South of Torrance, the Palos Verdes Peninsula extends into the Pacific. You will hear residents talk about living on “The Hill” or “P.V.” The Peninsula’s elevation offers homeowners dramatic views of the ocean and Catalina Island on the west, or harbor lights and the Vincent Thomas Bridge on the east.
Throughout most of its history, the Peninsula was a home of Native Americans, and it was also a landing site for Cabrillo in 1542. P.V.’s agricultural history continues today with many homes including horse properties and stables. Once you leave Redondo Beach or Torrance and enter P.V., you will experience a completely different atmosphere and pace of life from the surrounding areas of Los Angeles County.
P.V.’s cities include Rancho Palos Verdes, the gated community of Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, and Palos Verdes Estates. You will find a small portion of the Peninsula which is unincorporated and referred to as Palos Verdes Peninsula. Distinctive neighborhoods include Lunada Bay/Margate, Malaga Cove, Valmonte, Country Club, Miraleste, and Mira Catalina.
Palos Verdes Peninsula schools are highly ranked in California and nationally, with Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates ranking in the top 100 public high schools according to U.S. News and World Report. Palos Verdes High in Palos Verdes Estates also achieves high rankings from U.S. News and World Report and in state rankings.
Lifestyles on the Palos Verdes Peninsula are active, with numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation from surfing, scuba and kayaking to golf, cycling, running, hiking, and tennis. The area boasts a number of resorts including Terranea and the Trump National Golf Course. You will also find landmarks like the Point Vicente Lighthouse, which is a favorite viewing spot for gray whales. In the center of the peninsula lies a “hidden gem,” the South Coast Botanic Garden, a unique and peaceful botanical garden that has been reclaimed from land formerly used as a landfill and a mine. Another gem is the Wayfarers Chapel, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1940s.
Homes include estate and view properties ranging from Italian villas to mid-century architectural gems. You may find sea breezes and clear, sunny days on the Peninsula when other beach areas are fogged in. Palos Verdes Peninsula offers a vastly different pace and style of life from many other areas in Los Angeles County, at times reminiscent of Carmel and Monterey on the Central Coast.