Things to Do in Long Beach

There are different things to do in Long Beach. One of them is exploring marine life at the Aquarium of the Pacific. This aquarium, formerly Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, is a public site on Rainbow Harbor. After crossing the water from the Long Beach Convention Center, Shoreline Village, and the Queen Mary Hotel and Attraction, it is situated. This aquarium features exhibitions such as the Southern California Gallery. In this exhibition, you will discover colorful reefs, kelp forests, seagrass beds, a pod of lobsters, octopus, deepwater fish, and much more. Another worth-noting exhibition includes June Keyes Penguin Habitat. This exhibition will get you closer to Magellanic Penguins above and below the water. You will come across other such spectacular exhibitions at the Aquarium of the Pacific.  

Embarking on the famous Queen Mary British Ocean Liner and spending some leisure time in its hotel rooms is one of the best things to do in Long Beach. As you are onboard this liner, you will come across a unique historic stateroom. These rooms are different from other ordinary hotel rooms. They are comfortable sleeping rooms that make you feel like you are traveling across the Atlantic in a period-true ship’s cabin. Moreover, at this attraction, you can experience all of the live music shows and signature ship-wide events that happen all year round. This ship is also infamous for the haunted stories of Queen Mary, which you can hear on its Haunted Encounters Tour. These stories will make you aware of the paranormal happenings that occur on the Queen Mary ship.

Shoreline Village is ideal if you are looking for things to do in Long Beach. This gorgeous place has fun and exciting activities for you and your family. It offers countless waterfront dining and shopping options, enabling you to spend your entire day wandering around and exploring Shoreline Village. You can munch on your favorite snacks and enjoy upscale fine dining at a wide selection of waterfront restaurants. Moreover, you can purchase beachwear, casual clothing, sunglasses, shoes and sandals, decor and home wear, hot sauces, and more at the waterfront shops of Shoreline Village. This hub of entertainment is one of the most visited places. You should plan to visit here during your trip to Long Beach. 

If you are looking for different things to do in Long Beach, consider strolling through the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden exhibits. This garden is situated along the campus of California State University in Long Beach, California. You can visit this garden on any day except Saturday and Monday. This garden gives you a pleasurable walk, and you can be refreshed amidst its green surroundings. It is divided into different areas, such as Strolling Garden, Black Rock Beach, Tea Garden, Japanese Black Pines, and Moonbridge Turtle Island. Each of these areas is beautiful and unique in its own way. For example, the Koi Pond area of this garden features Koi fish, a subspecies of fish that belongs to the East Asia region. 

Rancho Los Cerritos is a residential land that represents the rich history of Spanish, Mexican, and American California. The term Cerritos in this name is a Spanish word that means little hills. There are different little hills along this rancho land and Cerritos, namely Paramount Bellflower and Long Beach. A tour of this house and its garden gives you a glimpse into Southern California’s past. It includes education programs, too. These programs consist of lecture series which explain topics related to historical significance and contemporary relevance. You can attend this tour and its education programs between Wednesday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. All the facilities at this place, such as admissions, public tours, and parking, are free.   

Long Beach tells much about Latin America. You can learn about it through the Museum of Latin American Art. This museum is located in downtown Long Beach, California. During your visit to this museum, you will come across a wide collection of more than 1300 works of art. This collection spans the knowledge and appreciation of modern and contemporary Latin American Art. Its collection is presented through ground-breaking exhibitions, stimulating educational programs, and lively cultural events. Recently, the museum is presenting the first solo museum show by Alexandre Arrechea: Intersected Horizons. This show gives you a detailed understanding of Latin American culture and life. If you are looking for things to do in Long Beach, you can think of learning Latin American history at the Museum of Latin American Art. 

When you are in Long Beach, then you should not miss the cruise to Catalina Island. It is one of the best things to do in Long Beach. This island is an hour away from Long Beach and gets connected via the Catalina Express cruise. On your tour of this island, you will be able to experience the picturesque town of Avalon. This town of Catalina Island is filled with numerous land and sea activities. You also have the option of exploring the rustic village of Two Harbours. This village features spectacular campgrounds and beautiful beaches. The island has scenic beauty, high adventure activities, great rest, and relaxation. Thus, you can onboard the Catalina Island Express and create memories of Catalina Island during your stay in Long Beach. 

Besides Earl Miller Burns Miller Japanese Garden, El Dorado Regional Park is another major green attraction of Long Beach. This regional park allows you to engage in various activities such as paddle boats, an archery range, group picnics, overnight camping, and bicycle and walking trails, offering many things to do in Long Beach. It consists of different areas according to various sports in each of them. Area 1 of this park included six baseball diamonds, several picnic areas, playgrounds, a tennis center, and much more. On the other hand, Area 2 includes lakes, camping facilities, and much more. There is also a third area which becomes an antitheater. Together with these areas, there is also a 4-mile bikeway that runs through the park.

If you are interested in learning about the life and culture of the Pacific Islands, then you can visit the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum. This museum revolves around the world of people who live on islands of the Pacific Ocean. It offers a wealth of information about them by rotating relevant objects and lived experiences. Both permanent and revolving exhibits are about the works of the Pacific artists. The culture and life of the Pacific people are portrayed through their works. Upon entering the museum, you will get familiar with its exterior, which resembles a traditional island house. Moreover, the garden of this museum consists of a koi pond and some artifacts that the founder of the museum collected, the Late Dr. Robert Gumbiner. 

You can include Junipero Beach in your list of things to do in Long Beach. This strip of coastline is highlighted for soft sand and calm waves. That is why it is an ideal place for family outings. This beach offers plenty of space to spread out, affirming that you will get your favorite spot to sit and relax. While visiting this beach, you can also take advantage of amenities such as showers, lifeguards, and bike paths. There are various nearby restaurants that serve delicious seafood. A huge area of the beach, with a cool sea breeze and several seafood dishes, will make your trip to this beach full of joy. You will be willing to visit Junipero Beach again and again in the future because of these joyful features.