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Things to do in Long Beach, California

Finding things to do in Long Beach is not a difficult task in this vibrant city, situated in Queensway Bay about 30 miles from downtown LA.  Long Beach is a tourist mecca and the home of many affluent locals who enjoy spending their time on the coveted beaches of the bay.  The public beach area stretches out over three miles and encompasses several beach parks including one dog beach reserved just for the area’s furry friends. While you might be tempted to spend your entire trip relaxing on the picturesque beaches, here is a list of other things you definitely should check out while in Long Beach.

Driving to Mexico?

Downtown Waterfront

Kicking off the list is the extremely scenic Downtown Waterfront which is home to large attractions, a riverboat complete with a large paddlewheel, and a pedestrian walkway that is authentically lined with palm trees. Wander down the Rainbow Harbor Esplanade and see the lighthouse at Shoreline Aquatic Park or book a private dinner cruise. Children will enjoy the Aquarium of the Pacific and adventurous visitors can rent a bike near Shoreline Village and tour the area.

Aquarium of the Pacific

Speaking of the aquarium, it deserves its own spot on our list due to its grandiose nature. The Aquarium of the Pacific houses over 11,000 ocean animals and is the latest in Southern California. It is also home to 20 penguins which seem to be the favorite of most visitors outside of the Moon Jelly Touch Lab and the Lorikeet Forest.

Visit Naples

You can’t visit the beach without stopping by the southern neighborhood of Naples where the most affluent in the area live. The gorgeous million-dollar homes are best seen via gondola which you can board at the Gondola Getaway near the Leeway Sailing Center. After taking a romantic or scenic (depending on who you are traveling with) gondola ride, pop over to Alamitos Bay and visit the Marina Pacifica Mall for designer shopping and souvenir stores.

Hit the Beach

Of course, you have to spend at least one or two days touring the coastline and there are plenty of beaches to choose from. To the south Alamitos Beach lines the downtown area while Junipero Cherry Beach sits right below it and offers calm waters. To the east is Belmont Shore Beach where you will find regular activities like movies at sunset and beach volleyball competitions. Rosie’s Dog Beach is also part of this spread of beach.