Long Beach, California’s fifth largest city, is
located just 21 miles south of Los Angeles, at the southern end of Los
Angeles County. Long Beach offers all the amenities of a sophisticated,
cosmopolitan city, while retaining the charm and tranquility of a seaside
community. Visitors seeking the California dream of beach, sun and ocean
need look no further.
Long
Beach is the perfect spot for people who enjoy the sun. Sea kayaking,
sailing, windsurfing and jet-skiing are popular year round. Early in the
year, whale watchers observe the migrating California Gray Whale, and
year-round harbor cruises entertain young and old . The city’s
well-designed beachside bike path is ideal for in-line skating, jogging,
bicycling, or a quiet walk.
Long
Beach became popular in the late 19th century as a seaside resort. Long
Beach Harbor and the neighboring Port of Los Angeles are two of the busiest
shipping centers on the Pacific Coast. The entire area is rich in petroleum
resources, both on land and offshore.
California
State University, Long Beach, is home to 27,000 students. Long Beach
Convention and Entertainment Center at Ocean and Long Beach boulevards
encompasses the Long Beach Arena, Terrace Theater and Center Theater, where
concerts, plays, trade shows and sporting events are held.
Boat
cruises to Catalina Island leave from near the Queen Mary and from downtown.
Long Beach AquaBus and AquaLink provide regularly scheduled service to Long
Beach's major attractions such as the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the
Pacific daily from mid-June to mid-September, and Friday through Sunday the
balance of the year.
The
roar of Grand Prix race cars echoes through the city streets in early April
during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Most Saturday mornings, the Long
Beach Heritage Society conducts narrated two hour walking tours: of
the downtown area the first and third Saturdays of the month, and of the
East Village, (which is being developed as an arts district), the second and
fourth Saturdays. Nearby, eclectic boutiques welcome shoppers seeking rare
treasures, and international cuisine is served alfresco. Along the
waterfront, more than 12,000 marine animals welcome you and your friends to
their aquarium home
The
Queen's Marketplace, near Pier J, is an open-air mall designed to resemble
an old English village. Shoreline Village, at the foot of Pine Street, is a
harbor side shopping center with specialty shops, restaurants, a restored
Looff carousel, and occasional live boardwalk entertainment.
Bring
along a good book you’ve been wanting to read. Get ready to stretch
out, relax, and watch the waves of the Pacific Ocean roll gently
toward shore. Whether it’s a leisurely stroll along the beach, the
roar of world-class stock cars racing in the shadow of glittering
skyscrapers, a picnic at one of the many local parks, or a concert
under the moonlit sky, Long Beach is a perfect vacation getaway.
You can even experience a serenade by gondoliers rowing an authentic
gondola in the Venetian style on a cruise through local canals.
Ocean breezes waft gently off the Pacific along a stretch of coastal
paradise, while in the distance, a tall ship sets sail.. These sights
and many more await the visitor to romantic Long Beach. Time to
pack!
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