General Interest

1 Don’t miss the ship. Spend a day at Queen Mary Seaport, exploring the historic Queen Mary, browsing through unique shops and savoring the cuisine in the fine restaurants on board. When your explorations tire you out, be sure to book a room at the art deco, 365-room Hotel Queen Mary. 435-3511.  

2 Groove to the smooth sounds of Blues greatest artists or enjoy up-and-coming, California-bred new acts. Blue Café, Long Beach’s popular nightclub and deli, also features plenty of pool tables for the billiards enthusiast. 983-7111.  

3 Capture the romance of the Italian Renaissance with a moonlit gondola cruise through the canals of Naples Island. Gondola Getaway. 433-9595. 

4 Spot a California gray version of "Free Willy" from January through March, California’s official whalewatch season. Landlubbers may observe these mighty migrating mammals by pulling up a beach chair at the Point Fermin Park on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The American Catacean Society, 548-6279. The seaworthy should contact: Catalina Cruises, 800/538-4554; Spirit Cruises, 548-8080; Star Party Cruises, 431-6833; or Long Beach Sport Fishing, 432-8993. 

5 Did you miss whalewatch season? There are other fish in the sea. "Planet Ocean," covers the entire 116,000-square-foot surface of the Long Beach Arena. The mural, which depicts life-size whales and other marine life, required more than 3,000 gallons of paint. The mural, the world’s largest, will be included in the 1996 Guinness Book of World Records. Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.  

6 When the sun goes down, indulge in the heat of Hot Summer Nights. Held each August, this series of community-oriented festivals celebrates the diversity and individual character of Long Beach’s neighborhoods. Call for dates. 310/436-3645. 

7 Go overboard on World War II history. The S.S. Lane Victory Memorial Museum, formerly an ammunition carrier during World War II, the Korean War and in Vietnam, is now a national historic landmark. The museum ship measures 455 feet long with a 70-foot beam. Open daily. 519-9545. Official web site 

8 22 miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is waiting for me. Explore Avalon, spot a wild buffalo or snorkel in crystal clear waters. Catalina Island is just a one-hour boat trip away. For visitor information call 510-1520. For scheduled boat service call Catalina Express, 519-1212 or Catalina Cruises, 800/538-4554. 

9 See the latest in Hollywood entertainment. From small "Art Houses", to huge Multi Screen complexes, movie theatres are available in every part of the city - it only makes sense, since so many movies have been filmed here. The cities newest movie complex is The Cinemark at Rainbow Harbor; 562-435-0353. For information regarding AMC’s Pine Square 16 complex, or their Marina Pacifica complex call 562- 435-4262. For the ART THEATRE at 2025 4th Street call 562-438-5435. Information for many of the other movie houses in the area can be found by calling 1-800 FANDANGO 

10 Release the artist within and create personalized pottery at Color Me Mine in Belmont Shore. Pottery lovers select unfinished cups dishes and decorations and creatively decorate them any way they wish. 433-4177. 

11 "Beer of the Month Club" members will not want to miss sampling Long Beach Crude, Long Beach’s own dark beer. Well-known for its microbrewery selection and for the quality food, the Belmont Brewing Company is also touted for its excellent ocean views. 433-3891. 

12 Baywatch comes to life at Long Beach’s own Lifeguard Museum. The volunteer-run center honors the lifeguard legacy that began in Long Beach in 1908. Located at Marine Stadium, the museum is open one Saturday a month. 570-1360. 

13 The waters of Long Beach Harbor heat up with the sizzling sounds of reggae and blues music. Dinner and party cruises are the perfect evening for boating enthusiasts. Star Party Cruises, 431-6833; Spirit Cruises, 495-5884.  

14 Let your imagination take flight. Take an exclusive helicopter ride from downtown Long Beach to Catalina Island through Island Express Helicopter Service. Flights are just fifteen minutes from the Long Beach Heliport to the city of Avalon. Also available are night flights over scenic Los Angeles as well as dinner tours. 800/2-Avalon. 

