Issue link: http://globelitetravelmarketing.uberflip.com/i/444404
108 2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A TWENTY MINUTES SOUTH of down- town Los Angeles, framing the busiest container port and global trade gateway in the United States, is the LA Waterfront. This emerging destination encompasses LA's San Pedro and Wilmington communities and delights even native Angelenos, many of whom don't yet know that this place exists. More than a decade ago, redevelopment began to turn the waterfront from an indus- trial area to a place filled with recreational spaces, artists' studios and restored historical sites all geared for families and visitors. In 1542, Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo visited San Pedro Bay, sur- rounded by tidal flats and marshes. Centuries later, through the efforts of the "Father of Los Angeles Harbor" Phineas Banning and his sons, the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 and the result of shipbuilding for both World Wars, LA's working class harbor has trans- formed into one of the world's busiest ports. The LA Waterfront is not only a multi- ethnic stew of descendants from the original fishing families that came from Italy, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Norway and Japan, and of "new" residents with Mexican and African backgrounds, it is also home to the first Wienerschnitzel restaurant, the world's largest lobster festival and the only remaining Warner Brothers theater in the nation (the Warner Grand, a gorgeous Art Deco movie palace). Due to the work of John Olguin, San Pedro's beloved marine life edu- cator, the nation's first commercial whale watching program for children launched here in 1972, and the Frank Gehry-designed Cabrillo Marine Aquarium was established. For an easy way to get around, hop on the restored LA Waterfront Red Car trolley and explore more than fifty points of interest, starting with the spectacular water ballet at the Gateway Fanfare Fountain near the World Cruise Center. Visit San Pedro's historic art dis- trict, LA Maritime Museum, Ports O'Call Village, CRAFTED weekend artisan marketplace, Ban- ning Museum, the Battleship Iowa museum and S.S. Lane Victory (fully operational World War II era cargo ship museum). Events include open art studios during 1 st Thursday Artwalks, live music performances and annual classic car shows and film festivals. LA WATERFRONT Bring the family and explore LA's maritime past B Y J A C Q U E L I N E Y A U FIREWORKS LIGHT UP the LA Waterfront during the Cars & Stripes Forever! car show, above; Banning residence, below. LA WATERFRONT ยป STROLL, DINE, PLAY, EXPLORE! LA Waterfront Visitor Information lawaterfront.org facebook.com/LAWaterfront