Long Beach And Palos Verdes

The ocean is the unifying force of this disparate region, where waves crash against the cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and tankers head for the busy ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The peninsula, a magnificent stretch of coastline, is an affluent area, with mansions and stables set amid the rolling hills. On its southeastern side, working-class San Pedro is home to the Port of Los Angeles as well as generations of fishermen. The big city in the area – the fifth-largest in the state – is Long Beach.
Aptly named for its 5.5-mile (9-km) expanse of white sand, this community has long attracted those who love the ocean. Its most famous landmark is the ocean liner Queen Mary.

Getting There
The Metro Blue Line connects Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles. The busy port is well served by freeways that link it to the rest of the city. A free shuttle bus, the Runabout, makes frequent trips between downtown Long Beach, Shoreline Village, the Queen Mary, and the Catalina Island terminal. Cyclists can take the Oceanside Bike Path from Long Beach to Naples.

Wayfarers Chapel: Modern Architecture

5755 Palos Verdes Drive S, Rancho Palos Verdes.
Tel (310) 377-1650.
Timing: call ahead (frequently booked for weddings).
www.wayfarerschapel.org

This glass and redwoodframed chapel sits on a hilltop above the ocean. From the street below, all that can be seen is a thin stone and concrete tower rising from the greenery.
When the architect Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) designed the chapel in 1949, he tried to create a natural place of worship, surrounding it by trees. Today, its charm makes it a popular site for weddings.
The chapel is sponsored by the Swedenborgian church, which follows the teaching of Emanuel Swedenborg, the 18th-century Swedish theologian and mystic.