California Cruisers

[CruisingCA2005]

I've started to make a list of various stores, etc. that you may find useful.

Shopping Malls:
Del Amo Fashion Center - a VERY big mall that is near to the 405 and 110 freeways in Torrance, CA (about 20 minutes from the pier). Near the corner of Hawthorne Blvd and Sepulveda Blvd.
http://delamofashioncenter.com
There is a Target and a Ralphs Grocery store right next to the Del Amo Mall.

South Bay Galleria (do not confuse with South Bay Pavillion). Near the corner of Hawthorne & Artesia Blvd off the 405 freeway.
http://www.southbaygalleria.com
There is a Ralphs grocery store right next to the South Bay Galleria.

Stores:
Target - 651 W. Sepulveda Blvd (right off of the 110 freeway) less than 10 minutes from the pier. There's another Target on 3433 Sepulveda Blvd (near the Del Amo Mall)

Super Kmart - 500 Carson Town Center (right off the 110 freeway and Torrance Blvd) about 10-15 minutes from pier.

Sam's Club
1399 Artesia Blvd (near the 110 freeway)

Trader Joe's
28901 South Western Avenue

Supermarket chains: Ralphs, Albertson's, Vons, Food4Less, Stater Brothers

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I live in the area.

 

[Hollyster2]

What a nice gesture! I am sure this will be very useful! Thanks!

 

[Stinasmom]

Thanks for posting store locations...I am keeping a word document list of tips-n-info from the DIS boards and yours just got cut and pasted on to it!

We are staying at the Sheraton Los Angeles Harbour at 601 S. Palos Verdes St. after we fly in the day before the cruise. I know we will want to visit a grocery store that evening...which is closest? Could we walk to any of them? Thanks again!

 

[CruisingCA2005]

I believe Albertson's and Ralphs are both on Western Avenue in San Pedro but they aren't within walking distance of your hotel.

You can order groceries online at Albertson's but I don't know all the details.

I'll post more details when I find out more info later.

 

[maryisme]

Thank you for starting such a helpful post. I hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions .

We will be staying at the Hyatt on Huntington Beach. We have never been to CA before and was wondering if there was anything you could tell me about the area. I know that is a very general question so any info you could give me would be very much appreciated.

Thanks again!

Mary

 

[rsjj]

don't live by torrance area, but what about food? restaurants? they would be helpful for out of town guests! just a thought...

 

[Stinasmom]

I believe Albertson's and Ralphs are both on Western Avenue in San Pedro but they aren't within walking distance of your hotel.

You can order groceries online at Albertson's but I don't know all the details.

I'll post more details when I find out more info later.

Hey thanks for the online ordering idea! for $9.95 we could just have the groceries delivered to our hotel and not have to worry about packing stuff on the plane or paying for taxi rides to get it ourselves! I am impressed that in CA you can even order liquor!

 

[jilljill]

Hey thanks for the online ordering idea! for $9.95 we could just have the groceries delivered to our hotel and not have to worry about packing stuff on the plane or paying for taxi rides to get it ourselves! I am impressed that in CA you can even order liquor!

Thanks for looking into this and finding out the charge. A $9.95 delivery charge sounds cheaper than a roundtrip taxi ride and soooooo much easier. I may have to look into doing this myself.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

Maryisme: I'll try to find out more info about things around the Hyatt in Huntington Beach, I'm not exactly sure where it is. Will you have a rental car?

Restaurants....there are so many different places to eat and almost any type of cuisine you can imagine but transportation may be an issue for those of you without rental cars. There are several restaurants in the Ports O Call area in San Pedro http://www.sanpedro.com/spcom/restur.htm

 

[JC Butterfly]

just found your post, so cool that you've gotten us started, thanks!

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

Thank you for starting such a helpful post. I hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions .

We will be staying at the Hyatt on Huntington Beach. We have never been to CA before and was wondering if there was anything you could tell me about the area. I know that is a very general question so any info you could give me would be very much appreciated.

Thanks again!

Mary

The Huntington Beach area is great. There are a number of good food choices right on main street and also on the pier. There is also a movie theater and they have a farmers market every Friday. If I remember correctly the Hyatt is a little further south of Main street, but not to far. If you have a car Newport Beach and Balboa island are very close by.

 

[maryisme]

Luckey-lasvegas,

Thanks for the information. First timer on the West coast for us. I'm sure we'll be loving it .

