This post is sponsored by Discover Torrance. We received complimentary lodging, meals, transportation and activities in exchange for this post, however all opinions are our own.
Our family spent our Memorial Weekend this year discovering all that Torrance, California has to offer. Torrance is in the South Bay region of LA County, nestled between the coastal communities of Redondo Beach and Palos Verdes Estates. Having grown up in Southern California, I’ve visited many parts of LA, but had never been to Torrance. Though we were only there for two nights, we crammed in several fun activities and TONS of great food, read on for details!
We arrived on a Saturday right around lunch time, so before heading to our hotel, we decided to grab lunch at Blue Salt Fish Grill. We couldn’t have made a better choice for lunch! Though casual and unassuming from the outside in a quiet strip mall, the food was amazing! We ordered steamed clams, ahi tuna tataki and grilled octopus and everything was so delicious.
After lunch, we checked into the Courtyard Marriott Torrance/Palos Verdes for our 2-night stay. The lobby area was modern and welcoming and included a nice bar and dining area that served Starbucks coffee in the morning and cocktails in the evening. Although our room was small, we were located adjacent to the pool and could walk right our from our first-floor veranda. The hotel was centrally located just a few minutes from the beach, the mall and Torrance’s best restaurants.
Since the weather was gorgeous, we felt compelled to check out Torrance State Beach, and I’m so glad we did! Parking there was easy and affordable and the crowds were minimal, surprising since it was Memorial Day weekend! The beach was clean, views were gorgeous, and there were ample restrooms that were modern and well kept. I think Torrance Beach just might be our new go-to beach!
We enjoyed dinner on Saturday night at Local Kitchen which was a really fun spot in Old Town Torrance. The craft cocktail menu was fun and the food was amazing. They were also very kid friendly which is always a plus when you’re traveling as a family. I wish we had a place like this near our house!
Sunday morning was drizzly and much cooler, so we scrapped our plans to check out Madrona Marsh Preserve and instead headed to Del Amo Fashion Center. We started with an amazing brunch at Brio Coastal Bar and Kitchen then wandered the mall for hours. Being one of the largest malls in America, it took awhile to get from one end to the other! We took a break and played at Dave & Buster’s for a bit before heading back to our car.
That evening, we spent a few hours bowling at Bowlero before heading to dinner at Madre Oaxacan Restaurant & Mezcaleria. My husband and I went a little crazy and ordered the taco sampler and it was SO much food! We had carnitas, cecina, tasajo, chapulines, beef barbacoa, goat barbacoa and more. Needless to say, we had leftovers for days. The mezcal drinks were amazing, my husband is a huge mezcal fan and was in heaven!
We wrapped up our trip on Memorial Day with breakfast at King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant, which happened to be just down the street from our hotel. I grew up a huge fan of King’s Hawaiian Rolls, so it was so much fun to finally check this place out! The bakery choices were amazing and breakfast was delicious! Afterwards, we checked out of our hotel and sadly had to head back home.
We all had such a blast during our weekend stay in Torrance. From the gorgeous beach to the delectable food choices, there was so much to experience there. We wish we had been able to spend more time outdoors checking out the parks and other outdoor attractions, but I guess that means we’ll just have to visit again! For more information on Torrance, CA and to plan your own trip, visit DiscoverTorrance.com.
