Gina

I am going to Long Beach in March for a conference. Because my husband will be coming with me we would like to stay maybe a couple days longer. But what are places to visit around or things to do? After a few days of attending meetings, workshops and giving presentation I think I would like to go somewhere where is quiet and green. We enjoy scenery, long walks, hikes, bird watching. Any suggestions where to stay? For a conference we will be staying in Courtyard Mariott but once it is over we would like to move to another spot somewhere away from the crowds of the Conention Center. Thank you for your ideas

Merilee

Hi Gina...you can take a tour of the Queen Mary and you can even eat there or stay there...you can also take the Catalina Express over to Catalina Island and spend a wonderful day walking and enjoying the scenery...if you don't want to walk you can rent a golf cart type vehicle (there are no cars on the island) and stop and go at your leisure...the views are fabulous...there's also a tour of the casino there...restaurants and shops, too.

kam

The Inn on Mt. Ada is a gem of a B&B on Catalina, but very, very small and very, very expensive. Catalina is still a good choice. You could also go down to Laguna Beach but that's not green and quiet. The Ritz Carlton Laguna Nigel might meet your needs.

becky

I agree that a day on Catalina would be choice.
The Aquarium of the Pacific is right in downtown Long Beach and they have added a new feature, the Lorikeet Jungle, where the birds fly free & come to you to be held & fed.
The Queen Mary is a classic piece of history, but don't pay the admission fee. Instead, book a dinner reservation at Sir Winston's or the Chelsea, excellent food, and tour the ship free either before or after. Enter thru the hotel entrance and take the elevator up, just tell them you have reservations for dinner if asked. Or better yet, spend the night!
Downtown Long Beach with it's shoreline/harbor area is very visually beautiful.

Terry

I don't live too far from Long Beach. I thought I might recommend some of the restaurants in the area.

Pine Street between Ocean and 3rd has quite a few restaurants, one of our favorites is Allegria, there is also a Crate and Barrel Outlet down there. The Jazz Cafe behind Crate and Barrel on the Promenade (alley way between Pine and Long Beach Blvd) is also a good place in the area.

2nd Street in Belmont Shore (Long Beach) has quiet a few restaurants and shops. We like to go to Panama Joes for mexican food and if you are into organic foods, Papa Jons.

Shoreline Village, another area near the aquarium has the Yard House, it has 180 beers on taps, a martini bar, and I believe a cigar room.

In the Naples area where there are homes on canals there are gondola rides.

At Westminister Ave and Pacific Coast Hwy, there is a Claim Jumpers restaurant, basic food, very large portions.

Catalina Island is an excellent get away and in March it won't be very crowded.

Terry

Another area is the Poppy Preserve out in the Palmdale, Lancaster area. You may check to see if the Poppies are in full bloom at the time. It's about an hour and a half to two hour drive from Long Beach in the high dessert and March is about the time the poppies are out. Miles and miles of poppies in full bloom with the snow capped mountains in the background. There isn't much out there, so we take a picnic lunch and spend the day, driving and walking through the poppy fields.

xxx

Lancaster is a horrible place. There may be some flowers blooming in March, but it would be a horrible waste of vacation time in Southern California. I'm not a big fan of Long Beach either, but there are lots of good places nearby.

I like Catalina Island for a day. Not a whole lot going on over there, but it's a fun place to eat and drink for the day.

The Getty Center is worth visiting. You can drive straight up the 405 from Long Beach. And then after a day at the Getty, stop in Westwood, Santa Monica or Brentwood for a trendy LA dinner.