Yardhouse Bar
15 Tap into a world record: featuring the largest selection of draft beer in the world, The Yardhouse Bar & Restaurant is located in scenic Shoreline Village overlooking Rainbow Harbor and the new Aquarium. (562) 628-0455 or visit their website at www.yardhouse.com 

16 Ole! Alegria, the authentic tapas bar and eatery on Pine Avenue offers "little bites from Spain." Live Flamenco dancing on Thursdays to Sundays augments your dining pleasure. 436-3388. 

17 High seas adventure await you aboard the Tallship Californian, docked at Shoreline Village. Hands-on sailing programs are available for one-day, weekly, and 11-day trips. Nautical Heritage Society, 800/432-2201. 

18 Start your engines. The Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is held every April on the streets of downtown. The race draws worldclass drivers and racing fans from around the world. A week of activities preceding the weekend of racing includes the annual Celebrity Race. 562-436-9953. 

19 Keep your eye on the ball. California State University, Long Beach’s Pyramid sports complex offers a variety of exciting and nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics, including basketball, baseball and volleyball. 985-4655. 

20 Step back in time. The Historical Society of Long Beach has recently moved into a new facility, located at 110 Pine Avenue Suite 1200. Visitors will get a sense of Long Beach’s place in history at their Gallery and Research Center. Hours are Tuesday - Friday, from 1 to 5 pm. Calll 562-495-1210, or visit their Website: http://www.historicalsocietylb.org 

21 Meet me in … downtown Los Angeles. Long Beach is end of the line for the Metro Blue Line light rail service Visitors may easily travel from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles in less than one hour. For schedule information, call213/626-4455. 

22 Shout the blues. The Best Western Golden Sails Hotel, 596-1631 and the Sea Port Marina Hotel, 434-8451 feature weekly blues and reggae concerts. 

23 Go fishing just for the halibut. Several 55-foot sportfishing boat outings are available from Seal Beach or Belmont Piers. 434-6781. 

24 Tennis anyone? If your serve is one only a mother could love, try practicing at the Billy Jean King Tennis Court, 438-8509. 

25 Sail the crystal blue seas. Sail Catalina’s sailing excursions to Catalina Island with top speeds faster than America’s Cup, take just 70 minutes. 714/969-3492. 

26B The newly expanded Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center features the best sailboats, new cars, stamp collections and even Disney on Ice. For event information, check out the marquis at 300 East Ocean Blvd. Or call the box office at 436-3636. 

27 Tantalizing California Cuisine is served at Mum’s on Pine Avenue. After dinner on Fridays and Saturday’s, dance off the extra calories fat the adjacent Cohiba,, one of Long Beach’s new night spots. 437-7700. 

28 Shop until you drop. Nestled around a duck pond and colorful gardens, explore the specialty shops, boutiques, multi-cinema theater complex and fine restaurants at The Marketplace. 431-6282. 

29 You may not get a free lunch, but why pay to get there? Take a ride in the free Long Beach Runabout Shuttle. The shuttle runs throughout downtown and stops at all major hotels, shops and attractions, including the Queen Mary Seaport. 591-2301.  

Blimp Watching
30 HOW ABOUT BLIMP WATCHING ? Unlike "Watching the Submarine Races", there really are plenty of Blimps to be spotted over Long Beach. Numerous Lighter-than-Air Ships are often operated from the Long Beach Airport, and Goodyear's famous Airship has a base nearby too. Everyone, especially the kids, enjoy watching these vessels drift along the shoreline. A locally based Blimp pilot has written a series of children's books which you may enjoy. For details, visit http://www.BuddyTheBlimp.com. 

31 Planning a picnic? The freshest produce as well as arts, crafts and entertainment are available at the afternoon Downtown Marketplace, held Fridays from 10 am to 4pm along the downtown Promenade.
1-866-GOOD-VEG. 

Skinniest House
32 The nation’s skinniest house, according to Guinness World of Records, makes its home on Gladys Avenue in Long Beach. Built on a lot measuring 10 feet by 50 feet by Nelson Rummond, who bet that he could build a habitable residence on the lot. The Skinny House is located a 708 Gladys Avenue. 436-3645 

33 Take a meditative pause in the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens at Cal State University Long Beach 985-8885. 

