It’s officially 2019 and the New Year is here. The New Years resolutions are created and there are new places to be seen in 2019. Many people will come to visit Los Angeles and want to see the usual attractions like the Hollywood Sign , the Venice Boardwalk , and the neighborhoods of celebrities. Don’t get me wrong, these are all cool experiences and I’m not bashing on any of them, but there are a bunch of hidden gems in L.A that not many outsiders know about. If you find yourself appreciating the back alleys, unpaved roads, and sometimes dangerous places when you travel, we’ve got just the list of places you’ll want to check out this time you’re in the city of Angels.
1 ) SUNKEN CITY
Sunken City has some of the best graffiti in all of Los Angeles!
How Sunken City was Created
There was a time when the waves crashed up against a cliff lined with homes in San Pedro, California. In 1929 a massive landslide on this land sent many houses, stores and part of the adjoining park into the ocean. It turns out, this land was collapsing at a rate of 11 inches per day. Fortunately, they evacuated everyone before the houses collapsed.
Today, the city of San Pedro is proposing turning Sunken City into a park with public access.
A Beautiful but Mind-Blowing Piece of Land
The land of Sunken City is unpredictable and seems to have new graffiti and remnants of teenagers hanging out each time I return to this place. It has its own sense of chaotic beauty and attracts teenagers and adults who have heard stories of this area along the cliffs of San Pedro.
Sunken City is a beautiful section that screams Los Angeles and its urban chaos. Only in LA can you find a cliff side town, torn to pieces by a natural disaster that’s been taken over by graffiti artists. You can see the broken streets and sidewalks. You’ll find beautiful murals. The art changes each time you go. It’s a magical place for sure.
Here’s some savvy tips on how to get the most out of your day trip to Sunken City.
2) White Point Beach
White Point Beach , San Pedro
This area of LA is a little tricky since it’s by a cliff that’s constantly pummeled by waves. This means the roads near the end sometimes get eroded and the city needs to repair or make new roads. Considering this fact, White Point state beach is now a little harder to get to, but this place is worth the trouble.
White Point beach is free if you park in the park on the bluff. If you enter and go downhill they’ll charge you. There’s also a lot of metered parking spots curbside as an option as well.
White Point beach is at the bottom of the cliff. At the bottom of the hill, the road forks and you can either go right or left. If you go right it’s mostly rocks and gravel but it makes for an excellent area to snorkel. If you’re into it, you’ll see tons of natural wildlife swimming around you. The other side is primarily sandy beach.
The best part of White Point is the rocky area. If you decide to explore you’ll see flat rocks. It looks like a man-made structure, since rocks don’t form flat.
It turns out, in the 1920s natural sulfur hot springs were discovered in the area. Naturally, they made a saltwater pool for people to bathe in and have fun in the LA sun.
The giant quake of 1933, in nearby Long Beach, damaged the foundation of the hot springs and the area closed for business. This luxurious natural hot springs was then hit by another disaster, The Great Depression… and that was the end of that.
Growing up I always wondered why this area was flat. It wasn’t until doing a little research that I found all this amazing history. White Point Beach is a must if you’re into nature, history and beauty.
3) The Queen Mary
A haunted ship with paranormal activity and a rich history.
If you haven’t had a chance to experience Long Beach, I would say it’s a must for its melting pot of cultures and interesting history. The Long Beach harbor is one of the top 5 biggest ports in the world and it is home to one of the most haunted ships in the world, The Queen Mary. There is said to be constant discoveries of paranormal activity and it gets creepier as the sun goes down. The Queen Mary is open to the public and tours of the most haunted parts of the ship are available for the thrill seekers out there. You can find out more information about these tours here. I’ve been on the ship during the day and it was already creepy enough for me to not stay into the night. Proceed at your own risk!
4) Hitler’s Bunker
Forget the Hollywood sign and the walk of fame — the next time you’re in Los Angeles, Calif., go off the beaten path and head to an abandoned Nazi compound.
There you’ll catch a glimpse of an alternate reality in which the Nazis won World War II and set up their headquarters in sunny Los Angeles. That was the hope of landowners Winona and Norman Stephens, who built the the 50-acre “Murphy Ranch” in 1933 to be a self-sustaining Nazi community ruled by Adolf Hitler. Under the thrall of a mystical “Herr Schmidt,” who may have been a German spy, the couple and a band of Nazi-sympathizers known as the “Silver Shirts” worked in the compound, doing military exercises and preparing for war.
The Daily Mail revisits the historic compound and notes that at the height of its glory, it was outfitted with a diesel power plant, a 375,000 gallon water tank, a giant meat locker and a bomb shelter.
Nowadays, the compound is rundown and dilapidated. Huge knots of mangled steel rust on the grounds and the concrete power station is covered in graffiti, waiting to be transformed into a rest and picnic area for hikers.
In the meantime, says the Daily Mail, the site remains a magnet for “historians, curiosity-seekers and modern-day nazis.”
In an episode of Travel Channel’s “Off Limits,” historian Randy Young reveals that the wrought iron gates at the entrance of the compound were made by famous African-American architect Paul Revere Williams. “They may have been Nazis, but they were Nazis with taste,” he quipped.
Williams’ architectural sketches also included plans for a four-story mansion, 22 bedrooms and five bathrooms, notes Curbed LA, but they were never carried out. Instead, federal agents raided the compound in 1941, the day after the Pearl Harbor bombing. Dozens of Nazi-sympathizers were rounded up and arrested.
The compound, which is located at the Will Rogers State Historic Park, can be accessed on a hike through Rustic Canyon.
5) Catalina Island
Catalina Harbor at Night. Less than 30 Miles from the Long Beach and Newport Beach Coast!
Catalina Island is or should be on everyones to do list. Although, I believe this is not on many tourists radar. It’s got a quaint Mediterranean feel. Once you arrive, it doesn’t even feel like you’re in LA anymore… but you are!
The Founder of Sintra7 on the cliffs above Catalina Island.
This tiny island is cheap, relaxing, and has a nice vibe compared to the pace of downtown L.A. It’s a great day trip and chance to get away from the city. The Wrigley Family ( family who owned the Chicago Cubs) used to own the island and there is a Wrigley Museum. Buffalo can be seen on the far end of the island and you can rent scooters or golf carts to go up into the hills and see the island from high up above.
Want to relax in the sun and sip on endless Cocktails?
Head to Descanso Beach for a few hours to get a nice lunch and some of the best drinks on the island! Warning! The chance of getting stuck at this slice of paradise for the whole day is very high.
Descanso Beach – the nicest beach on Catalina Island
