Understated Glamour near Coastal Attractions

By Krista Burton, Travel Correspondent

"I realize it's two o'clock, but… any chance of having a drink out there?" The vaguely aristocratic-looking middle-aged gentleman who makes this request is gazing out the lobby's enormous bank of windows as he checks in, eyeing the marina-front patio. Moments later—and with the assistance of concierge Arion—there the man is, out sipping a cocktail in the afternoon sun. White sailboats glide past the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro, where seaside charms blend with cosmopolitan comforts.

Each of the hotel’s guestrooms features an elegant décor scheme and natural light pouring in through a large paneled window. Either one king-size or two queen-size plush-top beds anchor the room, with white- and dove-gray linens augmented by a cushy mountain five pillows deep. In the bathroom, a spacious, solid-marble vanity serves as stage for an ensemble cast of Neutrogena products.

By 9 a.m. the next morning, the on-site Marina Bar & Grill is abuzz with businessmen and families converging on the hot breakfast buffet. Guests can enjoy their meal either in the dining room or outside on the patio overlooking the docked boats of the Cabrillo Marina. Aproned waiters swoop by, filling coffee cups and pouring orange juice next to steaming plates of breakfast potatoes, eggs, bacon, and waffles. The semi-secluded pool deck, studded with tall, swaying palms and chic lounge chairs, makes an ideal venue for post-breakfast repose, and the on-site fitness center and tennis and basketball courts get pulses pounding and calories cowering.

San Pedro, California: Sandy Beaches and Seaside Culture

San Pedro is a town of flowers. Bougainvilleas explode in brilliant pinks along hedges, soft-petaled peonies peek out from residential gardens, and roses climb walls all over. One mile from the Port of Los Angeles, 6 miles from the Long Beach skyline, and approximately 25 miles from downtown LA, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro makes its own mark on the Southern California landscape.

Thanks to the DoubleTree's waterfront location, visitors can walk from the hotel to nearby Cabrillo Beach, a pristine, remarkably untouristed white-sanded stretch of sun-tanning heaven, or head over to the charming gardens of the Point Fermin Lighthouse for a free one-hour tour of the restored 1874 structure. A few blocks from the lighthouse sits the Korean Bell of Friendship. An enormous bell and pagoda dedicated to the veterans of the Korean War, the monument silently broods on a craggy cliff overlooking the harbor from which U.S. troops set sail into the Pacific.

From the grounds around the bell, visitors can admire the sight of the Port of Los Angeles glittering in the distance. The surrounding waters hum with the drone of tankers, giant cargo ships, tugboats, and other craft crisscrossing the waves in a constant stream of traffic, crewmembers waving from their decks. Ports O' Call restaurant, a casually elegant spot within the harbor, supplements its ahi-tuna salads and drink specials with two floors of floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor patio, making it a great spot to watch the boats parade by.

On the other side of the lofty Vincent Thomas Bridge in Long Beach, the legendary Queen Mary ocean liner evokes a sense of old-school luxury with its well-preserved rooms and spit-shined fixtures. Tales of the ship's paranormal activities, meanwhile, raise chills. On the Ghosts & Legends tour, guide Daniel Lahr spins creepy tales of on-board ghoul spotting. Afterward, travelers can hop on a free shuttle bus or lasso an obliging dolphin and head to downtown Long Beach's Aquarium of the Pacific, where friendly sea lions frolic in underwater viewing tanks, entertaining the toddler-heavy crowd.