Torrance

With 1.5 miles of sandy shoreline, the Los Angeles County city of Torrance (map) is technically a beach town. But the South Bay hub is increasingly known as a bustling city unto itself, with a multicultural heritage, a cool nature preserve, and a burgeoning beer scene.

A good place to start is Torrance Beach. Part of the Santa Monica Bay, the sand here is often less populated than the beaches in nearby Redondo and Hermosa. Rent a bicycle or surfboard and pick up snacks at Perry’s Café & Rentals. Nearby, check out the Madrona Marsh, a 43-acre seasonal wetland where reptiles and small mammals make their homes in pop-up vernal pools and micro habitats. Bring your binoculars: The Audubon Society uses the Marsh for its annual bird census, and bird and nature walks are offered daily.

Torrance has a strong multicultural presence, too. Take one of the free tours at the Chen Art Gallery, which houses more than 1,000 Chinese artifacts, all from one family’s private, rare collection—including a Qing dynasty imperial throne room and a Ming dynasty bedroom. Torrance’s Japanese population, meanwhile, is second only to Honolulu in the U.S.; shop with the locals at the flagship Mitsuwa Marketplace, an immersive supermarket experience with specialty eateries, bakeries, and boutiques selling Japanese cosmetics, videos, and more. The spirit of inclusion is also found in the city’s Wilson Park, which is home to the 2,500-square-foot Annenberg Tree House, the first universally accessible tree house in a public space in California. Visitors of all physical abilities can make their way along the winding wooden pathway and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the park, which also includes a 3,000-square-foot splash pad water playground that’s open from spring the early fall.

Another don’t-miss shopping stop is the Del Amo Fashion Center, notable for being one of the largest malls in America and for making cameos in such movies as Valley Girl, Jackie Brown, and Bad Santa. For another kind of mercantile experience, browse the 200-plus vendors at the Torrance Antique Street Faire, held on the fourth Sunday of every month (on other days, check out the vintage furniture in its retail store).

On the culinary side, the city’s deep roster of excellent ramen restaurants has earned it a reputation as the place to indulge in Japanese-style tonkatsu ramen in Southern California. Explore them on the Ramen Trail, a round-up of eight of the city’s standout spots. Torrance also has a growing craft beer scene. Check out the tasting rooms of the ten-plus local breweries such as Red Car Brewery, named after Torrance’s old trolley line; Absolution Brewing Company; and Smog City Brewing, which has two Torrance locations as well as one in Long Beach and one in Glendora.

Every Tuesday and Saturday, rain or shine, visit the Torrance Certified Farmers' Market—the largest in Los Angeles—for a seasonal variety of fresh, top-quality produce from 60+ California farms. The market features a year-round selection of California-grown fruits, nuts, vegetables, eggs, honey, baked good, fish, and flowers. 

Know before you go: Check out Torrance’s upcoming events page for a rundown of what will be happening in the city during your visit.