Long Beach: Beaches, Art and History

Long Beach combines six miles of beaches with museums, historic sites, gardens and nature trails. Each location offers a different perspective on the city. This makes it easy to tailor your trip planning to the interests that actually matter to you.

Beaches and Waterfront Paths

At Alamitos Beach, a paved bike path and a separate pedestrian path connect Downtown Long Beach with Alamitos Bay. Free-to-use volleyball courts are also available there. Another cycling route is the San Gabriel River Bike Trail: it runs along the San Gabriel River through El Dorado Regional Park and continues to an on-street bike lane near Alamitos Bay Marina.

Mother's Beach is located within Alamitos Bay. Protected from the open sea, the water remains consistently calm in the designated swimming areas. At the northern end of the beach, there is a playground with modern climbing, crawling, swinging and sliding equipment. The beach locations therefore differ in their described conditions and activities.

Nature Trails and Gardens

El Dorado Nature Center covers 105 acres. It has two miles of unpaved trails and a quarter-mile paved path around two lakes, a stream and wooded areas. The visitor center offers educational information, an art gallery and an environmentally focused gift shop. Trails, bodies of water and wooded areas shape this natural setting; the visitor center adds exhibitions and information.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden has a different focus: its grounds include a koi pond, waterfalls, a teahouse and a bonsai collection. Travelers comparing natural places for their trip will find a garden with clearly defined features here, alongside the expansive Nature Center with its trails and lakes.

History and Art

Rancho Los Alamitos is a historic ranch with gardens. Visitors can explore the Historic Ranch House, gardens, barns and animal farm, and learn about California history. Rancho Los Cerritos is a historic site and public museum offering tours, programs and events. Built in 1844, the adobe house and grounds reflect the history of Spanish, Mexican and U.S. California.

The museums also cover distinct themes. The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latinx art. The Long Beach Museum of Art displays paintings, sculpture, contemporary craft 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.

Exhibitions and Harbor Experiences

The Queen Mary offers self-guided tours of onboard exhibitions showcasing the ship's history and technical interiors. Tours and opening hours may change, so check these details before your visit. At the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Pacific Visions expansion features a theater for multimedia experiences, an art gallery, interactive stations and exhibits with live animals.

A 45-minute narrated harbor cruise travels through Long Beach Harbor. Catalina Express offers daily round-trip service to Catalina Island from its terminal in Long Beach. Since departures and schedules can change, it is a good idea to check the current schedule before making plans. The harbor cruise and round-trip service are different ways to include time on the water and excursions in your trip plans.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bixby Knolls, Monterey Park, La Crescenta-Montrose, Beverly Hills, Cerritos, Avalon, Azusa, Cudahy

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