the second time in two years that we had spent Christmas in Los Angeles.
On our first day there we decided to take our rental car down San Pedro Drive, starting just south of Los Angeles and ending in San Pedro.
It’s only a fourteen mile drive, but you can easily consume an entire afternoon with all the turnoffs and paths for wandering.
There is a small state park at the turnoff for the Point Vicente Lighthouse, complete with a small museum and a deck for whale watching.
We didn’t see any whales, but we enjoyed watching the pelicans flying in formation above our heads. Oh, you pelicans, don’t take that blue sky for granted.
gardeninacity 
That’ll be a nice memory on those cold days. You missed the rain–good job! Beautiful photos, all. I’m headed to San Diego later this month.
Great photos, I love the lighthouse and the beautiful orange rocky cliffs. A nice memory to have when you are back home in the snow.
Nice. I’ve not been there … Yet.
It’s worth seeing.
Beautiful! No wonder you went back for a second look.
We did love that first trip.
The coastline has some very picturesque views and you captured them beautifully. Did you see things differently visiting a second time around?
Yes, we stayed in a different part of the city and did more lounging, less driving and seeing.
Magnificent views along this drive.
We thought so.
I love your photo of lighthouse, Jason – much air and water! It’s a pleasure to see such beautiful places far away when -3 F weather is here.
The sun reflected on the water was especially beautiful, I thought.
So very beautiful!
It was a great drive.
Brrr. It sounds chilly where you are. Lovely to have those warm, sunny, beautiful photos to look at.
Exactly so.
The photos are beautiful. I hope the 3 inches of ice did not do much damage. In our climates snow is wonderful, ice not so much.
Fortunately, no damage around our home.
I hope that memory keeps you warm this winter. We’ve had ice here too.
The memories help, especially with the aid of digital photography.
Loading up on sunny memories was a smart move. Thanks for sharing them with us.
You’re welcome. The cold has settled in for real this weekend.
Lovely photos and nice reminders that we are on our way to warmer weather. I’m thinking positive here as I glance out at the snow covered ground. 🙂
Same here.
Stunning! But you bring up a good reason I delay winter getaway trips until February or March. Escaping in December or January means you have two winters in one year–before the vacation and after, and the “after” is so painful. We’ll be going to S. Cal. in March and I can’t wait! Still, any time you can get away from the cold is a good thing, IMHO. ;0)
Southern CA will be gorgeous when you get there – I’m jealous. The California poppies, Ceanothus, roses …
Lovely photos Jason, we took this trip several years ago with our children and remember the Pelicans. It was a really happy holiday, I hope we get to do this again, meanwhile we are enjoying the memories brought back by your trip.
I also hope you get to do it again. Glad I brought back some good memories.
My daughter drove us along this same route a couple of years ago. It is nice to see it again. Hope you had fun.
We absolutely did.
It must have been quite a shock to the system to come home to three inches of ice after enjoying those beautiful blue skies and seas. What a fantastic place to enjoy Christmas, I can see why you went back. I’d go for those beautiful pelicans alone! Shame you didn’t spot any whales.xxx
I know, we’ll have to try again next year!
Cold here came and went. What a winter. I wonder when I travel to Maui if I will be leaving “warm” weather here. CA there is not doubt about the sun filled days.
I’m glad you escaped to somewhere warm. 🙂
So am I!
What amazing views, beautiful. Lovely to escape from winter for a while with your family.
It was indeed. I could have stayed out there for another week or two.
Now that is the highlight for me….I am bookmarking this so the next time I am in CA, I can take this trip…love it! Sorry to hear about that ice….we had lots of it here until the lake snows finally flowed and now we have a good snow cover.
Our ice and snow melted and now we have a hard freeze with no snow cover.