34 A la carte items include french fries, salad or cyber chat. Featuring an extensive menu that caters to vegetarians, Almost Paradise also offers seven computer terminals for the use of their patrons. Diners may sign up on a credit account so that they may stay in touch with the World Wide Web while they dine. 429-3066. 

35 Shoot bull’s eye at the El Dorado Park archery range, site of the 1984 Olympic competition. 213/ARCHERY. 

36 Rack’em up. The mammoth game room at Yankee Doodles features billiards tables, ping pong, shuffleboard and dart boards. A full-service restaurant is also on hand to feed the hungriest person in your group. 439-9777. Utopia, the newest nightclub and restaurant on Broadway also offers billiards, dining and nightly entertainment. 432-7202. Experience Jillian’s, housed in a historic bank building, that features billiards, dining and dancing. 628-8866. 

37 Has hockey gone to the dogs? The IHL’s Long Beach Ice Dogs, 1997-1998 Western Conference Champions. The Ice Dogs play at the Long Beach Arena, 310/423-3647. 

38 Nine times the sports action, nine times the commercials. Legends features up-to-the-minute sports action on its nine wide-screen TVs. 433-5743. 

39 Blend into the California beach scene along Belmont Shore’s lively Second Street. Stroll the boutiques, galleries, book stores and coffeehouses; indulges in the many restaurants and pubs; and be sure to peruse the "shadow art" along the walls and sidewalks. Belmont Shore Business Association. 434-3066 

40 Thousands of used books await your perusal a Acres of Books. California’s largest used bookstores is one of Ray Bradbury’s favorite places to go for used books. 437-6980. 

41 Submerse yourself amid Catalina Island’s magnificent marine preserve. This first-of-its-kind semi-submersible vessel made its California debut in the summer of 1994. The 60-foot, 50-ton, U.S. Coast Guard-approved vessel carries 36 passengers and makes a 40-minute tour of Catalina’s panoramic Undersea Gardens. Santa Catalina Island Company/Discovery Tours, 510-2500, 800/322-3434. 

42 Street voices of Long Beach. The city’s Mural and Cultural Arts Program has been the guiding hand in the creation of dozens of murals throughout the city. To receive a copy of A Showcase of Neighborhood Murals, call the Long Beach Area CVB, 436-3645. 

43 Souvenir shopping has never been so easy. Artscape offers an eclectic display of functional art exclusively crafted by regional artists, includes cards, journals, gift items and jewelry. 434-3224. 

44 Why travel to the wine country, when Morry’s of Naples offers wine tastings every Friday? Morry’s, Long Beach’s oldest liquor store, also offers beer tastings on Thursdays. 433-0405. 

45 Pack an extra roll of film for this Kodak moment. Panoramic views of the port of Long Beach, the west coast’s busiest port, are available atop the Port Administration building. The public is welcome to the roof and exhibit galleries. 590-4123. 

46Long Beach is home to the largest Cambodian population in the United States. More than 400 businesses line the Anaheim Street corridor offering a variety of authentic Cambodian restaurants, shops and professional services. United Cambodian Community Inc. 433-2490. 

47 Don’t squeeze the starfish. The tidepool touch tank at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium offers a hands-on view of starfish and sea urchins. Other exhibits include live sea animals and plants native to Southern California. 548-7562. 

48 Root, root, root for the home team! The Long Beach Riptide, a new professional minor league baseball team, play their home games at the Blair Field. The minor league season runs from May through Labor Day.  

49 Immerse yourself in Southern California’s ranching history by touring Long Beach’s two historic ranchos and their gardens. Rancho Los Alamitos, with an area that spans 1,500 years, is reminiscent of a 1930’s working ranch. 431-3541. Rancho Los Cerritos, a Monterey colonial-style adobe built in 1844, originally functioned as a headquarters for a 27,000-acre cattle ranch. 570-1755. 

