My favorite places to visit in Torrance, California!

Staycation in Torrance with DiscoverTorrance.com

The holidays can be a very busy time for anyone and usually when chaos ensues I like to venture out of LA for a few days to lose myself in new and exciting adventures. I wanted to experience a new city in Southern California that I haven’t spent much time in during the last decade of living here. Case and Point: Torrance, CA. I chose Torrance because it is a popular area up and coming for young people and parents starting families. I had heard that not only do they have some amazing botanical gardens and museums, they also have a restaurant scene ideal foodies like me. With the help of DiscoverTorrance.com, I was able to easily pick and chose the activities I wanted to participate in along with finding some hidden gems that can only be found in Torrance. It rained during my stay but that didn’t stop my adventurous spirit! I visited everything from the Western Museum of Flight to the South Coast Botanical Garden and all in between. It was a 48 hour rendezvous that I will never forget. Check out below all of the unique and interesting places I visited…

Wonder Facts: Torrance has a long and rich history for Japanese-Americans, who comprise about 9% of residents. It also is the city where the American Youth Soccer Organization, which you probably know as the AYSO, was originally founded in 1964.

Western Museum of Flight

If you love planes and the history of planes you should check out the Western Museum of Flight. It carries some of the most classic and historic aircraft from around the world including a Vietnam war era A-4 Skyhawk, a British Harrier T-4 jump jet, and an extremely rare YF-23 jet, a stealth fighter jet that never went into production. There are guys there that can tell you all about the history of each plane and if you ask, they will take you out to the runway area to where the YF-23 plane is located to check out an extensive variety of different planes. Definitely a must if you love history! If you want to read more about it, click HERE!

Wonder Fact: The Northrop YF-23 competed against Lockheed’s YF-22 for the prize of becoming the US Air Force’s revolutionary flagship stealth fighter plane. The YF-22 won the competition and evolved into what is now the F-22, the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world.

South Coast Botanic Garden

The holidays can bring a lot of stress on all of us. When that happens, I like to venture out to nature and unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the scenery around me. The South Coast Botanic Garden is just that. It is so beautiful and peaceful, you feel like you are miles away from everything. This garden has over 150,000 plants and trees from over 100 different families. Rich in plants, mostly from South Africa and Australia, this paradise offers 4 gardens including The Herb Garden, The English Rose Garden, The Water-Wise Garden, and The Garden of the Senses. It rained during my visit but that didn’t stop me from taking a stroll with my umbrella, listening to the pitter-patter of the falling raindrops. It was breathtaking. We captured some great plants and trees in these photos including the gorgeous Fig Tree (far left photo) and the essence of Fall (far right photo). It was a day I will never forget. This is a wonderful place to take your family, a date, or simply by yourself! This beautiful botanical garden is open 364 days a year! To purchase your tickets, click HERE!

Wonder Fact: The only day that South Coast Botanic Garden is closed is Christmas day.

DEPOT: MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to get some delicious grub in Torrance than look no further than The Depot Restaurant. This place is gorgeous inside (it’s located in an old historic building) and the menu is extensive with a variety of options for every eater, even including some vegan options for those non-meat eaters :). I ordered the Bowtie Pasta with House-Smoked Chicken, Roasted Corn, and Chili Cream. Decadence! For dessert, I devoured the Creme Brulee with strawberries which was divine and, yes, I almost licked the plate! LOL! I have heard from people that this happens to be one of the busiest and best restaurants in Torrance so expect a wait if you go on the weekends. I was able to go during the week so I was able to sit right down. Either way, check out Depot Restaurant on your next stay in Torrance! To see their website and menu, click HERE!

The Madrona Marsh

One of the last vernal marshes in Southern California, this beautiful wetland is located within an urban landscape and is home to many unique plants and animals. It is fed by the local spring and winter storms and is a great place to birdwatch and gaze at wildflowers. They have an interesting welcome center pictured above that teaches you all about the history of the marsh along with the different types of wildlife you can find here. It’s a wonderful place to walk around and discover interesting facts about the many types of species that usually reside within wetlands. The city of Torrance itself was a wetland that very day due to the heavy rain so we took advantage and toured the welcome center which was just as nice. To find out more information on visitation hours and location, click HERE to find out!

Torrance Cultural Arts Center

On my last night in Torrance, I wanted to take in a show or play at the James Armstrong Theater, which is part of the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Looking at the Theater’s calendar online, I noticed that John Tesh was performing his acoustic Christmas set. I had to go see him live considering I grew up listening to him with my father during the holidays. Most people don’t know this but aside from him being a broadcaster on Entertainment Tonight, he also is an amazing musician who released great albums. The center is located in the heart of Torrance and is home to not only the 500 seat theater but also two outdoor spacious plazas, banquet halls, and a beautiful Japanese garden. It is a marvelous environment for social gatherings and many locals love to go see the live shows at the performing arts center, which is exactly what I did. It was such a gorgeous theater and I can’t wait to go back. To find out what shows are coming to town, click HERE to see the schedule! This complex also has an amphitheater which is great for shows when the weather is nice. All in all, this center was the icing on my staycation cake and I can’t recommend it enough when visiting Torrance!

Wonder Fact: John Tesh created Round Ball Rock, the very well-known theme song of the NBA playoffs on NBC from 1991 to 2002.

Where to Stay: The Residence Inn

If you’re looking for a nice and comfortable place to stay while visiting Torrance, check out The Residence Inn By Marriott. I stayed there for two nights and the rooms were large and had plenty of room for more than 1 guest. The hotel also comes with a full-complimentary breakfast every morning from 7-9am and it is centrally located to everywhere in Torrance. A great place to accommodate people or families for fun or business! If you’re looking for the best hotel, click HERE to make a reservation!

Room Rates: $120-190 a night (depending on which room and what time of year)

Rates vary by season and time of year, my stay was in December of 2019 **As always, please call to confirm your rates as they are subject to change.