El Segundo

It is generally accepted that the city is named after the second (el segundo in Spanish) Standard Oil refinery on the West Coast, built in 1911.

El Segundo is two cities in one. The coastal portion is a residential suburb with a charming Main Street which looks frozen in time. Locals both affectionately and derisively call it "Mayberry By The Sea", referring to the sleepy fictional town which was the setting for the American television show The Andy Griffith Show in the early 1960s.

The "inland portion" of El Segundo is a thriving business district. Aerospace companies with facilities in El Segundo include Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and the Aerospace Corporation, which is headquartered there. It is also home to the Los Angeles Air Force Base and the Space and Missile Systems Center and Toy Manufacturer Mattel.

El Segundo is home to the blue butterfly, now an endangered species. These butterflies, which once used to reside in the sand dunes of El Segundo over an area of 4.5 square miles, have now been pushed into three small areas of what is left of those dunes.

El Segundo is immediately south of LAX and most hotels offer free shuttle transfers to and from the airport. The east-west Century Freeway (I-105) runs along the northern edge of El Segundo, exiting onto the Imperial Highway and terminating at the ocean. I-405 runs north-south just east of El Segundo with a couple of convenient exits at Rosecrans Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard. CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway, passes north-south through the heart of El Segundo as Sepulveda Boulevard.

The Metro Green Line runs along the eastern edge of El Segundo, with both Mariposa/Nash and El Segundo/Nash stations within city limits.

Most travel is by car. Walking along the busy streets can be unpleasant, due to the exhaust.

• 🌍 Automobile Driving Museum, 610 Lairport St, ☏ +1-310-909-0950. 10AM - 4PM. Large collection of vintage and antique cars, primarily American. On Sundays, offers rides in 3 cars from their collection. Definitely worth a short trip if you're in the area, especially for the Sunday rides. $10 adult ticket, $5 or free (based on age) for child tickets. (updated Oct 2020)

• 🌍 Dockweiler State Beach, 12000 Vista del Mar. Located partially in El Segundo, including the only RV park on the beach in California. 
• 🌍 Toyota Sports Center (formerly Health South Training Center). A public skating facility located at the corner of Nash Street and Mariposa Avenue, adjacent to the LA Metro station. The facilities include an Olympic sized ice rink, NHL sized hockey rink, indoor in-line hockey rink, indoor basketball court, cafe serving hot food and drinks, gymnasium for professional athletes, skate rental shop, fully stocked skate and hockey pro shop, and locker and shower facilities. This is the official training facility for the Los Angeles Kings NHL hockey team and its affiliate in the second-level American Hockey League, the Ontario Reign. It also previously served as the practice facility for the Lakers NBA basketball team, but that team now practices in the nearby UCLA Health Training Center. The TSC is also home to the Angel City Derby Girls, LA's only flat track roller derby league. The TSC also houses the 7th largest organized adult ice hockey league in the nation. 
• 🌍 UCLA Health Training Center, 2275 E. Mariposa Ave (corner of Mariposa Avenue and Douglas Street), ☏ +1 310-426-6000, contact@uclahealthtrainingcenter.com. Opened in 2017 as the new practice facility for the Los Angeles Lakers. Closed to the public except when hosting games of the Lakers' affiliate in the NBA G League, the South Bay Lakers. (updated Mar 2023)
• The Lakes Golf Course, 400 South Sepulveda Blvd., ☏ +1 310-322-0202, fax: +1 310-322-5290. 6AM-11PM. This nine hole, par 29, 1,327-yard municipal course won't be hosting any PGA tour events anytime soon, but it's an excellent course for beginners or those with an extended layover at LAX. There is also a double-deck driving range and a large putting area. $11 green fee on weekday, $13 on weekends and holidays. 

• 🌍 Sausal, 219 Main St, ☏ +1 310-322-2721. Named after Rancho Sausal Redondo ("Round Willow Ranch"), which once encompassed most of the South Bay. The upscale restaurant features Hispanic cuisine prepared fresh using traditional ingredients. Homemade salsas, unique salads, and mains that are inspired by Mexican cuisine but definitely have a unique spin. Worth a visit if you don't mind paying a bit more for a different take on Mexican food. $15-30. (updated Dec 2016)

• The Tavern on Main, 123 Main St., ☏ +1 310-322-3645. Well, it's a tavern, and it's located on Main. Live bands on weekends, happy hour on weekdays from 11AM (yes, 11AM) until 6:30PM, and free wireless internet for those who like their web surfing with a beer buzz. 
• The Purple Orchid, 221 Richmond St (at Grande), ☏ +1 310-322-5829. This bar is tiki-themed with a small stage that sees local bands playing regularly. It is often described as one of the best tiki-themed bars in Southern California, but even for the most demanding critics, if it's a tiki bar you want this place won't disappoint. Drinks are somewhat on the pricey side, with cocktails averaging about $8.50. 
• 🌍 Paul Martin's American Bistro, 2361 Rosecrans Ave. (10 Minutes South of LAX), ☏ +1 310-643-9300. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa noon-11PM, Su 10AM-9PM. “Eat organic. Believe in sustainable. Buy local. Love fresh” is the mantra of Paul Martin’s American Bistro. As much as possible, that’s what Paul Martin’s aims to deliver, and at accessible prices, with plates priced mostly between $10 and $22. Under $30. 

• LAX Stadium Inn - El Segundo/Inglewood, 4501 W. Imperial Hwy, ☏ +1 310-671-6017. The immediate area may be gritty, and the building may not be attractive, but the rooms are pretty spacious and perfectly OK, especially for the price. If you have a lot of time to spend in LA, you might want to be somewhere where planes bound for LAX don't pass close enough for you to smell the exhaust, but if you want to be close to LAX and pay as little as possible for a decent value, consider this hotel. Plenty of free parking for hotel guests, good complimentary Wi-Fi. Free shuttle to and from LAX available. Front desk manned 24 hours/day. $75 plus tax for a room with 1 king-sized bed, en suite bathroom. 
• Concord Hotel, 221 Concord St, ☏ +1 310-322-6116. Weekly rates, not often available. Common bathrooms. WiFi available, free and FON.com 
• Sonesta Select Los Angeles LAX El Segundo, 2000 East Mariposa Ave, ☏ +1 310-322-0700, fax: +1 310-322-4401. Free shuttle rides from LAX and free Wi-Fi. Rooms are fairly big and equipped with balconies and free Internet. Facilities include outdoor pool, indoor whirlpool, and a (very minimal) fitness center. $99-. 
• Hyatt House Los Angeles/Lax/Manhattan Beach, 810 South Douglas St, ☏ +1 310-725-0100. 
• Residence Inn Los Angeles LAX/El Segundo, 2135 East El Segundo Blvd., ☏ +1 310-333-0888, fax: +1 310-333-0789. 

• Los Angeles - The nation's second most populous city offers various entertainment options, fine museums, restaurants, and shopping. Also see the popular Venice Beach.
• Playa del Rey - Located north of El Segundo and adjacent to LAX, Playa del Rey is home to extensive beaches and a variety of dining options.
• Manhattan Beach - El Segundo's neighbor to the South is home to a state beach as well as several upscale restaurants and shopping opportunities.
• Inglewood - A slightly rough city to the east of El Segundo, Inglewood has numerous lodging options for those wishing to stay close to the airport.