50 Practice your drive at Skylinks Golf Course driving range. 421-3388. For golf course information, contact Long Beach Parks and Recreation. 570-1520.  

51 This place is for the birds. Bird watchers flock to The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, a 300-acre wildlife sanctuary that features guided tours the first Saturday of each month. 714/897-7003.  

52 Shoot some hoops and meet new friends at the basketball courts between the bay and the ocean on 54th street in Belmont Shore. 562/570-3100. 

53 Let’s get physical. Visitors to Long Beach are able to climb one of the largest indoor rock-climbing wall in Southern California at the Downtown YMCA, 436-YMCA. Visitors may also stay in shape at Family Fitness Center, 435-6300. Both offer daily passes for non-members. 

54 Dryer lint finds a home in the Lint Museum. The "Lint Lady," Slater Barron has been turning dryer lint into art since 1974. She turns the fuzzy stuff into three-dimensional sculpture that convey social and political messages. 426-3801. 

55 Spend the night in the home of Long Beach’s first mayor. Charles Windham, elected in the early 1900’s, resided at what is now known as the Lord Mayor’s Inn Bed & Breakfast. Having recently expanded, the Lord Mayor’s Inn also operates the neighboring Cinnamon House and guests can expect to enjoy delicious cinnamon rolls. 436-0324. 

56 Cheer for your knight in shining armor. Re-enactment of a medieval tournament and dinner as knights on horseback compete on daring jousting tournaments at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. Buena Park, 714/521-4740. 

57 Two Harbors on Catalina Island offers four scenic island and seaside camp ground gateways. Camping equipment and rentals available. 510-2800. 

58 The Long Beach Museum of Art is located on a magnificent bluff-top site overlooking Long Beach Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. The campus includes the historic Elizabeth Milbank Anderson house (home to the Museum Store and Cafe) and carriage house, oceanfront gardens, and a pavilion with two floors of expansive gallery space. In addition to changing exhibitions, the Museum offers extensive educational programs for children and adults, musical programs, festivals, and other special events. 2300 E. Ocean Blvd. (562) 439-2119. LBMA web site 

59 Spend a night on the town. Long Beach is home to world-class performing arts, including symphony, opera, jazz ensembles, dance groups, comedy, drama and Broadway musicals. The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center is located on the campus at Cal State University Long Beach, 985-7000. The Terrace Theater is found at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, 436-3636. Up-to-date information on all of Long Beach’s performing arts is available by calling the Public Corporation for the Arts, 983-3820 or 570-5250. 

60 Polar bear club member should be sure to take an early morning swim along the buoy course in the calm waters of Alamitos Bay along Bayshore Avenue. 570-3100. 

61 Vegetarians welcome here. All manner of diets, including vegan, fat-free, sugar-free and salt-free, are accommodated at Papa Jon’s Natural Market & Café which specializes in vegetarian dishes created from organic products. 439-3444. 

62 Move over Melrose. Trendy Pine Avenue in Long Beach offers boutiques, furniture galleries, nightclubs and restaurants for every interest. Stroll along Pine Avenue during the day and shop at your favorite stores, or cavort by night and find every type of music from rock’n roll to the soothing sounds of blues. 436-3645. 

63 More trendy shopping is available at Shoreline Village, a waterfront center that features 30 shops, restaurants and cafes and daily harbor cruises. 435-2668. 

64 Muse over the award-winning art exhibitions at the University Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach. The museum offers maps for visitors to explore the Monumental Sculpture Collection scattered throughout the campus. 985-5761. 

65 Cruise the strip. Long Beach’s scenic Shoreline Drive has been home to many blockbuster movie filmings, including such recent releases as Heat and Speed. 

66 Catch a shark. Long Beach Transit’s "Land Shark Bus"(# 171) rides down the Pacific Coast Highway to the beach. 591-2301. 

67 Pull up a beach chair on late summer Wednesday afternoons and watch the Long Beach Yacht Club’s sailboat races along Belmont Shore. 598-9401.  

