Things to Do in Long Beach, CA - Tips From Locals

Is there more to Long Beach than the Queen Mary? Here are some things the locals do on their outings. Not all of them can be found in the brochures.

1) Shoreline Village - Just drive, or take a stroll by the ocean, not too far from the QM, and you will come across this boardwalk full of quaint shops, outdoor stalls, eateries and even an arcade. There are even small charter boats offering harbor tours for the adventurous. Simply being on the wharf and enjoying the refreshing ocean breeze feels like a vacation. This is always a welcome getaway without leaving town. But bring some parking money if you want to stay longer than a few hours (they do validate, last time I checked).

2) Signal Hill - this affluent neighborhood keeps a great little park tucked away at the end of Hill Street. Drive carefully; it's a steep and winding street. When you arrive at the top, you'll suddenly notice how serene several bustling cities and a busy harbor can seem from way up. You'll get long, unobstructed views of Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Pedro and North Orange County. At the center of the park are several viewing-walls that frame the panoramas from each direction. If you need a meditative, calming experience on a quiet hilltop, ths park is for you. And you don't have to pay for parking.

3) Fantastic Burger - This restaurant is not very difficult to find, at the corner of Cherry and Wardlow. The easiest way to get directions is to ask any member of the Long Beach Police Department, and you might even meet them there for lunch! It is a very family-oriented environment, with large booths (try to get one in the corner!) as well as tables with plenty of elbow-room. The prices are very reasonable, and they offer mainly sandwiches, burgers and burritos, all very satisfying. Try the steak with hash browns if you are particularly ravenous.

4) Seal Beach - If you like Long Beach but wonder where the surfing is, drive about ten miles south on Pacific Coast Highway. After reaching the city of Seal Beach, keep an eye out for Main Street, and turn right. At the end of about a quarter-mile of little shops, turn right just before you reach the pier. Parking is cheap at the lot, but on a lucky day you can parallel-park at the sidewalk and not get ticketed. Bring a boogie board, towel and some snacks. If you forget anything, there are lots of beach-shops and convenience stores close by.

5) Aquarium of the Pacific - Back to Ocean Avenue. This is a very laid-back family aquarium near the Queen Mary. Bring extra money if you want to park directly across the building. Upon entering, you will be greeted by a gigantic overhead model of a whale suspended from the ceiling. And just beyond that you will find hard to miss the three-storey high plexi tank which takes up most of the back wall, and takes a few balcony-walks to see completely. Very dramatic. The indoor displays feature aquatic creatures found up and down the California coast. Also, during feeding times you can watch trainers outside interact directly with the animals. Lots of fun stuff to see, but not at all exhausting, even towards the end of the day. Bring a camera.

I hope this adds to the fun things in your itinerary when you decide to take alook around. Perhaps in between these local destinations you will come across even more things to see and do in Long Beach.