Holiday vacations are in full swing and I have another fabulous destination to add to your travel bucketlist! I had the pleasure of Living like a Local for a few days and joined some amazing creators to visit Long Beach – a true Southern California gem and just a short drive from Los Angeles. During my exploration of this fun coastal city, I discovered why Long beach attracts over six million visitors each year!
After landing at beautiful Long Beach International Airport, I checked into Hyatt Centric, The Pike Long Beach. This cosmopolitan hotel is centrally located to many popular attractions and you’re minutes away from some great shopping at the Pike Outlets.
We were greeted with delicious drinks and a delectable spread at the hotel’s stunning rooftop pool then were whisked away to The Queen Mary, one of Long Beach’s most famous and beloved historical landmarks! The Port of Long Beach is one of the largest shipping ports in the world and the second largest seaport in the country. The Queen Mary is a full-service hotel and entertainment venue featuring award-winning restaurants. During her hey days in operation – the British masterpiece was a prestigious way of travel and played host to numerous celebrities and dignitaries over the years.
After having seen this magnificent ship featured on so many travel and ghost hunting TV shows – I was blissfully excited roaming the decks and admiring the authentic 1930s Art Deco decor of this awe inspiring ocean liner. Fun Fact: The Queen Mary nearly doubles the Titanic in weight and would have been Titanic’s successor. Touring the Captain’s quarters and children’s playroom was such a delightful and almost eery experience.
Feelin’ the California love – the next morning started at The Aquarium of the Pacific, the fourth most-attended aquarium in the U.S. and just walking distance from the hotel. It brings the largest ocean to life and offers over 50 exhibits, interactive multimedia experiences and over 11,000 world-class animal exhibits. My favorites were the adorable sea otters and jellyfish petting exhibits. The waterfront aquarium is located in beautiful Rainbow Harbor so people and boat watching is a must! You can hop on a Segway or bike along their many scenic pathways. Long Beach is ranked as one of the top most bike friendly cities in the nation!

Our group rented a quad bike from WHEEL FUN RENTALS – the most memorable time during my trip was laughing with the crew and biking together to the never ending stretch of sandy beaches! Long Beach boasts 81 miles of beaches and 64 miles of walking trails and bikeway – ideal for any adventure seeker.
From kayaking to whale watching, there is no shortage of water activities and boating is at the top of my list! I was so elated when a few of our days ended with delicious food and a glass of wine rocking to chill music on the seas. You can captain your own private electric boat with LONDON BOAT RENTALS and watch the magical sunsets in style while floating through picturesque Alamitos Bay and the Naples Canals.
We also visited the resort area of Belmont Shore in Long Beach and cruised on authentic Venetian gondolas through beautiful Naples Island with GONDOLA GETAWAY . The Long Beach gondoliers compete in Venice every year and our lovely gondolier even serenaded us in Italian! It was paradise watching paddle boarders drifting by and admiring the captivating homes and million dollar mansions while treating ourselves to gourmet pizza from Domenico’s Italian Restaurant.
Speaking of paradise, Long Beach is home to some of the most unique shopping at Retro Row. This eclectic shopping and dining district includes thrift shops, vintage inspired furniture and clothing stores. While browsing for some interesting finds – we also saw incredible street art displayed throughout the city. Long Beach hosts its annual POW! WOW! Long Beach, a week-long city-wide festival in the summer and is part of the globally recognized POW! WOW! Worldwide series of street art events. There are over 40 miles of public art experiences where culture and community pride come together visually.
In addition to the exclusive street art, Long Beach is also home to The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) – the only museum in the nation showcasing modern and contemporary art from Latin America and the Spanish speaking Caribbean. Along with the spectacular variety of artwork from well-known and emerging artists, the museum also features a wonderful outdoor sculpture garden. We were even impressed with their floral lined parking lot! Impromptu photo shoot time! Thank me later IG fam. 😀
USA Today recognized Long Beach as one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. and being Cambodian American – I love that there there’s a huge Cambodian presence here. I appreciate the diversity of cultures represented in the city’s vibrant culinary scene. You can find nearly every kind of ethnic cuisine under the California sun. We visited the raved about Phnom Penh Noodle Shack, that hour long wait was def worth it!
One of our first dining destinations was at Steelcraft, a casual outdoor communal dining space of local eateries including ramen, pizza and an array of desserts. A popular hot spot for locals with its hip boho vibe and dog-friendly atmosphere.
If you’re in the mood for homemade Greek dishes, be sure to visit George’s Greek Cafe. We had lunch on the patio and I dined on roasted lambchops, calamari and Saganaki (Flaming Cheese). So yummy!
We had a scrumptious breakfast at a favorite spot for locals called Berlin Bistro. It’s located in the East Village Arts District and the cafe is connected to a funky record store. I loved the healthy vegan options and the Mexican Mocha was so good!
Brunch was also amazing at LOLA’S MEXICAN CUISINE! Everything at Lola’s is made from scratch and the authentic recipes were passed down from Lola’s grandma. The welcoming neighborhood feel of this spot and the food did not disappoint. The bottomless mimosa options were awesome and the Tijuana tacos were so tasty – half of the menu was also vegan!
If you crave seafood as much as I do – you won’t be disappointed at BOATHOUSE ON THE BAY. It was the quintessential SoCal experience – dining on oysters and sushi during sunset in a dreamy marina setting. The live musical performance added to the upbeat ambiance.
One of the most extraordinary dining experience was a guided Chocolate and Wine Pairing Party at Romeo Chocolates by the gracious Chef Romeo. His interesting background and passion for chocolate making is evident in his artisanal sweet creations. I enjoyed learning about how different wines complements the many flavors of each handcrafted chocolate bonbon we tasted.
This is a city where every day can surprise you and leave you learning something new about yourself – my ideal goal when traveling! With the amount of times I’ve visited LA, it’s surprising I didn’t experience everything Long Beach has to offer sooner! Any time I fly out to LA – I will hopefully be able to to return here often to make up for lost time. 🙂
Long Beach is a big city with a small town vibe and with 345 blissful sunny days – it’s the perfect place to escape any time of year. With the holidays and New Year just around the corner – there are endless festive events to celebrate and ring in 2020 right – be sure to click HERE!
For more info on and travel ideas for your itinerary, check out VISITLONGBEACH.COM
Let me know if you visited Long Beach and what are your upcoming travel plans!
Xo