CruisingCA,

Thank you again. If you don't know the area, don't go through any trouble to find out any info I will enjoy doing some more research myself - my labor of love...lol

Mary

 

[only1mouse]

We aren't familiar at all with the area - but we booked our night before the cruise at the Hilton Long Beach & Executive Center. The Limo ride to the port is only about 8 miles from what we've heard. Do you know what's around this area - and are we really that close to San Pedro??

Thanks again for the information

 

[CruisingCA2005]

Long Beach is fairly close to San Pedro because you only have to go across the Vincent Thomas bridge (there may be a toll) to get to the ports.

They've really built up the Long Beach area. There are a lot of restaurants, movie theaters, etc. on Pine Street and also a newly developed area called the Pike at Rainbow Harbor. The Pike is right by the Aquarium of the Pacific. Shoreline Village and the Queen Mary are also close by.

Here's a website that may be useful: Visit Long Beach

 

[only1mouse]

Wonderful!! Thanks so much

 

[starwood]

Anyone know what rental car agencies service the port? We need to rent a car when we get back because we're not flying home until Sunday.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

I can confirm that the Enterprise rental car is right across the street from the port. I'm sure you can call for a shuttle to Enterprise.

We drove by the San Pedro area today to see how things look. The Diamond Princess was at port and boy is it stunning. It looks like they've been making some renovations to the world cruise center. There are supposedly a lot of improvements planned for the San Pedro port area. We'll probably be hearing a lot of comparisons to Port Canaveral and Disney's cruise terminal. Let me say now, it is NOT as pretty as Disney's cruise terminal.

The Enterprise rental car is right across the street from the port but it would still be a better idea to take Enterprise's shuttle rather than walking across the busy street. The Best Western is across the street from the Ports o Call area that has many different restaurants and little shops. There is a Grinder restaurant right next to the Best Western. The Sheraton is a little further away in San Pedro's business area. There were a few shops and restaurants on the same street as the Sheraton. I didn't see any supermarkets until we got to Gaffey street. Western Avenue is even further away than Gaffey street.

Honestly, if I had a choice between staying at San Pedro or Long Beach, I'd stay in Long Beach and arrange for transportation to the pier the next day. This area of San Pedro is just okay but there is a lot more to do in Long Beach with Pine Street, the aquarium, The Pike, etc.

I've taken a few pictures that I'll post later. The next time we go to the aquarium we'll take pictures of the Long Beach area.

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Thank you for starting such a helpful post. I hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions .

We will be staying at the Hyatt on Huntington Beach. We have never been to CA before and was wondering if there was anything you could tell me about the area. I know that is a very general question so any info you could give me would be very much appreciated.

Thanks again!

Mary

Hi Maryisme,

I live in HB and have my whole life. There is plenty of restaurants on Main St to try out. All are a nice walk after dinner and to the pier. There's even a restaurant at the end of the pier (Ruby's Diner with a 50's theme) or at the foot of the pier are 2 resaurants that are a little nicer. You'd be about 1/2 hour from DL resort if you would like to check out Downtown Disney or 20 minutes down PCH to Pine Ave in Long Beach where, as previously mentioned, is a great walking and dining area. When your standing on our beach, look out to sea and you can see Catalina Island which is our regular Summer vacation getaway. Only a short hour boat ride away from Long Beach and you feel like you've traveled to a tropical island. Well, maybe not tropical as it gets just as warm as So Ca gets but the atmosphere there is great. Any other ?? about HB and I'd be happy to answer or find out the answer. Amy

 

[AnnaS]

We are staying at the Best Western (Redondo Beach?) - does this sound right? I have to e-mail my friend who made all the arrangement for our three families (night before cruise). Do you know anything about this hotel/area/distance from port?

Glad to know Enterprise is right across pier in San Pedro. We will be in DL three nights after cruise. Does it pay to rent a car to get to DL and have car there? Will we need the car in DL? Should we return it at the airport when we leave or before. If before, where?

Sorry for all the questions. I will go and double check on the BW.
Thanks.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

AnnaS: It would depend on which Best Western you'll be staying at. The one in North Redondo Beach (by the South Bay Galleria mall) would take about 20 minutes because it's closer to the freeway. The other two Best Westerns in Redondo Beach would take about 30-40 minutes because it'll take 15-20 minutes to get to the freeway.