12/14/2023

Unbelievable But True Things to Do in Torrance

1.5 miles of uncrowded, pristine beach? 10 craft breweries? 400+ eateries? Millions upon millions of square feet dedicated to some serious shopping? All the major Los Angeles sports teams and Disneyland nearby? That’s the unbelievable #truth about Torrance. It’s awesome here, which is why Torrance makes the perfect Southern California getaway. Read on for more Torrance truths.

Listen to the Locals

Discover Torrance Podcast

To learn the best Torrance secrets, we went straight to the leaders making it happen and asked.

Listen to Laurie Porter from Smog City Brewing to get a taste of the brewery scene from one of Torrance’s expert brewers.
Listen to Chef Shafer from The Depot to get a behind-the-scenes look from one of Torrance’s most popular eateries from the genius behind it all.

Give Torrance a Spin

If you’re not sure where to start, play our Spin the Bottle game to let the itinerary find you. With ideas like shopping bliss, outdoor adventures, brews and hops, foodie finds, and arts and culture, you’ll be a winner every time.

Look Like a Local

Play with our Instagram filter on your phone and see what you look like living your best Torrance life, trying out some favorite things to do in Torrance.

DISCOVER MORE TORRANCE TRUTHS

There’s so much to see here, which may surprise you. Here’s a look at what you can find on your getaway.

Outdoor Spots

Blissful Beach

Blessed with 1.5 miles of uncrowded, pristine beach, Torrance Beach is also part of The Strand, a beautiful 22-mile coastal bike path that ends in Malibu’s Will Rogers area.

Torrance Tip: There are lots of restaurants and shopping spots nearby, as well as places to rent bikes, surfboards and more. Check out our best tips on surfing Torrance Beach for more information.

Madrona Marsh Preserve & Nature Center

Thought of as one of the last remaining vernal freshwater marshes in Los Angeles County, the Madrona Marsh is home to 101 different plant and animal species. Also, originally the home of the Tongva people, this preserved wetland has paths to explore and a Nature Center across the street.

Torrance Tip: The Nature Center is an excellent place to learn about the area and what species to look for. Forest bathing and bird watching are popular here too. Also check their Friends of Madrona Marsh calendar for classes, hikes and their monthly nature walk.

Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Hollywood Park Management Company

Sport Events

NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL & MLS Games

Near every professional Los Angeles sports team, Torrance makes a very convenient homebase for all the home games. The Crypto.com Arena, where the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers play, is nearby. Also, the Dignity Health Sports Park, where the Los Angeles Galaxy play, is right next door, as is SoFi Stadium where the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers play.

Angels Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, is very close and Dodgers Stadium where the Los Angeles Dodgers is also within driving distance. The Honda Center, where the Anaheim Ducks play, is just down the road from Angels Stadium.

Torrance Tip: For most NFL games and some events at SoFi. Torrance Transit offers $2 bus rides ($4 roundtrip) to and from SoFi Stadium. Make sure to check the schedule ahead of time for availability.

Art & Culture

Big Concerts with the Biggest Stars

Nearby SoFi Stadium frequently hosts concerts from several big artists, including Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. The Crypto.com Arena, Honda Center, Dignity Health Sports Park also host several famous artists and world-class performances and events. Check our events page to see what’s next so you don’t miss a thing.

Torrance Tip: Stay at any of our excellent Torrance hotels to be close to the concert and then relax at the hotel’s pool or restaurant afterward.

Famous Film Sites

Being near LA and Hollywood, Torrance has been the film site for many films, TV shows and TV commercials. Torrance High School, for example, was used as the high school in the hit shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Beverly Hills, 90210, and the film She’s All That.

Torrance Tip: Occasionally, events are held at Torrance High School and the school is also available for photo ops outside school hours. Check out our map on Torrance film spots for where to go and what you can do there.

Hometown Hero Memorials

One of many famous residents, Olympic athlete and WWII veteran Louis Zamperini, called Torrance home, and the community has done much to memorialize him.

Torrance Tip: The Torrance Airport, Zamperini Field, was named for him. There’s also a beautiful mural, and you can check out the “Lucky Louis” exhibit at the Torrance Historical Society. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption is a New York Times bestseller all about his inspiring story.

Shopping

Tons of Hotels and Shopping

Among Torrance’s 15 hotels and 2,500 rooms, you’ll find spacious and budget-friendly options. Should you forget anything, Del Amo Fashion Center, one of America’s ten largest malls, can help you with its 200+ stores, entertainment spots and dozens of eateries. There’s also Old Torrance which has lots of boutiques like Jaunts and restaurants too like Madre which has hundreds of mezcal options at the ready.

Torrance Tip: The Doubletree by Hilton Torrance/South Bay Hotel, the Torrance Marriott Redondo Beach, and the Extended Stay America Los Angeles are all very close to the Del Amo Fashion Center. Stay at any of those beautiful hotels for convenient shopping access.

Breweries & Restaurants

Foodie Heaven

With over 400 restaurants in Torrance, you have many options in a wide variety of cuisines. It’s also home to the famous, King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant which came to Torrance straight from Hilo, Hawaii. Our Indulge page has all the details to help you narrow down the decision from eclectic to elegant and from quick to indulgent in nearly every cuisine imaginable.

Torrance Tip: Torrance is known as the Ramen Capital of Southern California, so you can’t go wrong with anything along the Torrance Ramen Trail.

Craft Breweries Aplenty

There are 10 breweries in Torrance, which makes for a spectacular pub crawl. When it comes to favorites, we could never pick just one so we put together a Beer Map with all your options.

Torrance Tip: Absolution Brewery often switches things up with seasonal brews, so that’s always a fun one to check out and Smog City has a beer that’s one of the only beers served inside Disneyland. Dodger fans will want to check out Buzzrock as they’ve paired their brews up with the Dodgers.

An Unbelievable Torrance Getaway

It may be unbelievable, but it’s all true and it’s all right here in Torrance. For more personal suggestions on things to do during your stay, stop by the California Welcome Center Torrance at the Del Amo Fashion Center at the main entrance on level 1. They can help you plan your vacation on their interactive kiosks while you’re there. Hurry and book your stay today.

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