Long Beach

Since 1967, the Queen Mary has been moored in the harbor, the legendary transatlantic liner that once carried Winston Churchill and Hollywood stars – today it is a hotel and museum. A trip to Long Beach combines relaxed beach life with a large aquarium, canals, and one of the biggest ports in the world. For a vacation in the southern part of Greater Los Angeles, the city makes a pleasant, less hectic base.

Oil Wells, Navy, and Port

Long Beach was founded in the 1880s as a seaside resort on the Pacific. In 1921, oil was discovered on Signal Hill, and derricks soon dominated the landscape; to this day, disguised offshore drilling islands stand in the harbor, dressed up as high-rises with palm trees. The U.S. Navy and the aircraft industry brought growth in the 20th century. Together with the neighboring Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach forms the largest container port complex in the U.S. In 2028, the city will host several Olympic events.

Sights in Long Beach

You can tour the Queen Mary, with its Art Deco salons, engine room, and ghost tours. The Aquarium of the Pacific is one of the largest in the U.S., with sharks, sea lions, and a lorikeet aviary. Shoreline Village on the harbor, with restaurants and boat excursions, including whale watching in winter, is a lovely spot for an evening out. The Museum of Latin American Art is the only major museum in the U.S. devoted exclusively to modern and contemporary Latin American art. Every April, the Grand Prix of Long Beach turns the streets along the waterfront into a racetrack.

Neighborhoods and Food

Belmont Shore with Second Street is the most popular neighborhood, with boutiques, bars, and restaurants near the beach. Neighboring Naples sits on islands with canals, where gondoliers offer tours. Downtown and the East Village Arts District offer galleries and cafés, while Retro Row on 4th Street has vintage shops. Cambodia Town along Anaheim Street is the heart of the largest Cambodian community outside Asia, with restaurants, markets, and a big New Year parade in April. Restaurants in Long Beach range from seafood spots on the harbor and fish tacos to Cambodian noodle soups and Mexican mariscos.

Beach and Water

Long Beach's beach is protected by a breakwater and is therefore calm, ideal for families, stand-up paddleboarders, and kayakers. A bike and pedestrian path runs for miles along the sand all the way to Belmont Shore. At Rosie's Dog Beach, dogs can run free, and Bluff Park offers views over the Pacific. Locals fish from Belmont Pier, and in summer the beach hosts concerts and outdoor movie screenings. Boat tours lead into the harbor and out onto the open sea.

Getting Around, When to Go, and Day Trips

Small Long Beach Airport is a convenient alternative to LAX, which is about 19 miles away. The Metro A Line connects Downtown Long Beach with Downtown Los Angeles, and ferries run to Catalina Island. With a mild climate and plenty of sunshine, Long Beach is a year-round destination; in early summer, coastal fog brings cool hours in the morning. Day trips lead to Catalina Island with the harbor town of Avalon, to Huntington Beach for surfing, to Disneyland in Anaheim, and to Los Angeles.