68 "If only the walls could talk…" Take a historic walking tour of downtown’s splendid stack of historic buildings and listen to the history of Long Beach. A free self-guided tour of the historic buildings is available through the Office of Neighborhood and Historic Preservation. 570-6864. 

69 Barbecues aren’t just for the summer anymore. Shenandoah Café on Second Street in Belmont Shore features down-home, southern-style cooking, 434-3469. The finest ribs outside of Chicago are found at Chicago for Ribs on trendy Pine Avenue, 436-RIBS. Or check out a local favorite at Johnny Rebs Southern Roadhouse 423-REBS. 

70 Cheer for Long Beach’s top-rated Belmont Shore Rugby Football Club, one of the toughest in the country. The season runs from October to May. 438-0073. 

71 Boaters are able to launch small boats from Golden Shore, Davies/2nd Street or the Marine Stadium launch ramps. For information on marine activities, call the Marine department at 594-0951. 

72 Take the plunge. Go swimming or catch a local water polo match at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool, site of the 1968 Olympic trials. 438-1142. 

73 A truely unique idea for tourists, and locals alike. Segway "Human Transporter" scooters are now available for guided tours, rental or purchase. The store is located Downtown at the Pike at Rainbow Harbor - the perfect home base from which to set out exploring Long Beach on a Segway. Call 866-SEGWAY9 or visit Segway of Long Beach 

74 Catch a thrill ride. Long Beach is centrally located less than an hour away from all of Southern California’s major theme parks. Disneyland, 714/999-4565; Universal Studios Hollywood, 818/622-3801; and Raging Waters, 909/592-6453; Knott’s Berry Farm, 714/220-5200, Six Flags Magic Mountain, 805/255-4100. 

75 Take the plunge. The Queen Mary Seaport is home to Mega Bungee, North America’s highest free-standing bungee tower.  

76 Dine beneath an authentic lighthouse with a spectacular view of the Queen Mary a Parker’s Lighthouse in Shoreline Village. 432-6500. 

77 Spend a day at the beach. Alfredo’s Beach Rentals, 491-7522 and HoverWorld U.S.A., 901-1433 offer Beach essentials for the whole family, including food, bikes, skates, kayaks, boats and Jet Skis. 

78 Saddle up and mosey on over to Wild Bill’s Wild West Dinner Extravaganza for tasty vittles and a night of good ol’ western entertainment. 714/522-6414. 

79 Sail away over the ocean blue. Yacht charters and sailing instructions are available through Marina Sailing Inc., a full-service yacht club. Fully-equipped 22-foot sailboats are available for day sails and for island vacations. 432-4672. 

80 Serves up. Grab your volleyball and net and join a game of beach volleyball. There are plenty of courts in Belmont Shore and at the foot of Cherry Avenue. 570-3100. 

81 Sample eclectic fare at a number of unique and interesting restaurants around town. Babouch Moroccan Restaurant serves authentic Moroccan cuisine, 831-0246; Papadakis Taverna specializes in an extensive menu of Greek specialties, 548-1186; and Mykonos on 2nd Street in Long Beach offers traditional Greek and seafood dishes, 434-1856. 

82 Celebrity homes, Beverly Hills and Hollywood are just some of the destinations included in the unique day trips around southern California. Customized tours are available through Good Times Travel Club, 714/893-1877, Royal Dynasty Tours, 575-3635 and BestWays Sightseeing and Transportation, 213/294-0758. 

83 Celebrate southern California’s Coastline in an authentic DC-3 air-craft. These nostalgic air tours are available through Air Cruise America. 432-8002. 

84 See the Light. The Angels Gate/L.A. Harbor Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in the world that emits an emerald-colored beam. Additionally, this light was the first in the U.S. to be converted to a solar-operated lighthouse. The solar project was abandoned after a test run determined that there was not enough power to fuel the beacon atop the lighthouse. The Lighthouse on Point Fermin, off the Long Beach Coast is one of the oldest wooden lighthouses on the Pacific Coast. 436-3645. 

85 Don’t worry about the backdraft. Long Beach’s Fire Fighters Museum features horse-drawn steamers, hand-drown carts, old-time fire engines and other memorabilia. The museum is operated by the Credit Union and is open the second Saturday of each month. 597-0351. 

