Korean Bell of Friendship

Since moving to Los Angeles in April 2015, I have had my sights set on exploring San Pedro, a community in the greater Los Angeles harbor area. San Pedro is a beautiful city right on the coast that takes about 45 minutes to drive to from downtown Los Angeles. It’s well worth the journey and there’s so much to see, do, and experience in this coastal community. My boyfriend and I ventured out for adventures here last weekend and since we were only able to spend half a day here, we visited some of the spots we had wanted to see most. At the top of our to-see list was the beautiful Korean Bell of Friendship, perched on a hill overlooking the Pacific Coast. 

According to www.SanPedro.com, the Korean Bell of Friendship was created and donated to the city of Los Angeles in 1976 from the Republic of Korean to "celebrate the bicentennial of the U.S. independence, honor veterans of the Korean War, and to consolidate traditional friendship between the two countries." The bell was created in Korean and then shipped to the United States, weighing in at a whoppin' 17 tons. It's 12 feet high and made out of copper, tin, gold, nickel and lead. The bell's base is covered in the most intricate designs of brightest and boldest colors. The designs were inspired by the Oriental zodiac, and you could spend a good amount of time just looking at the beauty of the bell and its enclosure. The colors and design are pretty darn enchanting. And if you're wondering if the bell will ring when you're visiting - OR if you can ring the bell - don't get your hopes up. It only rings 4 times a year - on the 4th of July, August 15 (Korean Independence Day), New Year's Eve and  September 17 to celebrate Constitution Week (info. from SanPedro.com). While you may not get to experience and hear the actual ringing of the bell, the beauty of it and the gorgeous grounds it's located on are definitely enough to attract you to plan your own visit.

My immediate reaction to walking onto the grounds of the Korean Bell of Friendship was, "Wait...where's all the people?" I've found that some of the Los Angeles tourist hot spots (Urban Lights at LACMA, Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica pier, etc.) are typically packed with visitors. There were surprisingly less than half a dozen people at the bell, and it honestly was pretty nice having the Korean Bell almost all to ourselves - especially on a Saturday afternoon! Also, ​the views from the bell were unparalleled. Upon parking and walking toward the bell, you'll enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, Los Angeles Harbor, and Catalina Island off in the distance. There's plenty of greenery surrounding the bell if you want to bring a picnic or your furry friend to play fetch with. The park that surrounds the bell is picturesque, tranquil, and makes you feel far away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.

If you are looking for a unique adventure in a peaceful location with gorgeous views, I'd add this special spot to your Los Angeles bucket list. The Korean Bell of Friendship is located at Angels Gate Park: 3601 S Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. There's a free parking lot right at the park and it's a very short walk to the bell. Enjoy, my friend!