Are you looking to visit Hof hut Torrance in the South Bay of Los Angeles? Whether you are visiting the area or coming on a day trip from somewhere in Los Angeles, we have you covered with all the things to do in Torrance on your visit.
What was once the sleepy step sibling to more popular Southern California neighbors of Redondo and Hermosa Beach, Torrance has come into its own. In the last few years Torrance has blossomed into a happening town full of amazing restaurants, with a burgeoning brewery scene, art galleries and even its first boutique hotel.
We had the opportunity to visit Torrance a few weeks ago and had so much fun! Between being out in nature, exploring the Japanese food and shops of the area and eating our way through some of LA’s best restaurants, we can’t wait to go back and share it with you all too.
Disclosure: My stay at Bluestem was hosted by Discover Torrance as part of a weekend trip to the area to explore all the family friendly things to do in Torrance California. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
Also note, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Where is Torrance CA?
Located just 15 minutes from LAX, Torrance makes a great hub for those looking to visit the South Bay of Los Angeles, including those in town to visit fan favorites like Disneyland.
Known by locals as a hidden gem, Torrance is tucked away just south of Redondo Beach and northwest of Long Beach. Visitors can enjoy the quiet of Torrance while also having easy access to other parts of the city like Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Hollywood.
Releasing A Sloth in Costa Rica
And, unbeknownst to even many locals, Torrance is actually considered a coastal city in the South Bay of Los Angeles county. Yep that’s right, it has a 1.5 mile stretch of beach all of its own. Since so many people think of Torrance as an inland city, the beach is way under utilized making it the perfect place for those looking to escape the crowds.
The Best Time to Visit Torrance
Anytime! Torrance is a fabulous place to visit throughout the year due to its proximity to the beach. It can get hot in the inland areas, but overall, the weather is quite pleasant year round.
During our recent visit to Torrance, we were amazed at the number of things to do for families as well as those sans kids. Below are our top picks for exploring Torrance on a weekend or even as a day trip from somewhere else in Los Angeles.
Ride Bikes on the Strand
The number one thing to do in Torrance in our opinion is to ride bikes along the beach. The Strand, which is the official name of the bike path along the coast starts here in Torrance. It stretches 22 miles up to Malibu through California’s most famous beach communities.
By starting your bike ride here in Torrance you get to bypass the masses while soaking up the beach culture. This is especially perfect for new bike riders who need plenty of space and less traffic.
There are no bike rentals or services here in Torrance so either bring your own bikes or head to Redondo Beach to rent bikes. This stretch of the strand is truly excellent. Wide paths, beautiful scenery and no crowds!
Spot Birds at Madrona Marsh
We love nature centers and exploring hidden gems like the Madrona Marsh. As avid bird watchers (my 9 year old mostly!), we are always on the hunt for cool excursions that allow us to learn more about LA and its nature habitats. Here at the Madrona Marsh you can join docent led tours or just enjoy exploring on your own. Pop into the visitor’s center to learn more about the area with a really great display of exhibits from the history of the area to the animals that call this marsh home.
We spent a good few hours here watching birds (we even saw a kestrel!) and searching for frogs (which we did ultimately find!).
Discover Downtown on a Walking Tour
If you are in Torrance on the 4th Sunday of the month, we highly recommend learning a bit more about the city’s past through a walking tour of the historic downtown area offered by the the historical society. We were unfortunately not in town for this, but have it on our list to return for. The downtown area of Torrance is super cute and well worth a stroll with or without a tour!
Play at Torrance Beach
One of the top things to do in Torrance is hang out at Torrance BeachAs I mentioned above not many people think of Torrance as a coastal community. It’s true much of the town is inland, but there is a beautiful 1.5 mile stretch of beach that calls Torrance home. It’s empty, beautiful and waiting for you to explore!
This area of the beach stays quiet mostly due to the lack of services on the beach. For food, entertaiment and shopping, you will have to head 1.5 miles north to Redondo Landing. Otherwise enjoy the quiet solitude Torrance offers. Plenty of street parking is available as well as pay lots that were continuously empty during our visit.
Transport Yourself to Japan
One of the things I found most surprising and exciting about visiting Torrance was the abundance of all things Japan. One of my all time favorite trips was to Japan in 2009. I was so excited to share my love of Japan with my son by visiting the local Japanese market and eating authentic food I had only found in Hiroshima previously! Okonomiyaki is a local favorite in Hiroshima and was one of my all time favorite dishes during my trip. I was so excited to find Chinchikurin here in Torrance offering up traditional okonomiyaki that tastes just like it did in Japan.
Make sure to pop into Mitsuwa Marketplace for all your favorite Japanese goodies. We found our favorite Japanese candy and several foods we hadn’t been able to find anywhere else including in Little Tokyo!
Go Oldschool at Los Arboles Rocketship Park
Los Arboles Rocketship Park was a must visit for me mostly because it is an almost exact replica of my favorite neighborhood park from when I was a kid in Texas! I was so excited to share this old school gem with my son. This is the perfect place for families looking to provide their kids a little “kid time” while also providing amazing views for the grownups. My son could have easily spent half the day at this park between the super cool old school rocketship and the newer playground equipment on offer. Definitely schedule some time here if you have kids!
Visit Miramar Park for Sunset
If you are in Torrance looking for the best sunset spot, we have found it at Miramar Park. This is the perfect place to visit if you want a ocean sunset view without getting sandy down on the beach! Perched just above the beach, Miramar Park offers outstanding views for sunset and throughout the day.
Get Creative at AR Workshop
One of the things we often look for in our adventures are places that we can get creative. In my search of this in Torrance, I came across AR Workshop. This place is amazing. They offer weekend family workshops where parents and kids can work alongside one another making anything from pillows to wood hangings or even photo frames. This local studio is perfect especially around the holidays as they offer such cool options like Santa signs or serving boards. I would highly recommend registering for a class if you are in the neighborhood!
Relive Your 90210 Days
I was raised on 90210, so you know I had to visit the place where it was filmed at Torrance High School. For those who are TV and film buffs, you must make time for a film tour of Torrance which includes this famous site as well as Buffy’s House from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Kids may not like this as much.. but hey, we must relive our childhood too! For those who are film buffs, check out this film tour of Torrance that takes in several film locations around town.
Become a Beer Expert
For a town of only 145,00 people, it’s surprising to see more than 11 breweries here. Check out this two day itinerary by Discover Torrance to cruise around to the various craft beer breweries and become a true beer expert or hop on a tour to learn even more about all that is on offer here. During our short visit we visited HopSaint Brewery which serves amazing food and looked to have pretty popular beer too!
