Long Beach combines six miles of beach with bike paths, natural areas, and a wide range of cultural attractions. When planning your visit, it’s worth considering the different options: a beach visit, a bike ride, a walk along nature trails, and a visit to a historic house or museum are all different ways to get to know the city. Choose a hotel based on which of these interests you want to shape your stay.
Beaches and Waterfront Paths
At Alamitos Beach, a paved bike path connects Downtown Long Beach with Alamitos Bay; a separate pedestrian path runs alongside it. Free-to-use volleyball courts are also available there. Mother's Beach is located within Alamitos Bay. Protected from the open sea, its water remains consistently calm in the designated swimming areas. At the beach’s northern end, there is a playground with climbing, crawling, swinging, and sliding equipment. The specific beach amenities differ: Alamitos Beach has two paths and volleyball, while Mother's Beach has designated swimming areas and a playground.
Bike Paths and Nature Trails
The San Gabriel River Bike Trail runs along the San Gabriel River through El Dorado Regional Park and continues to an on-street bike lane near Alamitos Bay Marina. El Dorado Nature Center offers a different choice of trails. Its 105 acres include two miles of unpaved trails and a quarter-mile paved path around two lakes, a stream, and wooded areas. The routes differ in both length and surface. The Nature Center’s visitor center offers educational information, an art gallery, and an environmentally focused gift shop.
History, Art, and Garden Culture
Rancho Los Alamitos is a historic ranch with gardens. Visitors can explore the Historic Ranch House, gardens, barns, and farmyard while learning about California history. Rancho Los Cerritos is a public museum at a historic site, offering tours, programs, and events. The adobe house and grounds were built in 1844 and reflect the history of Spanish, Mexican, and American California. Their historical time frames differ: at Rancho Los Cerritos, the adobe complex built in 1844 provides a specific point of reference, while Rancho Los Alamitos takes California history as a subject for learning.
The Museum of Latin American Art is dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latinx art. The Long Beach Museum of Art displays paintings, sculptures, contemporary crafts, and design, and collects works in these fields. Its permanent collection includes more than 3,200 works spanning 300 years of American and European art. Features of the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden include a koi pond, waterfalls, a teahouse, and a bonsai collection.
Exhibitions and Excursions
The Queen Mary offers self-guided tours of onboard exhibitions showcasing the ship’s history and technical interiors. Tour availability and operating hours may change; check the latest information before your visit. The Pacific Visions expansion of the Aquarium of the Pacific includes a theater for multimedia experiences, an art gallery, interactive stations, and exhibits featuring live animals. A narrated harbor cruise through Long Beach Harbor lasts 45 minutes.
Catalina Express offers daily round-trip service to Catalina Island from its terminal in Long Beach. As departures and schedules may change, check the current timetable before planning an excursion. The options also differ in the time they take: the harbor cruise lasts 45 minutes, while the schedule determines the travel time to Catalina Island.
Discover more destinations: Bixby Knolls, Lancaster, Azusa, Whittier, Irwindale, Santa Fe Springs, Vernon, El Segundo.
For the broader travel overview: Los Angeles.
