El Segundo brings together cultural history, art and recreational activities: classic films have been screened at the Old Town Music Hall since 1968, and visitors can surf at El Segundo Beach. There is also a self-guided Art Walk, an art map and a range of parks to suit different interests. El Segundo is just minutes from LAX. When choosing a place to stay, you can start by considering whether film, public art, exercise or the beach should be the focus of your visit.
Film History and Local History
The Old Town Music Hall is a cultural landmark in El Segundo and has been showing classic films since 1968. During silent films, the Mighty Wurlitzer accompanies the screening: a wind-powered pipe organ built in 1925. This brings film and musical instrument history together in one place. The dates refer to different things: 1968 marks the start of film screenings, while 1925 is the year the organ was built. If you’re interested in classic films, this combination of screenings and musical accompaniment is a distinctive theme for your stay.
The History Room at the El Segundo Public Library offers another way to explore the city’s history. It contains photographs, newspaper clippings, maps and other memorabilia related to El Segundo. The collection brings together visual records, press materials and maps; its focus is on local history, setting it apart from the Old Town Music Hall’s film program.
Art as an Event and on the Map
The El Segundo Art Walk (ESAW) is an independently organized, self-guided art event in Downtown El Segundo and Smoky Hollow. The format and the two named areas define the event. Dates and participating locations may change. If you’re planning to attend the Art Walk, check both in advance.
Developed in 2023, the El Segundo Art Map (AR) connects viewers with sculptures, mosaics, large-scale murals and city monuments. Unlike the Art Walk, a self-guided event in two named areas of the city, the map draws attention to different forms of public art. Individual installations may change. The Art Walk and art map therefore emphasize different things: the event format in one case, and the range of art forms in the other.
Sports, Picnics and Parkland
The Recreation Park offers tennis, basketball, roller hockey, pickleball and lawn bowling. There are several specific activities to choose from. The park can be part of your plans for either a sports activity or a picnic: its picnic areas can be reserved. Reservation procedures may change, so check them in advance if you’d like to reserve an area.
Imperial Strip and Memory Tree Row is a scenic park on the edge of El Segundo with more than 300 trees. Its landscape offers a different focus from the sports facilities at Recreation Park. Visitors can surf at El Segundo Beach. Parks and a beach activity are therefore distinct options when choosing what to do.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
El Segundo is just minutes from LAX, a useful point of reference when choosing a destination and planning your arrival. If you’re looking for hotels in El Segundo, it can help to first decide on the theme of your stay: film and local history, art, sports at Recreation Park or surfing at El Segundo Beach. This lets you tailor your search to your own interests rather than treating the different offerings as a fixed itinerary. Discover more destinations: Hawthorne, Beverly Hills, Rosemead, Agoura Hills, Lawndale, Alhambra, Lake Los Angeles, West Covina.
For the main travel overview: Los Angeles.
