Palos Verdes Real Estate Blog

Palos Verdes homes owners seem to have it all here on the Peninsula.  We have beautiful ocean views, lots of green hillsides and many miles of public trails for our enjoyment.

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes Newsletter Spring 2012 Edition contained an article regarding the” Hidden Gems” located here that made up of hidden trails and pocket parks that are being constantly maintained.  While most of us are familiar with our larger city parks such as Hesse Park, the Point Vicente Interpretive Center and our large preserves, many of us do not realize that there are areas located within the city that are owned and maintained by the Miraleste Recreation and Parks District which is an independent special district.  This District was formed in 1940 before the City was incorporated when the Palos Verdes Homes Association deeded 60 acres to the District for park and recreational purposes.  Most of the area consists of canyons behind the homes in the Miraleste area of the city and other adjacent hilly terrain.  The goal was to beautify and improve the Miraleste community, provide more park and recreational areas and develop trails that run through the canyons. The trails are hidden from view, but can be accessed from most neighborhood streets and public roads.  These trails are only intended to be used as hiking trails and most of them are moderate in difficulty.  Here are a list of some of the pocket parks:

Frog Pond Park (near the intersection of Palos Verdes Drive East & Via Colinita), Harter Park (near the intersection of Via Colinita & Via La Paloma), Miltenberger Park (near the intersection of Mialeste Drive & Via Colinita), Canada Park (near the terminus of Via Canada), Colinita Trail (accessed from Palos Verdes Drive East near Via Subida), Frascati Trail (accessed from Palos Verdes Drive East near Via Frascati), Siena Loop Trail (accessed from Via La Paloma), Miraleste Median (runs along the Miraleste Drive median), Canada S. Trail (acceessed from the intersection of Palos Verdes Drive East and Miraleste Drive), Canada N. Trail (accessed from Via Canada near Palos Verdes Drive East) and Lorraine Trail (accessed from Lorraine Road or the Canada S. Trail).

Trails and park maps are available at the Miraleste Recreation and Parks District building at #19 Miraleste Plaza, Rancho Palos Verdes, or click here (and then click on “Miraleste Recreation & Parks District Amenities Map” on the upper right-hand side under “Recreation & Parks Quick Links.”

Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes homes owners are able to enjoy and learn more about their beautiful Peninsula by taking nature hikes on the next two Saturdays this month.

The first of these is this Saturday, May 5, 2012, at  the George F. Canyon Preserve & Nature Center.  These walks will take place at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and are considered a gentle walk with a great opportunity to see our local beautiful canyons.  Your expert guide will introduce you to a new world in the canyon.  Your guide will not only teach you about the habitat, geology, drainage, wildlife and folklore, but will be able to answer your questions about what makes these canyons so popular and important to our local wildlife. At this time there is poison oak near the stream bed, so make sure you stay along the trails. It is suggested that you wear suitable footwear, perhaps a sun hat, and make sure you carry water.

These hikes will be starting at the George F. Nature Center at 7306 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates.  A donation of $3 per person helps support the Nature Center. For more information about these activities, or to make reservations, please call (310) 547-0862.

On Saturday, May 12, 2012,  join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for a public hike at Forrestal Nature Center from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.   The docents will lead you on this moderate hike and  teach you about the local geology.  You will be enjoying the Preserve’s hiking trails which offer beautiful views, majestic canyons, and magnificent foliage.    This sometimes overlooked Preserve is on the south side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula located just off Palos Verdes Drive South.  Parking is at Ladera Linda which is the former elementary school site.  The Ladera Linda Discovery Room is located there also, with its extensive collection of samples of the area’s geology and wildlife.  It has been staffed since 1982 and is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 -5:00 p.m.

Forrestal Nature Reserve is located at 32201 Forrestal Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes. For more information go to www.pvplc.org.

