Places worth your time

Hidden rocky cove tucked beneath the Palos Verdes cliffs at the end of Western Avenue, one of the most beautiful and least crowded stretches of coast on the LA Harbor side. Named for the elegant Royal Palms Hotel that opened here in 1915 and was destroyed by storms and landslides in the 1930s. You can still spot the ruins as you wander: crumbling palm lined stone staircases, the old hotel foundation, a tile fountain, and remnants of garden walls slowly being reclaimed by the sea. Explore extensive tide pools at low tide, watch surfers ride the famous Royal Palms right hand point break, scramble the boulder beach, picnic on the small sandy patches, and photograph the dramatic cliffs. Whale watch from December through April. Modest paid parking lot at the top, then a steep paved road down to sea level. About a 20 minute drive or rideshare from the cruise terminal.