Overview
The birthplace of both the silent film industry and Snoop Dogg, Long Beach holds the distinction of being the most ethnically diverse metropolis in the United States. The first silent movie studio—Balboa Studios—was located here, and today numerous television shows and feature films continue to be shot in the area. Perhaps its biggest claim to fame is the Port of Long Beach, the second busiest port in the United States and one of the largest in the world. Indeed, traffic to and from Terminal Island is intense & commercial, so don’t be surprised if you’re sandwiched by Peterbilts everywhere you go. Despite the great earthquake of 1933, Long Beach has managed to successfully retain much of its charm, as evidenced in the Art Deco architecture along Ocean Boulevard. A massive downtown revitalization aimed at attracting a young, artsy crowd with new lofts, cafés, and theaters has also helped to develop the city.
Long Beach is home to approximately 500,000 people who love living in this city with all their hearts. The city is divided into pocket neighborhoods, each as different as the next. Belmont Shore is the quintessential beach community, with narrow streets and open-minded residents. Belmont Heights and Bluff Park are where the former residents of Belmont Shore go once they have kids and want a yard. North Long Beach is a residential working-class neighborhood near the 405 Freeway. Bixby Knolls is suburbia near the beach, with the usual lineup of ranch homes and minivans. Shoreline Village is a tourist’s paradise, with shops and restaurants on the north end of the 11-mile beach.
How to Get There
Although it sits only 21 miles from downtown Los Angeles, the roads to Long Beach are often congested and fraught with delays. Find your way to the 405 or the 5 and head south, taking either freeway to the 710 S. The 10 also intersects with the 710 east of downtown LA, so that’s a viable option as well.
Landmarks• Alexander House • 5281 El Roble St
• Art Theater • 2025 E 4th St
• California State University at Long Beach • 1250 N Bellflower Blvd
• Long Beach Museum of Art • 2300 E Ocean Blvd
• Matlock House • 1560 Ramillo Ave
• Queen Mary Seaport • 1126 Queens Hwy
• Seashell House • 4325 E 6th St
• The Skinny House • 798 Gladys Ave
Movie Theaters• AMC Marina Pacifica 12 • 6346 E Pacific Coast Hwy
• Art Theater • 2025 E 4th St
• United Artists Long Beach Marketplace 6 • 6601 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Nightlife• 49ers Tavern • 5660 E Pacific Coast Hwy
• The Belmont Brewing Company • 25 39th Pl
• Joe Jost’s • 2803 E Anaheim St
• Murphy’s Pub • 4918 E 2nd St
• Portfolio Coffee House • 2300 E 4th St
Restaurants• Bono’s • 4901 E 2nd St
• Chen’s Chinese Restaurant • 2131 E Broadway
• Christy’s • 3937 E Broadway
• Chuck’s Coffee Shop • 4120 E Ocean Blvd
• Enrique’s • 6210 E Pacific Coast Hwy
• La Rizza’s • 1837 E 7th St
• Open Sesame • 5215 E 2nd St
• Park Pantry • 2104 E Broadway
• Tail O’ the Pup • 329 N San Vincente Blvd
Shopping• 5001 • 5001 E 2nd St
• Buffalo Exchange • 4608 E 2nd St
• Kitchen Outfitters • 5666 E 2nd St
• Olives Gourmet Grocer • 3510 E Broadway
You can also take the Metro Blue Line to downtown Long Beach from either the 7th Street/Metro Center stop or the Pico Boulevard stop (near the Los Angeles Convention Center) for a round-trip fare of $3.00. The train makes several stops in Long Beach, including one at the Transit Mall on 1st Street, between Pine and Pacific. 800-COMMUTE; www.mta.net.
