What is there to do in Long Beach?

Tour the historic Queen Mary ocean liner, visit the excellent Aquarium of the Pacific, stroll the waterfront shops and dining of Shoreline Village and the East Village Arts District, bike the beach path, and catch the ferry to Catalina Island. It's a relaxed, diverse coastal city right next to LA.

Is Long Beach worth visiting?

Yes — for the Queen Mary, the aquarium, a walkable waterfront, and as a calmer, more affordable beach base near Los Angeles (about 30 minutes south) and the gateway to Catalina. It's also handy for cruises and the wider LA/Orange County area.

How do I get to Long Beach?

It has its own small airport (LGB) and is about 30 minutes south of downtown LA (LAX is ~20 minutes) — reachable by car or the Metro A Line light rail, which connects downtown LA to downtown Long Beach. A car helps for exploring, but the waterfront core is walkable.

The tourist areas (the waterfront, Queen Mary, aquarium, Belmont Shore and downtown) are comfortable with normal city awareness. Use standard care downtown at night and keep valuables out of parked cars. Beach cautions: rip currents. Emergency number: 911.

How do I get to Catalina Island from Long Beach?

The Catalina Express ferry runs from Long Beach to Avalon on Catalina Island in about an hour — a popular day trip or overnight to a car-free island of coves, snorkeling, glass-bottom boats and a charming harbor town. Book ahead in summer; it's one of SoCal's best island escapes.

When is the best time to visit Long Beach?

Year-round mild SoCal weather; spring (including the April Grand Prix) through fall is warm and pleasant. Summer is busiest and best for the beach and Catalina. "June Gloom" brings some morning coastal clouds in late spring. Winters are mild.

Do I need a car in Long Beach?

The waterfront, downtown and Belmont Shore are walkable and bike-friendly, and the Metro A Line connects to LA car-free. A car helps for exploring the wider area, but a Long Beach-and-Catalina trip can be done with little driving.

When was Long Beach established?

Long Beach was founded around 1897.

What languages do people speak here?

English; Spanish is spoken by 40+ million people — dominant in parts of Miami, LA, Texas and the Southwest.

What is the nearest major airport?

Long Beach International Airport (LGB) — about 7 km away.

What timezone is it in?

Long Beach is in the UTC-5 to UTC-10 timezone.

Long Beach Guide: Queen Mary, Aquarium & Catalina

Q: What is Long Beach known for?

Long Beach is known as: A diverse SoCal port city — the retired Queen Mary ocean liner, the Aquarium of the Pacific, a lively waterfront, and gateway to Catalina Island.

large airport

Official site Wikipedia

Airport data from OurAirports (public domain).

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Long Beach at a Glance

Known asA diverse SoCal port city — the retired Queen Mary ocean liner, the Aquarium of the Pacific, a lively waterfront, and gateway to Catalina Island

Founded1897

CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)

Local pride: Long Beach is home to the RMS Queen Mary, a 1930s ocean liner permanently docked as a hotel and attraction (and famously "haunted"), and to one of the busiest seaports in the US. Its downtown streets host the Grand Prix of Long Beach race each spring.

Nearby places to explore

Los Angeles 20 mi Pasadena 26 mi San Diego 94 mi Palm Springs 94 mi Santa Barbara 97 mi

Famous Places Near Long Beach

The Willmore Masonic Temple (Long Beach, California) First Congregational Church (Long Beach, California) First National Bank of Long Beach Downtown Long Beach Downtown Long Beach station

Nearby places via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

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