"Experience the Unusual, Quaint Charm of Oil City" Top 5 Page for this destination El Segundo by marinarena

El Segundo Travel Guide: 87 reviews and 276 photos

close-up of Amelia Earhart on mural, El Segundo

The Real El Segundo

El Segundo ("the second" in Spanish) is the origin of the second oil refinery of Standard Oil. Locally, Seg is noted as being a top business-friendly city with many skyscrapers (including the Mattel building).

Many hip hop fans know this town due to the catchy hit, "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo") by the old school A Tribe Called Quest. However, the town featured in the title is hardly represented in the rap group's video. El 2ndo is wrongly depicted as barren desert between Arizona and Mexico.

(See video here: http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--2138574)

El Segundo's Hollywood connections

El Segundo, California

El Segundo has been used for filming, mostly notably for some scenes of the Ashton Kutcher movie, Dude, Where's My Car? and the creepy, cool Fox drama Bones. Comedian Redd Foxx's character Sanford (on TV's Sanford and Sons) often referred to the town where a junkyard is at. The real El Segundo is hardly a dumping spot.

Why visit here?

pretty El Segundo, CA, USA

For several years, I paid El Segundo no mind, other than recalling the Tribe Called Quest song. I thought of the city as not clean, as if the oil from the refinery runneth all over the place, making it smelly and gooey. This is hardly the case. The streets of El Segundo are very clean. Over the past few years, the town is one of my surprising recommendations for a daytime hang out. The town can boast of a few dozen excellent eateries, which are slightly upscale but inviting. Along the Seg border with VT hometown/upscale beachy paradise of Manhattan Beach, the outdoor mall mecca development Plaza El Segundo (along Sepulveda Blvd) is sure to attract many visitors looking to shop, mingle, have a drink and eat fab food.

Pros and Cons

Pros:close to airport/easy for arrival, fairly safe to visit (low crime), business-friendly, small and quaint downtown area to explore, very good downtown restaurants/ shops, not congested
Cons:airplane noise of LAX (though not as bad as before), ugly industry area by beach
In a nutshell:Experience First-Class in Second City!

Last visit to El Segundo: Dec 2007
Intro Updated Apr 10, 2008
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Reviews (4)

stairs at Douglas Station, Los Angeles area - El Segundo

Stop at the Douglas station... Favorites (2)

for some thought-provoking words. The Metro Green Line rail stop at Douglas is not only a convenient way to get around... more travel advice

Stay in a safe part of greater Los... Favorites (2)

El Segundo is a safe, convenient place for someone visiting the Los Angeles area. When visiting such a big metropolis... more travel advice

Get here via LAX area Transportation (1)

One way to get to El Segundo is by a quick BCT bus. It departs from the LAX Transit Center and the Aviation Green Line... more travel advice

Tour Downtown Things to Do (1)

El Segundo has one of the most quaint, walkable downtown areas in greater Los Angeles. The feeling of old town America... more travel advice

Comments (3)

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cachaseiro Feb 28, 2010 at 5:44 PM

a walkable part of L.A. now that sounds good.
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brewjohnson Nov 6, 2008 at 4:07 PM

Nice overview on El Segundo. Really an underrated place. You're right about the downtown feeling like small town USA.
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giampiero6 Apr 21, 2008 at 7:37 AM

really nice take on ES. There are a couple of GREAT restaurants there too - hidden gems. Walking downtown, you'd be hard pressed to belief this is S. Cal. Well done!