86 Survey the art scene at one of Long Beach’s many art galleries, including the FHP Hippodrome Gallery, 432-8431; and Long Beach Arts, 435-5995. 

87 Performances here are off, off, off Broadway! Long Beach abounds with opportunity to enjoy all types of live theatre in smaller, more intimate playhouses. Just a few of the local venues include:  

The Long Beach Playhouse (562) 494-1616
The Edison Theatre (562) 432-1818
The Found Theater (562) 433-3363
The International City Theater (562) 436-4610 

88 Get on your Harley and ride. EagleRider Motorcycle Rentals offers a full line of Harley-Davidsons for road trips between Long Beach and San Francisco; one-way rentals are available. 320-3456. 

89 If a Harley-Davidson is a little adventurous, try feeling the wind in your hair on a Schwinn. The nation’s first commuter Bike Station and Coffeehouse, modeled after successful European and Japanese examples, is a bicycle storage and rental facility that provides an important link to other modes of public transportation The station is blocks away from Long Beach’s five-mile coastline bike path, which runs along Ocean Boulevard and the Coastline. 985-9344. 

90 Listen to the resounding 4,074 pipe Moeller organ during free concerts on Fridays at the historic First Congregational Church. Also worth a stop is the lavish stained glass and decorative detailing inside the church. 436-2256. 

91 The price includes subtitles. Foreign and artistic films are regularly featured at The Bay theater, located on Main Street in Seal Beach. The Bay Theatre is home to a Wurlitzer pipe organ that once entertained patrons at New York’s Paramount Theater.431-9988. 

92 Attend a live taping of your favorite TV show. Free tickets and filming schedules are available by calling Audiences Unlimited, 818/506-0067. 

93 Serve yourself at Long Beach’s largest family restaurant, the Colonial Buffet and Bakery. 590-0220. 

94 Home is where the habitat is. Enjoy 450 acres of natural beauty at El Dorado Park, in the heart of the city. The El Dorado Nature Center contains a ¼ paved trail and two miles of dirt trails winding around two lakes and a stream. Trail guides and a bird checklist are available to enhance your visit. 570-1745. 

95 Land’s End. Just off the coast of Long Beach lies the Southwesternmost tip of the North American continent. Marked by the skytower at Long Point, this site is the former home of Marineland of the Pacific. 

96 One of the most prestigious shopping centers in the country, South Coast Plaza offers complimentary shuttle service from many downtown Long Beach hotels. Shoppers may spend the day at South Coast Plaza, enjoying such retailers as Giorgio Armani, Burberry’s and Lillie Rubin and then return to Long Beach a 4:30 pm. 714/435-2012. 

97 Catalina Cruise boats depart while visitors sip cocktails and dine on fine seafood. Simon and Seafort’s, located at Catalina Landing offers beautiful views of Queensway Bay. 435-2333. 

98 Savor one of the best French Dip sandwiches in town. Tony’s Famous French Dip Sandwiches specializes in sandwiches, soups, homemade salads and desserts. Historical pictures of Long Beach decorate the walls at Tony’s. 435-6238. 

99 Looking for vintage clothing. Fourth Street, between Cherry and Junipero, has emerged as the Retro Wear Capital of Southern California. Even TV and movie costume designers can be found visiting the boulevard to find vintage clothing to include on their sets. 433-8490. 

100 Explore the wonder of Southern California. Such world-famous attractions as Sea World, Lake Arrowhead, Santa Barbara and even Tijuana are an easy day tour from centrally located Long Beach. 436-3645 

101 Finish off your tour of Long Beach with a cappuccino, gourmet coffee or exotic tea at one of several local coffeehouses. Cage Gaga, 438-2857; the Library, 433-2393; and Chatz of Long Beach, 436-1514.
 

It's our job to know EVERYTHING about Long Beach, South Bay and Surrounding Cities! Ask us any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and we promise to get back to you quickly...
Contact WGA Real Estate today!