The Top 10 Things to Do in Long Beach, CA
#10 -
Beach/Harbors/Peninsula
A long stretch of sand with the downtown city skyline and historic Queen Mary as your background, beach meeting city, and a diverse community connecting defines the infamous Long Beach. Actually composed of over 10 beaches, this is a great place to relax, read, and lay out below the street level, away from the city sounds above. It offers a miles long bike and separate walking path stretching from Downtown and the The Outlets at the Pike area through the city, along Ocean Ave. and to the smaller, neighboring beach town of Seal Beach. Fantastic for rollerblading, bike riding, running, or just a leisurely stroll to enjoy the ocean air. There are several bike rentals available in the city or near the beachy and trendy shops of Shoreline Village that take you along the yacht-filled waterfront and Long Beach Lighthouse. Ride all along to the volleyball courts, past SpikeBall champs, to the edge of the peninsula near kitesurfing and parasailing lessons. Even stop for a mimosa at the beachfront Belmont Brewing Company. Take your walk to the end of the Peninsula or stop along the canal at Mother’s Beach to kayak, paddle board, or splash in the refreshing water. Venture from here to the quaint daytime Second Street and Naples canals. The beach stretches for miles with plenty of conveniently located water sports rental companies. Rent a boat, kayak, jet ski, sail boat, you name it! Or take a harbor cruise for some whale watching and even catch a ride to nearby Catalina Island (Highly recommended). Best places to rent are near The Pike in downtown LB, Shoreline Village, or near the canals by Belmont Shores. Whatever you choose it will be great to splash around and cool off in the warm Cali sun! Long Beach has it all. So soak up the sun and enjoy all this urbanite beach has to offer.
#9 -
Downtown Long Beach
Definitely the place to stay to be close to a lot of the Long Beach attractions. There are different hotels to choose from that are located on or near Downtown’s main street, or The Pike. This means you are close to all the food, shopping, public transportation, and more that you will need during your stay. The main street, Pine Avenue, boasts everything from fine dining, such as Sevilla and L'Opera, to casual patio dining, such as George’s Greek Cafe, with food from around the world. You can also grab a drink and get your dance on at several places, such as the At The Top nightclub. Downtown also has shopping, antique book stores, and entertainment. From here, you can take a short walk to the Pike Outlets, with stores such as Gap Factory and H & M, or eat along the waterway at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. or Gladstone’s. You can catch some jokes at The Laugh Factory or ride the ferris wheel. Walking to the East Village is close as well, where you can catch some drinks at one of its breweries, or take in a bite at one of its many restaurant stops. You are near the Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Village, boat rides, Long Beach Convention Center, the Performance Center and more! Many of these activities are also mentioned on this blog. And if you would like to hit the beach or Belmont Shores, you can easily rent a bike, take the city bus, or take the local Passport Bus to cruise down Ocean Avenue. In addition, LB hosts many events here, such as the Toyota Grand Prix and is a take off point for many cruises and the Catalina Express. So don’t miss out!
#8 - Belmont Shores/ Naples/Second Street
Take a fun and beachy stroll down this cute area filled with restaurants, bars, dessert stops, and boutiques that run for 15 blocks!. Just minutes from Alamitos Beach and next to the picturesque Naples canals (gondola ride anyone?), you can ride a bike, take the local Passport bus, drive, or walk around to check out this area. This is a great place for outdoor dining as you sip a cup of joe or vino, people watch, and breathe in the fresh ocean air. Some of our favorite food places include Open Sesame and Nick’s on 2nd-Yum! Or catch some sports games at Legend’s, Panama Joe’s or Quinn’s Pub. Don’t forget to stop in at Snow Monster, Sweet Jill’s Bakery, or Cinnaholic for a sweet dessert to finish off your day or stay for the bustling nightlife inside one of the many bars along the street. For some more shopping, travel east to the Marketplace and Marina Pacifica Mall off of PCH. This is definitely an area you will want to carve in some time for while in Long Beach.
#7 -
Pike Area
Near main street in Downtown Long Beach, this outlet store area provides fun for the whole family. There are many restaurants, such as Chili’s, Islands, P.F. Changs, Gladstone’s, and California Pizza Kitchen to choose from as well as some great shopping! You can visit the Nike store, pop into Express, or enjoy a movie and some treats. They have many hotels nearby, the Convention Center, concert arena, the Long Beach Aquarium, boating, whale watching, you name it! This is where the Grand Prix has been hosted during the spring and where you can visit my college fave Irish Pub, the Dubliner. You can even crack some jokes at the Laugh Factory or take a spin on the ferris wheel. It is a great walking, biking, Segway riding area that takes you to a color-changing light house on one end and the bustling downtown (loads of restaurants and bars here too) on the other. It is also near the Performance Art Center and Shoreline Village. This touristy area has even more yum grub, boardwalk treats, and fun shops to buy those souvenirs. Best of all, it is right by the beach! We definitely recommend staying near this area when visiting.
