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"Experience the Unusual, Quaint Charm of... " a El Segundo Travel Page by marinarena

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"Experience the Unusual, Quaint Charm of... " a El Segundo Travel Page by marinarena

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marinarena   
Enjoy the ride---Capture water fountains, murals & various little things in each grand destination!


Real Name: Marie
Lives In: Orange, US
Member Since: Jan 16, 2004
VT Rank: 912

 

Page Views: 243            Last Visit to El Segundo: 2008      I Visit Here Frequently

Experience the Unusual, Quaint Charm of Oil City

by marinarena - last update: Apr 10, 2008

The Real El Segundo

close-up of Amelia Earhart on mural, 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, California

El Segundo's Hollywood connections

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.
pretty El Segundo, CA, USA

Why visit here?

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.

> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]

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!"
marinarena's El Segundo Travel Tips

OverviewThings to Do
Tips: 1 - Photos: 2
 
RestaurantsHotels & Accommodations
 
NightlifeOff The Beaten Path
 
Tourist TrapsWarnings Or Dangers
 
Transportation
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
Local Customs
 
Packing ListsShopping
 
Sports TravelGeneral Tips
Tips: 2 - Photos: 6

Comments for marinarena about El Segundo
brewjohnson Fri Nov 7, 2008 00:07 UTC
 Nice overview on El Segundo. Really an underrated place. You're right about the downtown feeling like small town USA.
giampiero6 Mon Apr 21, 2008 15:37 UTC
 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!

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