I am considering flying Jet Blue, which operates from Long Beach, CA. Is the place itself worth staying over for a night or two - we will be in LA for about a week, so won't need Long Beach as a base, but would stay there if there was stuff worth doing (for two 30 somethings and our baby).

Thanks in advance.

Downtown Long Beach is great. Wonderful restaurants and shops. You should check out the Queen Mary Seaort and Shoreline Village. Long Beach is also a starting point for a cruise to Catalina. Look up Long Beach's web site and I'm sure you'll agree that it is a great area with lots to do.

Please be aware that you need to avoid what is known LBC NorthTown, which is home to the Crips gang and others you don't want to run into. I don't want to start a riot on this board, but parts of Long Beach should be avoided for your own safety. Much like I would advise you to avoid Compton or Inglewood in the LA area. I say skip Long Beach and stay elsewhere. Catalina Island is a nice side trip, but it involves taking the Catalina Express boat. Once there, there's not alot of beach. You can rent a golf cart type vehicle to tour the island and you can also visit the art deco ballroom. It's really a very quiet place to just sit and relax.

I agree that there are areas of Long Beach that you would best stay away from (that is true of about every city or town in the US!) I would agree about the Queen Mary (go for the package deals - you get to see other areas along with the original tour) and I would also add to the must see's is the Aquarium of the Pacific (great for the kids & adults) My husband & I found plenty to do (3 days) before we went to Catalina Island (yes about the small beaches there) Don't forget about the beach area in Long Beach (great biking & walking trails) I would also recomend trying many of the resturants in the area.

I really like spending time in Long Beach. It has a certain historical personality and look that is a refreshing change from the characterless suburban blight that LA has turned into. I specifically like the downtown area, which for a city the size of LB (about 500K) is surprisingly walkable, friendly, and safe. Many hotel choices, and a good variety of restaurants around. In addition to the aquarium (walking distance from the hotel area) I suggest taking a day trip to the Belmont Shore neighborhood. The city has a great transit system, the red and the purple buses are free, and I believe that the red bus is the one that takes you from downtown to Bel Shore. The bad areas of Long Beach are well to the north, the areas right next to Compton, etc.

Funny to come across this posting, I'm actually staying in Long Beach right now, been here several times this year for work and I must say that my first visit completely blew away whatever image I had of Long Beach from the stereotypes that some of the locals have of it. We were just talking about this, and apparently much of the negativity that So Calies have of Long Beach comes from when the navy had a base here, and it was a much rougher and seedier town then. I would never have known given how it looks now.

I have to agree that I question why it's always getting such a bad rap. While I prefer Orange County beach towns, Long Beach has a lot to offer a tourist. The aquamarine, the Queen Mary, close access to Catalina Island, Belmont Shores for shopping, Pine Street for dining. Several of my friends have moved to the area in the last 5 years and wouldn't consider moving elsewhere.

Long Beach can be a lot of fun, and there are plenty of activities to keep one busy for a couple of days. But Long Beach is most certainly a "divided city". And, no, this is not due to the naval base that was there. The north side of Long Beach is home to gang members, big time. You will be fine the closer you are to the beach and Belmont Shore. Tourists really have no reason to go into the northern part of town, however.

Just be smart and you should have a great time.

Thanks all for your replies - I checked out the tourist office website and it looks like fun.

Can anyone recommend a decent upscale hotel? I will check the Fodors ratings, but would appreciate personal recommendations too.

Lived in Long Beach for five years, attended Cal State. Some suggestions:

Try the Westin downtown - very nice.

Marina area has a walking/stroller/bike path on the beach. You can also stroll through the shops there and try some outdoor beachfront dining. Parker's Lighthouse is nice. There's also an indoor carousel.

The beach itself at Long Beach is not that great, especially when compared to other, very close beaches. Went there only one time with beach towel and book and decided never again. Seal Beach is a great little beach community with a pier, cute shops and a good beach. Bolsa Chica Beach is another close, nice one -- they even have cement fire rings so you can build a fire on the beach. Great for a picnic.

Belmont Shore and Naples Island are very nice, with sheltered little inland beaches (great if it's too windy) and lots of cute shops and restaurants. You can even take a gondola ride through the water canals of Naples. Favorite eatery in Belmont Shore is Bonnadonna's Shore House. There was also a nice little waterfront brew pub called Belmont Brewing Company, with great views of the Queen Mary and a large exotic fish aquarium.

A catamaran ride to Catalina Island is fun. You can rent a little golf cart, snorkel, ride up to see the old Wrigley House and get some great views (owned by the chewing gum family).

Stick to those areas and you'll be fine.

How funny to read all this. I lived in Belmont Shore in the 60's, Glendora Ave., and still fondly recall those days. Glad to hear Belmont Shores is still nice!! We were certainly there in a different era...it was just a nice old middle class neighborhood. The Queen Mary and the Hyatt in LB are in the area of what was then "The Pike"--totally different today from what it was then, I'm sure! Anyone else remember the Pike or Terminal Island from that era?