As the fifth largest city in California, Long Beach balances big city life and a hip, beach-town feel. With a perfect location half-way between the attractions in Orange County and Los Angeles, and a newly built-up downtown district, Long Beach is a great destination for all travelers. The weather is great -- with 345 days of sunshine each year, there’s never a wrong time to visit. Average highs are 69-83 degrees.
The city of Long Beach is home to the world’s largest mural, the second busiest seaport in the US (Port of Long Beach), JetBlue’s West Coast hub and the only museum in the Western United States that features exclusively Latin American Art.
Long Beach Transit gives visitors easy access to nearby attractions. The Blue Line MetroRail connects Long Beach to the Staples Center and downtown Los Angeles. Visitors can easily get to Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm in less than 30 minutes. Or, take a day trip to Santa Catalina Island on the Catalina Express.
How to Get There
Long Beach airport is JetBlue’s West Coast hub. While the airport itself is small compared to the size of the city, its small scale makes it very convenient for business and leisure travelers alike.
Where to Stay
Popular Long Beach hotels include Renaissance Long Beach Hotel and Hyatt Long Beach in downtown. For visitors who prefer waterfront hotels in Long Beach, check out Hotel Maya.
Must See
The Aquarium of the Pacific is rated the #2 Los Angeles-area Family Destination (Zagat U.S. Family Travel Guides), second only to Disneyland. The Long Beach Aquarium recently made history as the first in the museum, zoo, or aquarium industry to become a Climate Action Leader for voluntarily measuring, certifying, and reporting its green house gas emissions to the Climate Action Registry and the public.
The Queen Mary is one of the top tourist attractions in Long Beach. It’s now a hotel and museum, known for its ghost stories. The ship is 200 feet longer than the Titanic. It’s famous for being the fastest ship in the world from 1936 to 1952. It was also used during WWII as a troop transport.
Check out the events calendars for the Long Beach Performing Arts Center or the East Village Arts District. Or, visit one of several local museums including the Long Beach Museum of Art or the Museum of Latin American Art.
Sports fanatics can go kayaking, sailing and deep sea fishing in Long Beach. Or, visit one of Wyland’s Whaling Walls at the Long Beach Sports Arena (attached to the Long Beach Convention Center). At 116,000 square feet, it’s the world’s largest mural. Long Beach’s largest annual event is the Long Beach Grand Prix in April.
The city of Long Beach is very ocean-centric. Take advantage of all sorts of ocean activities: whale watching charters, fishing charters, harbor tours – or just relax on the beach.