Turn Your 3-Day Weekend Into a 4-Day Escape in Torrance
Level up your long weekends. With just one day of paid vacation, you can turn that 3-day weekend into a blissful 4-day getaway in Torrance. Located right in the hub of Southern California, Torrance’s uncrowded beach, 400+ eateries, abundant shopping and easy access to amusement parks, sports arenas and more make it the perfect escape.
Rather than a packed, play-by-play itinerary, we put together a relaxed 4-day trip planner to help you get the most out of your Southern California vacation at your own pace. So, whether you’re thinking of extending Memorial Day, Juneteenth (on a Friday in 2026), the 4th of July (on a Saturday in 2026) celebrations or just wanting to get away, here are a few ideas to consider.
Day 1: Outdoor Oasis
Torrance Beach is 1.5 miles of peaceful, uncrowded sand and shore with plenty of parking, which can be a rarity in Southern California. We highly recommend you head here for a care-free day.
Activities: A beach umbrella, chair and a good book are highly recommended. You can play in the water, lay on the sand, try surfing or boogie boarding. There are also beach volleyball courts and access to The Strand, a 22-mile, paved bike trail that leads all the way up into Malibu.
Where to Eat: A local favorite is the King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant, straight out of Hilo, Hawaii. Their breakfast is legendary, especially the French Toast, and they also serve lunch and dinner. If you’re tight on time, you can always grab something quick from their full bakery of treats to enjoy at the beach.
Then grab lunch at any of the restaurants near the beach. For dinner, we love all the fresh poke restaurants in Torrance, like Kokoroll Café, where you can get boba, poke bowls and handrolls.
Extend Your Day: A night hike (offered the 2nd Saturday of every month) at the nearby Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve is pretty incredible. It’s LA’s last remaining vernal wetland, with many nature trails. They even have star parties there from time to time, lead by the Riverside Astronomical Society. Day hikes are also available.
If you’re in Torrance during the summer months, you could also check out Torrance Summer Nights, where they have free concerts and other artistic performances. Torrance Cultural Arts Center (TOCA) also has local events and is about 15-20 minutes from Torrance Beach and only 5-10 minutes from King’s Hawaiian Bakery and the Kokoroll Café.
Day 2: Culture & Local Flavor
You could spend the day discovering Torrance’s local museums, outdoor murals, art galleries and a wide variety of cuisines in its 400+ eateries. Indulge, soak it in and wander through your day without over-planning your vacation.
Activities: The Torrance Art Museum is free and always has something interesting on display, including contemporary art and rotating exhibits throughout the year. At the Chen Art Gallery, you can immerse yourself in more than 1,000 artifacts spanning 5,000 years. Reservations are required, however, so please do plan this visit in advance.
There’s also the Western Museum of Flight, where you can walk among years of aviation history, including several hands-on exhibits geared to all ages. The city also boasts several outdoor murals, including a 12-story mural titled “Samurai of the Diamond”, on the side of the DoubleTree by Hilton. It’s a nod to famous Dodger players Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki and a tribute to Torrance’s Japanese roots.
Where to Eat: Dive right into Japanese culture at Mitsuwa Marketplace where you’ll find authentic Japanese foods, products and cuisine. It’s conveniently located across the street in the Del Amo Fashion Center, opposite the “Samurai of the Diamond” mural on the side of the DoubleTree.
Torrance is also known as the Ramen Capital of Southern California with several authentic Japanese ramen restaurants to explore along its Ramen Trail. You should also definitely check out the Pasta Path, a very tempting collection of the best Italian cuisine in the city.
Day 3: Shop, Stroll & Discover
Torrance has many opportunities for serious shopping. From modern and high-end to antiques and boutiques, there are plenty of options for a healthy dose of retail therapy.
Activities: The Del Amo Fashion Center is three stories tall with more than 250 shops and restaurants. It’s easily a full day of shopping and wandering its halls to take it all in.
There’s also a California Welcome Center on the first floor near the main entrance where you can get more personal recommendations for your Torrance getaway. They offer swag year-round and prizes during the Beer Run each fall, where guests visit Torrance’s 11 breweries for a prize.
In the historic part of town known as Old Torrance, you can find boutique and antique shops with more of a small-town feel. There’s also Torrance Antique Street Faire where you can pour over old treasures, and Bohemian Coco and Jaunts where you can do some boutique shopping. Another interesting stop is Destination: Art, where they display a variety of local artists’ work in multiple styles and media.
Where to Eat: At the Del Amo Fashion Center, we recommend The Brews Hall, where you can choose from a brewery, Buzzrock, and four food concepts. For incredible Mexican food, we highly recommend Frida. You’ll want to check out Din Tai Fung too, where they specialize in fresh dumplings and noodles. It’s been a landmark foodie go-to and a new, popular spot for locals.
Mixed among all the boutiques in Old Torrance is The Depot, where you can dine in an old railway depot. Chef Michael Shafer’s creative fusion cuisine blends Japanese, Chinese, German and American influences. You can get amazing Thai food at Sartori Kitchen and wood-fired pizza, sandwiches and salads at the Red Car Brewery.
Day 4: Home Games, Concerts and Local Festivals
Torrance is right in the middle of every major league sports team’s arena or stadium, making it an ideal spot to catch all of LA’s home games. You’ll also want to make your reservations soon for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26TM, Super Bowl LXI in 2027 and the 2028 Olympics, which are all set to occur in the LA area. In the spring and summer, the area also comes alive with music festivals and cultural events.
Activities: Torrance is the sports hub of Southern California. Head here to attend home games for basketball’s Lakers and Clippers games, football’s Chargers and Rams games, baseball’s Dodgers and Angels games, hockey’s Kings and Ducks games, soccer’s Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) games, and rugby’s The LA Rugby Club matches and the Rugby SVNS Championship.
Be sure to make your arrangements for the FIFA World Cup 26TM and the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, which will both be in the Los Angeles area. Those same arenas and stadiums host some of the biggest acts in the world for epic concerts year-round.
In the spring, Torrance also hosts the Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival, similar to the original festival in Japan, and the Bunka-Sai Japanese Cultural Festival. Both will be alive with amazing Japanese cuisine, music, dance and crafts. Torrance’s sister city is in Japan, and there is a strong Japanese community here supporting both events. The summer also brings the famous BeachLife Festival, offering an epic weekend of music, food and beach vibes in neighboring Redondo Beach.
Where to Eat: You’ll find tons of amazing food at the festivals and for all of LA’s home games, we recommend checking out our Beer Trail where you can sip and feast at 11 craft breweries. They make the perfect spot to relax before or after the game with fantastic brews and pub food.
Plan Your 4-Day Getaway in Torrance
The next time a 3-day weekend rolls around, don’t hesitate. Take an extra vacation day and escape to Torrance. Much awaits you here from the beach and the food to the home games and the festivals. We can’t wait to see you. Book your stay here for your next unbelievable getaway.