Day-Cation in Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes is a few miles but lightyears away from downtown Los Angeles.  For tourists, it's a beautiful, convenient locale to visit between debarking a cruise ship and flying home from LAX. 

It's also a wonderful place for Southern Californians to escape for a day, like Amy and I did yesterday.  We headed toward the ocean on Crenshaw, and when the street ended, we parked.  After a short stroll, we shot the video footage above, where you can see we enjoyed a beautiful panoramic view.

We proceeded to hike toward the ocean.  Occasionally encountering horses with riders and other hikers, some with dogs in tow, the downhill walk was especially pleasant.  Trekking back up required frequent stops for me to slow my heartbeat and catch my breath, but it was well worth it.

Back at the Jeep, Amy made sure she got her old Dad some water along with salted almonds to rebalance my electrolytes or something, and we were off to our next stop, a Japanese shopping center a right turn on Sepulveda away from Crenshaw that Amy enjoys visiting with her boyfriend.  We decided we didn't feel like Japanese food, so we drove to an adjacent shopping center to a restaurant she said always smelled good but where she had never dined.  Poquito Mas, a Baja taco restaurant.  Okay, at this point, I think we technically had ventured into Torrance, but that's the way of the South Bay.  Cities fade into each other.

We both ordered their signature dish, tilapia fish tacos, which had a "market price" of $6.75 for the platter on this day.  A sign advertised "$2 Day Beers," which turned out to be any bottle stocked, so I chose Modelo Negra, always a solid choice.  Amy had a fountain Diet Coke, but many of the other diners had tall Coke in bottles, presumably the famed Mexican Cokes that use real sugar instead of corn syrup.  A waiter brought us a small helping of tortilla chips, and Amy brought back some green and red concoctions from the salsa bar.



Buffy the Vampire Slayer's High School

When our plates arrived, they were heaped full of delicious beans and rice along with the overly stuffed tacos.  The tortillas are not ONLY made on site but made fresh for each order, and they are fantastic.  The Corona batter on the tilapia is thick, crispy and delicious, and the fish itself mild and tasty.  Everything we ate was fantastic.  Looking at their web site, I see they have a lot of other locations, including several in the San Fernando Valley, but I'd never eaten at one before.  I definitely will again.

After lunch, we headed to another South Bay institution, the Skechers Outlet Store at the corner of West 190th and South Vermont, which I think is called Harbor Gateway, which might be a pseudonym for some other city.  In any case, it chalk full of bargains.  Amy had been looking at sporting goods stores for hiking boots over her college break, and she found the perfect ones there, plus some dress flats, and the total bill was under $50 despite the fact that the second pair was too inexpensive to qualify for the 50% off the second pair promotion.  If you're in the area, check out this outlet for my home town company, Skechers.

Buffy's House

Amy and I had a great day together, a vacation without traveling far from home or spending much money. And for you TV fans, on the drive from Poquito Mas to the Skechers Outlet, we drove right past Buffy the Vampire Slayer's high school, which Amy had visited earlier in the week with some friends.  Buffy's house is also near by. 

If you're going on a cruise from Los Angeles or Long Beach, why not enjoy the wonderful South Bay?  You'll learn why we love L.A.