Photo courtesy of Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

On Saturday, April 14, 2012, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy will be having a nature walk at the Chandler Preserve from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.  The preserve is 28 acres and is a critical part of the natural environment in Rolling Hills Estates; it is jointly owned by the City of Rolling Hills Estates and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy.  Intensive restoration has added native wildflowers which include the golden star lilies, coastal sage scrub plants and shrubs to the hillsides.  Living throughout this rare habitat are many different animals, including the threatened California Gnatcatcher and Palos Verdes  blue butterflies – so you will want to bring your binoculars.  This is an easily accessible walk with a loop trail of .9 miles and is considered to be easy to moderate.  While you are walking the trail remember not to drink any water from the streams since they are not considered fit for human consumption.

Parking for the event will be in Rolling Hills Estates off Rolling Hills Road -  turn into Empty Saddle Club parking lot located at 39 Empty Saddle Club Road.

For more information go to www.pvplc.org, or call (310) 541-7613.

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

Join the Docents of the Los Serenos de Point Vicente on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at 10:00 a.m, for a free public hike at Forrestal Nature Reserve.  The docents will lead you on this moderate hike of about two hours and will teach you about the local geology.  You will be enjoying the preserve’s hiking trails which offer beautiful views, majestic canyons, and magnificent foliage.  You might also see red-tailed hawks, wild rabbits, and threatened plants and animals such as a coastal sage scrub, the cactus wren or the California Gnatcher.  This sometimes overlooked preserve is on the south side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula located just off Palos Verdes Drive South.  Parking is at Ladera Linda which is the former elementary school site.  The Ladera Linda Discovery Room is located there also, with its extensive collection of samples of the area’s geology and wildlife.  It has been staffed since 1982 and is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 -5:00 p.m.

Forrestal Nature Reserve is located at 32201 Forrestal Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes.  For more information call (310) 377-5370, or go to www.losserenos.org .  

Photo courtesy of Forrestal Nature Reserve

If you want to have some outdoor fun this weekend, here is a suggestion.  On Sunday, February 19, 2012, at 12:30 p.m., Abalone Cove Shoreline Park will be having one of their free public tide pool walks.  No matter how many times we have been to the tide pools, it is always an enjoyable visit.  I love the magic of seeing all the creatures living in the pools.  Palos Verdes homes owners are lucky to be surrounded by wonderful tide pool areas.

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park features two beaches (Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove), tide pools, and viewing areas of trails crisscrossing the area.  These hikes are a great time to enjoy nature with experts who will be discussing Palos Verdes Peninsula history, geology, plant and animal life, as well as marine mammals. You can see sea urchins, sea stars, sea hares and sea anemones in pristine tide pool settings.

The hikes are scheduled when the tide is low enough to view the marine life.  Please wear sturdy shoes while you visit the tide pools during this two hour walk.

Parking is available at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park located at 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275.  There is no fee for the hike and the parking fees will be waived up to 45 minutes prior to the hike and 30 minutes after.  For more information go to www.LosSeranos.og, or call (310) 377-5370.

Photo courtesy of Los Serenos de Point Vicente 

If  Palos Verdes homes owners are looking for some outdoor fun this weekend, there are two different opportunities for them to enjoy.

The Cabrillo Beach Nature Walk will be taking place this Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This is considered a moderate walk and you will be observing coast native plant gardens and the many different entities that make up this area.  This walk will include a visit to a restored salt marsh, where you will learn about the Salinas de San Pedro Wetland habitat and more about this historic area.  If interested, on Sunday, February 12, 2012, between 2 -4p.m., the Salt Marsh will be having an Open House where educators and volunteers will be giving more details on the animal and bird wildlife that you will be able to see while using binoculars and microscopes.  Parking will be at the Cabrillo Beach public lot at 3800 Stephen M. White Drive, in San Pedro.  For more information go to www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org.

If your interested in a guided nature hike by City of Los Angeles Rangers, then the White Point Nature Preserve might interest you.  This hike on Saturday, February 11, 2012, starts at 10:00 a.m. and features 102 acres of beautifully restored coastal sage scrub wildflower grassland habitat with hiking and handicap accessible trails which overlook the ocean and Catalina Island.  The White Point Nature Preserve is open daily from dawn to dusk, and the Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.  Follow the signs to the parking area near 1600 W. Paseo del Mar, San Pedro.  For more information you can contact the center at (310) 561-0917.

