By 
To me, Long beach is the epitome of the Southern California lifestyle: laid-back beach city; endless beach pedestrian/bicycle paths where joggers, bike riders and walkers share their love of fitness; breathtaking open green spaces and palm tree lined streets with the Ocean in the distance. Not to mention those stunning cotton candy sunsets that you don’t get to experience in the central LA area. According to Newsmax, Long Beach is the seventh largest city in California and ranks fifth on the list of the most diverse cities in the United States (there’s even a Cambodiatown and it’s the fifth city in the US with the most Italian-American population).
I rounded up a list of the places you can’t miss if you go there:
Naples Canals
This place is reminiscent of the Venice Beach canals. I’m not going to compare the two of them, since each of them are so unique and have their own character, but what a beautiful memorable stroll. This is the ideal spot to hang out after a nice dinner date on 2nd street. The neighborhood has beautiful waterfront mini mansions as well as charming and the most adorable Christmas decorations (perfect timing). If you’re going to make the loop, bring your walking shoes. It’s a very family oriented neighborhood; I thought I was going to get attitude for taking photos, but instead everyone greeted me with the warmest smiles.
The Christmas decorations look like they are straight out of a postcard. I drive a lot and have seen plentiful of gorgeous Christmas lights in LA, but in this neighborhood they really outdo themselves. I highly recommend coming and checking out Naples Island before the year ends. A great sight was seeing a dad riding a boat with his kids. Did you know you can also rent a kayak and paddleboard alongside the canal?
I may have gone overboard with the photos…
2nd Street, Belmont Shore
This is the perfect spot for food, drinks and mingling with the locals. It’s full of activity and fun energy especially during the night. I love how it’s within walking distance from Naples Island and the Belmont Shore pier. Here, you will find some of the best food in LA, including a great array of Italian, Lebanese, American local-only restaurants and sports bars. If you’re in the mood for some amazing Chicago-style pizza, I suggest Rance’s Chicago Pizza. Their pizzas are 14 inches in diameter. I tried the small one and it was insanely good! Caution: the pizzas take at least 40 minutes to make so, if you’re in a rush, call and order ahead before you get there.
If you’re not in the mood for pizza, you may go to Open Sesame to indulge in some delicious Lebanese food. I also happened to stumble across a beautifully decorated French bistro with live piano music: Creperie Café. I haven’t been there but they offer amazing breakfasts, brunches and crepes. The options are plentiful! 2nd street is the perfect hangout spot to enjoy the local Long Beach atmosphere in order to avoid mega-crowded touristy spots like The Pike. Check out my post The Best Restaurants And Coffee Shops In Long Beach, California.
Recommended restaurants on 2nd Street:
Cafe Gazelle (Italian)
George’s Greek Cafe
Open Sesame (Lebanese)
Nick’s on 2nd (American)
Los Cerritos
As you know, I’m a sucker for visiting filming locations. Established in 1906, this beautiful classic American neighborhood has been the backdrop for a handful of movies, including the legendary Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, American Pie and Not Another Teen Movie.
Driving and seeing the stunning colonial houses and the perfectly trimmed front yards along with the greenery will make you feel like you’re in a 90’s/ early 2000’s movie.
Hilltop Park
Located atop a hill, Hilltop park provides unique panoramic 360-degree views of Long Beach, the Queen Mary and San Pedro on one side, and the DTLA skyline with the ever-present San Gabriel mountains on the other side. On a clear day, you can even see the Hollywood Sign. Additionally, you will find telescopes and nice benches there and if you’re in the mood for a hill workout, you can park at the bottom and use the trail. This is definitely a must-visit place if it’s your first time in Long Beach.
Also if you come here, make sure the forecast is cloud-free and warm to fully enjoy it. In addition, because of its altitude, the winds can be pretty strong. There are also statues and plaques for further information regarding the history of Long Beach.
Grab a blanket, a good book, lie down on the floor and spend a relaxed afternoon! Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of couples here as it’s a very popular date spot.
El Dorado Park
A new favorite place to add to my list! El Dorado Park is an oasis of wilderness right off the bustling I-605. It’s hard to imagine how such place can exist right off the freeway in LA. This park is HUGE! If you want to get to another area within the park, you might as well drive your car.
Beautiful greenery, oak trees, flowers, duck ponds and wildlife are scattered throughout the park. It will feel like you’re not in Los Angeles at all.
This is also the perfect place to meditate and free your mind. If you’re up for a walk, go to El Dorado Nature Center and pick one of the trails to further enjoy the beautiful scenery this place has to offer.
If you go to one of the places I mentioned above, you’re going to have to pay at the gate. Prices vary depending on the day and it’s cash-only. The free option is to leave your car outside the park and walk in but it’s going to be a very long walk.
Entrance gate: 7555 E Spring St, Long Beach
The Pike
The Pike outlets were named after the amusement park The Pike. This amusement park was created to compete with Disneyland and was in business from 1902 to 1979. Crowds from all over the country came to enjoy thrill rides and the famous wooden waterfront rollercoaster Cyclone Racer. The best thing about it was, unlike Disneyland, there was no admission fee and it was right by the ocean. This is what it looked like back then:
By the late 70’s, when the contract with the city ended, it was no longer a hotspot destination and most of the business stalls were either in disrepair or out of service. The Pike was officially demolished in 1979. Today, what once was a revolutionary amusement park is now an outdoor mall including outlet stores and a Ferris wheel. However, the Cyclone Racer footprint still remains in the form of a pedestrian bridge that evokes nostalgia for those baby boomers who experienced the park in its heyday.
Shoreline Park
This is the main sightseeing attraction in Long Beach. My mom and I came here to see the fireworks on the 4th of July and had a blast. Take a delightful stroll along the marina and admire the beautiful yachts, sailboats, houseboats and, of course, the world-famous steamboat Queen Mary! If you want to opt for a five-star meal experience, go to Parker Lighthouse to enjoy fresh seafood and spectacular views of the Long Beach Skyline and Queen Mary. It is touristy and a little pricey, but you’ll get high-quality service, top-notch food and exceptional views!
My favorite area is the lighthouse which It’s on the other end of the park. Before you get there, there’s a beautiful palm-tree-lined path and a spiral pathway that goes around the lighthouse. Perfect spot to catch the sunset and watch the Shoreline village filled to the brim with tourists.
I also recommend taking the Harbor tour. It’s 45 minutes long and it takes you along the Long Beach coastline around the oil rig island. As you go along, the guide tells you about the history of the Port of Long Beach, which is the second-busiest port in the United States and serves as a major gateway for US-Asia trade (80% of the container import movement comes from China). They also explain the process of how the shipment containers are delivered from the cargo ships. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the cute sea lions lying on the docks!
Bluff Park
As most of the sights in Long Beach, this park is super laid-back and crowd-free. It is also the perfect place to get your workout in by running up and down the stairs that lead down to the beach or jog on the long pedestrian beach path.
If you want to further enjoy Long Beach, you can also check out The Museum of Latin American Art and Los Cerritos Mall. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a nice swim or catch some waves head down south to Seal Beach or Laguna Nigel. Long beach doesn’t have any good swimming or surfing beaches due to the breakwaters that block the tides from coming in.
Long Beach one-of-a-kind sunsets (taken by me)
On Dec 10th, 2017, Mother Nature gifted us with one of the most breathtakingly beautiful sunsets I’ve seen since I moved here. Needless to say, Long Beach sunsets never cease to give me the goosebumps. Thank you to @shutthekaleup for capturing this moment. I was in Long Beach that day but in a different location.
Mother’s Beach
Take a picture at the Walter Pyramid Long Beach
The Walter Pyramid is a collegiate athletic facility located at Long Beach State University in Long Beach, California. It officially opened on November 30, 1994, and cost approximately $22 million to construct. It rises 18 stories high and measures 345 feet along each side of the base.
2ND & PCH
6400 CA-1, Long Beach, CA 90803
I remember driving by this mall when it was still under construction. What a beautiful job they’ve done! The contemporary ambiance with pops of color were perfectly designed for a stress-free shopping experience. The best thing about 2ND & PCH is that it’s located right across from the marina! Do yourself a favor and park on the second floor to enjoy the views. To top it off, they host al fresco drive-in movie theater sessions on the parking rooftop! A few of the most acclaimed retailers and restaurants at 2ND & PCH include Sephora, a massive Whole Foods, Shake Shack, Ample Hills (read my review here), Boba Guys, Lululemon, and Amazon Books. There are modern lounge areas throughout the mall and the space is impeccably maintained. Sidenote: there’s a Trader Joe’s less than four minutes away and it truly is the largest and most beautiful Trader Joe’s I’ve ever been to in LA.
I hope this post was informative and that you could gather some helpful information for your future visit. Have you been to Long Beach? If so, where?