#6 - Broadway Blvd.Corridor/4th Street
This neighborhood, located east of downtown, has been revitalized, making it the spot for new businesses, unique shops, sweet treats, and trendy coffee shops. It's the place to come for food truck nights, iconic rainbow crosswalks, and new bars that keep popping up! Travel east from here along the ocean towards Belmont Shores, and you will find Fourth Street’s Retro Row nestled in the middle. This funky shopping area offers a plethora of vintage shops that sell clothing, art, furniture, and more! You can also find record stores, handmade jewelry, and wacky gifts for the whole family. Stop into one of its yummy restaurants or coffee shops and you may even catch some live music. It’s no secret why the New York Times dubbed this area “the soul of Long Beach.”
#5 - The Queen Mary
An iconic and historical ocean liner that has found Long Beach as its final docking place since 1967. The now retired British ocean liner first set sail across the Atlantic in 1936. It carries with it a rich history and a spirit of elegance and grandeur. This ship features dining areas, lounges, bars, swimming pools, a ballroom, and more! It definitely represented traveling in style. Now you can visit the Queen Mary to dine at one of its grand restaurants or stay in one of its, now hotel, rooms. It is a great place to visit during holidays with a Fourth of July fireworks show, a haunted ghost tour, and lights and ice skating during December. You can also walk through and take a tour of the war Submarine that sits next door as a floating museum. Both offer an experience into our world’s history, taking you back in time.
#4 - California State University Long Beach/Bixby Knolls
These two are bundled here since they are a car or bus drive away from the major Downtown and touristy areas. They would be good stops as you are coming in/out of the city and are both close to the airport. I just had to give a shout out to LB State. Go Beach! This is a diverse and well renowned college campus, home to the 49ers! Come walk around the beautiful campus and enjoy the art installations, blossoming trees, and the peaceful Japanese Gardens. Catch a basketball or volleyball game at the infamous blue Pyramid that stands as a proud symbol of the campus. Or take an easy trip to Bixby Knolls which is a cute and quaint part of the city to spend a few hours in on your trip. Walk along Main Street to get a bite at a pub or Mexican restaurant. Visit its specialty and thrift shops, take in the historical Playhouse, then stop for pie at one of its comforting bakeries. During the summer, there will be street fairs and live entertainment, so check out their schedule online. Only a few hours is needed here to get a different feel for the expansive city.
#3 - Shoreline Village
Stroll along the waterfront at this charming shopping village with views over Rainbow Harbor. It features many restaurants with scenic patio views, such as Tequila Jack’s and Parker’s Lighthouse that are great for lunch and dinner. Then grab a boardwalk treat at the Funnel House for dessert. Within walking distance of downtown, this is a nearby stop to play arcade games, ride a carousel, or rent bikes and boats and head to the beach! There are also many quirky and colorful shops, making this village family friendly and fun! Come during the day to partake in harbor cruises and parasailing, or stay at night for the beautiful sunset views.
#2 -
Aquarium of the Pacific
This is a family fun aquarium perfect for all ages. It boasts more than 11,000 animals and over 500 species that are fascinating to see! Visit the interactive exhibits, such as the Penguin Habitat, Aviary, or Shark Lagoon to see the animals up close! Make sure to visit Pacific Visions while here. This includes a state of the art theater, art installations, and live animal exhibits and is the newest addition to the aquarium. Have fun at this magnificent aquarium that is close to shops, dining, cruises, whale watching, and more! They host many virtual and live events, so be sure to check out their website to get all the latest details.
#1 - Live Performances
Long Beach has no shortage of music and theater entertainment for everyone! Visit the Long Beach Opera House, Long Beach Symphony, or the Music Angelica for a get dressed up night on the town! Check out their calendars online and purchase tickets ahead of time. If you’re in the mood for the theater, visit the International City Theater or Long Beach Playhouse. You can see a show at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center or at the largest venue in the city, the Long Beach Arena, that has hosted acts like the Eagles, Run DMC, and Elvis. In addition, LB also supports many local venues that boast fun nightlife and live music. This ranges from Irish Pubs to shows and music at the Sevilla Nightclub. Or visit the Basement Lounge or Alegria Nightclub for the younger crowd that wants to stay out late. You can find many of these locations near downtown and even some bars and dancing along Second Street in Belmont Shores. Enjoy!
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