Top 5 things to do in Torrance, California

Just to the south of downtown Los Angeles, Torrance is an ideal location for a California vacation that’s just that little bit more laidback than your average trip to the Golden State. It’s a beautiful location with incredible places to stay, like the Miyako Hotel, while its proximity to LA means that you’re never far away from the sights of the big city, it has many attractions all of its own.

 

So here are the top 5 things to do in Torrance, California:

 

Hit the beach

What could be a more Californian thing to do than heading to the beach? Torrance Beach is the southernmost of the big beaches on Santa Monica Bay and no less beautiful than the rest but manages to be much less crowded than nearby Redondo Beach. This gives it a chilled-out feel that most LA beaches can only dream of. And then, if you’re feeling brave, there’s always Rat Beach. Don’t worry, it’s not got a rodent problem, Rat stands for ‘Right After Torrance’ and it’s another awesome beach.

 

Get back to nature

Another advantage of vacationing in Torrance is that you don’t feel quite so much like you’re in a concrete jungle, especially with Madrona Marsh Nature Center right on your doorstep. Former oil wells that have been turned into a wetland nature reserve, Madrona Marsh is the ideal place to get away from it all to see and learn about the wildflowers and butterflies that live there. Alternatively, there’s Hopkins Wilderness Park in nearby Redondo Beach, which has forests, meadows, and streams to enjoy as you explore the wilderness.

 

Take flight through history

If you’re into aviation history, there’s a hidden treasure in Torrance in the shape of the Western Museum of Flight at Zamperini Field airport. With historic and rare aircraft, blueprints and photographs on display, you can get up close and personal with some of the planes that have made history, including several experimental fighters. It’s one of only three places in America where you can see one of Jack Northrop’s famous flying wings, the Northrop JB-1 Bat glider, which has to be seen to be believed.

 

See modern and contemporary art

The Torrance Art Museum is another hidden gem for anyone staying at Miyako Hotel Torrance CA. In a stunning physical space, you can enjoy some of the very best local modern and contemporary art that will expand your mind and enrich your soul far more than a day spent in queues at Disneyland.

 

Sample the cuisine

Torrance has a huge connection to Japan, with the second-highest percentage of residents of Japanese ancestry in the state, and this certainly plays out when it comes to finding somewhere to eat, as it has some of the best Japanese restaurants in California. For a start, there’s Ise-Shima Restaurant at the Miyako, which is far above what you’d normally expect to find when dining at 3 star hotels in California, while fans of sea urchins simply must try Miyabi Uni, a restaurant dedicated to them.