Photo courtesy of Palos Verdes Land Conservancy

Palos Verdes homes owners are able to enjoy and learn more about their beautiful Peninsula by taking nature hikes on the first Saturday of every month.  This Saturday, February 4, 2012, the George F. Canyon Preserve & Nature Center will not only offer their morning Bird Walk, but you also can enjoy the afternoon First Saturday Walk through the Canyon.

The Bird Walks are from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., and Naturalist Loretta Rose is happy to guide you through a few of the riparian habitats on the Peninsula.  You will learn about the canyon’s willow trees and other plants which make up the habitat for our local bird species.  Most of the focus is on the natural history of our local bird species and how the canyon plays an integral part to their existence.  This is a very slow and quiet walk (so the birds are not frightened) and remember to bring your binoculars.  You must call ahead to make reservations and binoculars are available if needed.

The First Saturday Walk will take place in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Your expert guide will introduce you to a new world of discovery in the canyon.  Your guide will not only teach you about the habitat, geology, drainage, wildlife and folklore, but will be able to answer your questions about what makes these canyons so popular and important to our local wildlife.

These hikes will be starting at the George F. Nature Center at 7306 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates.  For more information about these activities, or to make reservations, please call (310) 547-0862.

Photo courtesy of PVPLC

Do you know where Miltenburger Park is located?  I had never heard of it and when I went searching to take this photo, I realized I had driven by it many times without realizing it.  It is located on the upper hillside of Palos Verdes Drive East, across the street from the Miraleste Auto Center (at Miraleste Plaza) in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Years ago, Val E. Miltenburger helped form the Miraleste Park District and served on its board until 1943.  The board so appreciated his efforts, the Miraleste Park District created and named a park in his honor.  When the park was originally dedicated the area had a watering system and was beautifully landscaped with annual native flowers.  After years of inattention, it is one of the areas on the Peninsula that is targeted for restoration when funds become available.

Palos Verdes homes owners can enjoy a day outside with the Oceanfront Estates Walk, and can also enjoy the Point Vicente Lighthouse tour on the very same day.  The group will meet on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. (walk continues until 11:00 a.m.) at the parking lot next to the Point Vicente Interpretive Center located at 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West in Rancho Palos Verdes 90275.  This is an easy 2.2 mile hike along the bluff of our beautiful Palos Verdes coast looking out at the ocean and several coves.  It is quiet and peaceful and the trail is maintained nicely with decomposed granite.

After your walk, you can visit the Point Vicente Lighthouse which is open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m for tours.  These tours are offered only once a month on the second Saturday (except in March).  Here you will enjoy the beauty of the lighthouse which stands 67 feet tall and is one of the area’s jewels.  The lighthouse beam shines 185 feet high and is able to be seen twenty miles out over the ocean.  Point Vicente was named in 1790 by Captain George Vancouver for his good friend, Friar Vicente of the Mission Buenaventura.  In 1979, the Point Vicente Lighthouse was added to the National Registry of historic sights.   Admission is free to both the lighthouse and it’s museum.  For more information on the museum call (310) 541-0334.

Palos Verdes homes owners agree that the  Palos Verdes Peninsula is one of the most beautiful areas to live in.  What makes it so inviting is that we are we surrounded by water and green hills which allow abundant wildlife.

It is important to remember that nature can use a helping hand now and then.  Fires in the area have endangered our animal species, and plant life and urbanization are taking a toll on different native species.

We can help to restore these natural habitats for the protected species that live here on the Peninsula.  Lucky for us, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy‘s stewardship of research and planning are helping to establish baselines for these habitats.  They are trying when appropriate, to restore landscapes to their original authentic character, while also controlling the spread of invasive plans, that damage ecosystems by displacing native species.

Several times a year they invite the public to join in.  On Saturday, November 19, 2011, one of these workdays will take place on the Portuguese Bend Reserve.  From 9:00 to 12:oo noon, volunteers will help to plant and revive these areas.  If you would like to volunteer to help restore the plant life go to www.PVPLC.org, or call 310-541-7613 to RSVP.  The group will meet at 4 Burrell Lane, to sign in for this activity.

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy