Long Beach Vacation GuidePlenty of Hotels, Attractions and Waterfront Dining!This Long Beach Vacation Guide is filled with information on where to stay, what to do and what to see while here in this part of sunny Southern California. Long Beach is home to a wide variety of ocean related sights and activities, both on the beach and in the harbors.
Major Long Beach vacation attractions include the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary, and Naples Island, where you can paddle a kayak or ride a gondola along mini picturesque canals. Rainbow Harbor is a fun place to start, with shops and a range of dining options in Shoreline Village. From here you an charter cruises, rent sailboats, take a speedboat ride or pick up a water taxi (Aquabus) to other points around the harbor. Scenic Rainbow Lagoon Park offers paddle boats to ride.
The historic tall ship "Californian" is docked here and takes people out on cruises. The Catalina Express which goes to Catalina Island leaves from this harbor also. More information on Catalina Island ferry service. To stay overnight on the Queen Mary, call 562-435-3511. They offer tours on the docked, and there's also a nice restaurant and bar on the dry-docked ship.
The Long Beach Aquarium Of The Pacific is located on 100 Aquarium Way. It's really a must-see if you are in the area with kids. Across the street is "The Pike", an outdoor shopping center with restaurants, some shops, a Border's Bookstore, a carousel and ferris wheel. The larger Los Angeles Harbor also includes neighboring San Pedro California, which boasts the nautical Ports O’Call Village and Whaler Wharf with more shopping and dining. There is also a maritime museum there. No Long Beach vacation is complete without a visit to the beaches. Long Beach City Beach is about 5 and a half miles long. The water is flat, so no surfing here, but you can swim and there is plenty of white sand to play or relax on. The Long Beach Art Museum sits on a scenic bluff called Bluff Park above the beach. There is an outdoor restaurant/café in back of the museum which overlooks the ocean view. Offshore oil rigs are disguised to look like islands bearing tall hotels. The museum is at 2300 E. Ocean Boulevard. Call 562-439-2119 for more info. Belmont Shore stretches out at the southern end of this beach. There is a pier and a bike path as well. Shops and restaurants are located along Second Street, between Bay Shore Avenue and Livingston Drive. Alamitos Bay Beach near Naples Island is a good place to lazily sit and watch pleasure craft go in and out of the bay. The Aqualink Catamaran can take you from here to Rainbow Harbor for three dollars each way. There is a huge amount of
Long Beach California hotel
choices. In addition, ideal places for vacation rentals are in the Belmont Shore area and Naples Island. To find some, check out vacationhomerentals.com There is no shortage of fun things to do and see for the whole family in the Long Beach area.
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