Once you’ve arrived, Long Beach Transit (562-591-2301, www.lbtransit.com) offers several services, such as the Pine Avenue Link and the Passport, that shuttle visitors all over town from the Queen Mary to Pine Avenue and Belmont Shore. Fares are reasonable at $1.25, $65 for a monthly pass, with discounted rates for seniors, disabled riders, and children. Another transportation alternative is the AquaBus. This 40-foot-long water taxi costs just $1 and will ferry you to a number of Long Beach’s coastal attractions. There are stops at the Aquarium, the Queen Mary, Catalina Landing, Shoreline Village, Pine Avenue Circle at Dock 7, and the Hotel Maya. The AquaLink water taxi is another option for nautical travel, but while it’s faster and bigger than the AquaBus, this boat costs $5 to ride and only makes stops at Alamitos Bay Landing, the Queen Mary, the Aquarium, and Belmont Pier. 800-481-3470; www.lbtransit.com/Services/Aqualink.aspx.
Attractions
Catalina
The Catalina Express ferry service currently monopolizes the seaways in the 22 mile stretch between mainland California and Catalina Island. The boats leave Long Beach for Catalina from two ports—Catalina Landing (7 times daily with an eighth departure option on Sundays, too; ticket costs $72.50) and Queen Mary (3 times on weekends only, depending on the season)—and the journey is approximately one hour long. Take sunscreen, a beach towel, and Dramamine—the ride is often a rough one. Reservations are recommended. Call 800-481-3470 or book online www.catalinaexpress.com.
You can also opt for a quicker route (15 minutes) via the Island Express Helicopter Service for $156 round trip per person. For just a little bit more, Island Express offers daily packages at $245 per person that include flight, taxi, and two Santa Catalina Island Company Discovery tours. 800-AVALON; www.islandexpress.com.
Whether by air or by sea, once you land you can take advantage of all the leisure activities the island has to offer, from renting a golf cart to snorkeling and parasailing—all with that kitschy ski resort town feel . . . minus the skiing.
Landmarks• Adelaide A Tichenor House • 852 E Ocean Blvd
• Aquarium of the Pacific • 100 Aquarium Wy
• Catalina Landing • 330 Golden Shore St
• Edison Theater • 213 E Broadway
• Long Beach Convention & Visitor’s Bureau • 1 World Trade Ctr
• Museum of Latin-American Art • 628 Alamitos Ave
• The Pike at Rainbow Harbor • S Pine Ave & W Shoreline Dr
• Shoreline Village • 419 Shoreline Village Dr
• The Villa Riviera Hotel • 800 E Ocean Blvd
• York Rite Masonic Temple • 835 Locust Ave
Movie Theaters• AMC Pine Square 16 • 245 Pine Ave
• Cinemark at the Pike • 99 S Pine Ave
Nightlife• Blue Café • 210 The Promenade N
• Rock Bottom Brewery • 1 Pine Ave
• The Sky Room • 40 S Locust Ave
• V20 • 81 Aquarium Wy
Restaurants• 555 East • 555 E Ocean Blvd
• Alegria • 115 Pine Ave
• Gladstone’s • 330 S Pine Ave
• King’s Fish House • 100 W Broadway
• L’Opera • 101 Pine Ave
• La Traviata • 301 Cedar Ave
• Long Beach Café • 615 E Ocean Blvd
• The Madison • 102 Pine Ave
• Parker’s Lighthouse • 435 Shoreline Village Dr
• Utopia • 445 E 1st St
• Yard House • Shoreline Village• 401 Shoreline Village Dr
Shopping• City Place • 151 E 5th St
• Mood Swings Jewelry • 455 E Ocean Blvd
• Nordstrom Rack • 300 The Promenade N
• {Open} Bookstore • 2226 E 4th St
• The Pike at Rainbow Harbor • 95 S Pine Ave
• Z Gallerie • 230 Pine Ave
Catalina Cont’d
There’s camping available on both sides of the island: Avalon has restaurants within walking distance or a trolley shuttle ride away, while sites at Two Harbors come with fewer tourists, but also less running water, for the more rugged camper. www.catalina.com.
Queen Mary
Once a vessel that ferried WWII troops, movie stars, and heads of state across the Atlantic Ocean, the Queen Mary has since retired and is now a floating hotel and museum available for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and rubber stamp conventions—for real. In all seriousness, the ship is awesome in scope and historical significance. The Queen Mary offers something for the tourist in you—from brunch and hotel stays to ghost tours and comedy shows. A popular filming location, the liner boasts recent cameos in Arrested Development and Pearl Harbor, reminding us that Hollywood is just a hop, skip, and a freeway away. 562-435-3511; www.queenmary.com. Check the site for special offers, particularly off season.
