Portions of San Pedro are also known as “Los Angeles Waterfront” and “Port-o-call Village”. The town is part of the greater Los Angeles city and home to the Port of Los Angeles. 
This doesn’t make it sound like a major tourist destination, but it is a nice fun outlet for locals and visitors.

The Port-o-Call Village Plaza offers several Seafood restaurants, gift shops, a cruise ship terminal and the Battleship Iowa Museum. A cobblestone walkway connects the shops with nice views of the harbor and the Vincent Thomas Bridge connecting San Pedro to Terminal Island.

Metro Bike Share has a station next to the USS Iowa. You can pay and rent a bike for $3.5 per half hour or get a discounted rate if you buy a pass.

Dining

There are a lot of dining choices in the village. You can have a nice sit-down meal at a highly rated restaurant or you can grab a sweet snack from the vendor. Some restaurants offer weekend and holiday brunches.  

Ports O' Call Waterfront Dining

This is a highly rated surf and turf restaurant with a wide selection of Steak and Fish dishes. They also offer daily happy hour from 3 to 7 and a Sunday Brunch.

If you like to sample a collection of their best appetizers, try the Chilled Seafood tower. 

If you are really hungry, try the Deep-Fried Whole Bass or share it with someone.

The balcony seating overlooks the Chanel with the best views of passing ships.

San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant

At this place, you can order Seafood from the menu or you can buy your own Seafood and have them cook it to order. 

If you are in a hurry, order fish-and-chips, clam chowder, or calamari from the fast-food counter and take to the huge outdoor patio.

The menu has a large variety of dishes to satisfy any appetite. To try a sampler of food, choose their fried fish plates or fish kabob skewers. 

Acapulco

If you love Mexican food, then stop by Acapulco restaurant where you can find all the traditional Mexican cuisine in a family dining experience.

On Sundays, they offer an all-you-can brunch buffet. Fill up on breakfast and lunch favorites with made-to-order Omelets or Tacos. 

Battleship Iowa Museum

The USS Iowa was commissioned in 1943 and served through WWII and the Korean War. It was also used during the cold war. This battleship also hosted 3 presidents and earned the nickname Battleship of Presidents.

Since 2011, the battleship has been on display at Port of Los Angeles with daily self-guided tours.  This is a fitting final resting home for this warship since San Pedro was the home of the US Battle Fleet from 1919 to 1940.

The ship is very impressive the moment you lay eyes on it as you approach it from the parking lot. It is, even more, owe inspiring as walk-on decks and under the largest guns (16"/50 caliber) on a U.S. Navy ship. 

As you traverse the halls of this ship you get a glimpse into the lives of sailors on board and you get to learn about the history of this war machine. 

Did you know that President Roosevelt planned the invasion of Normandy from aboard this ship?

The museum is operated by the non-profit Pacific Battleship Center (PBC) and with the help of many volunteers who are always happy to explain the various exhibits.

I especially enjoyed going through the sailor living quarters, mess hall, and the meeting room from which the D-day invasion was planned. 

At the end of the tour, you can browse through the gift shop and enjoy a flight simulator ride.

Beaches

San Pedro has several nice beaches, some of them are within walking distance from Port-O-Call village. 

Cabrillo Beach

This popular beach area in San Pedro offers several activity options and only about a 45-minute walk from Port-O-Call (LA waterfront). 

This is a historic beach and is named after Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer who was the first to sail up the California coast. 

The beach includes an Aquarium, Pier, Watersports youth center, and walking trails. It also has the historic Bath House building which was the last bathhouse built in California in 1932. It is now used for restrooms, showers, a snack bar, and community meeting rooms. 

Adjacent to this beach you can find Point Fermin Park with hiking trails, a playground, an amphitheater, and a picnic area. The park is located on bluffs overlooking the ocean.