A “Royal Passage” package costs $29.95 for adults and $13.95 for kids 5–11. Less expensive packages are also available.
Directions: The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway, at the south end of the 710 Freeway.
Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific opened with much fanfare—and a massive PR campaign—in 1998. Don’t expect to see Atlantic salmon or Maine lobsters here—this aquarium lives up to its name by focusing solely on the Pacific Ocean’s three regions: Southern California/Baja, the Tropical Pacific, and the Northern Pacific. While San Diego’s Sea World relies heavily upon flashy acts like Shamu to draw visitors, the Aquarium of the Pacific emphasizes interactive education over entertainment. 562-590-3100; www.aquariumofpacific.org.
Admission: Prices start at $25.95 for grown folks, $14.95 for kids, and $22.95 for seniors. (Online booking sometimes entails a discounted fare.) Additional options include a Behind-the-Scenes tour and an Ocean Experience tour for a few extra bucks. The aquarium is open every day from 9 am until 6 pm. It’s closed on Christmas and for the entire weekend of the Toyota Grand Prix, which is usually in April.
Directions: Take the 405 S to the 710 S, and follow the signs to Downtown Long Beach and the Aquarium. The Aquarium is located at 100 Aquarium Way, off Shoreline Drive. Parking is available at a municipal lot located just a few feet from the Aquarium. The cost is $6 with an Aquarium ticket stub, $7 without.
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center
Located at 300 East Ocean Boulevard, this complex is home to an eclectic assortment of events. Long Beach’s professional hockey team, the Ice Dogs, plays its home games at the Long Beach Arena; the Terrace Theater hosts a variety of plays and musical performances; and the Convention Center includes a large ballroom that serves as the site for many a senior prom. 562-436-3636; www.longbeachcc.com.
Directions: Take the 405 S to the 710 S and head for the Downtown exits. The 710 turns into Shoreline Drive. Follow this to Linden and turn into the parking lot.
Shoreline Village
Designed to look like an old-fashioned fishing village, Shoreline Village is a collection of shops, restaurants, and amusements that might best be described as “quaint.” Don’t get us wrong—Skee-ball has its time and place, and sometimes Shoreline Village might prove to be that place. The area also caters to more athletic pursuits such as rollerblading, bike riding, and sailing, as well as offering a number of great restaurants and tasty snack shops. 562-435-2668; www.shorelinevillage.com.
Directions: Take the 710 S and follow signs for the Aquarium. Continue past the Aquarium and Pine Avenue, and turn right onto Shoreline Village Drive. Two hours of parking is free with any purchase.
Hours: Shoreline Village is open seven days a week from 10 am until 9 pm, closing an hour later during the summer months.
The Pike at Rainbow Harbor
Today’s Pike at Rainbow Harbor is in many ways reminiscent of the celebrated Pike of yore. Over 100 years ago, the Pike was one of the most famous beachside amusement parks on the West Coast with rides, a pier, movie houses, shops, and cafés. The new Pike at Rainbow Harbor includes
modern-day incarnations of commercialized fun, including dining options such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Smoothie King, a 14-screen multiplex, and an antique carousel. The Pike, covering 18 acres of downtown waterfront, is located smack-dab between the Convention Center and the Aquarium. www.thepikeatlongbeach.com.
Directions: Take the 405 S to the 710 S and head for the Downtown exits. The 710 turns into Shoreline Drive. Park anywhere between Pine and Chestnut Avenues, or in Shoreline Village, and then walk a few steps north. There’s limited free parking with validation, but beware of the $24 lost-ticket fee.
Toyota Grand Prix
For one weekend every April, Long Beach turns into Daytona Beach and the sound of revving car engines echoes throughout the usually subdued downtown area. The real draw of the Grand Prix is the Pro/Celebrity Race, where the likes of Patrick Dempsey, William Shatner, Martina Navratilova, and Frankie Muniz get fast and furious with the best of the pros. Tickets are available online at www.gplb.com, or by calling 888-82-SPEED.