Will be traveling to the Long Beach area the end of June and then traveling up the coast of CA through July 9. Any suggestion on restaurants, tours or what to see or not see in the Long Beach area?

How long will you be in Long Beach? I believe the Queen Mary is there. It might be fun to spend a night onboard and tour the ship. Not really too familiar with Long Beach. Maybe someone from that area would be better able to make suggestions. We recently spent a couple of days in Beverly Hills and had a ball. Have fun.

Long Beach is not the most scintillating tourist destination, but at least you're central to all of southern California while you're there. I know-- I live there.

However, there are a couple of things to see in the city itself:

-- The Queen Mary, drydocked in the Port of LB.

-- The Aquarium of the Pacific, in nearby Shoreline Village. Narrow-scope facility (only concerned with aquatic life of the Pacific), not as extensive as Monterey or Scripps, but still a nice facility. Shoreline Village itself is fun for strolling-- a bit hokey (it tries to emulate a seaside village in New England or something), but nice. Some great watering holes and a couple of good restaurants.

The city is really set up for the entertainment of its citizens, not really a tourist mecca. So its entertainment complex, the Pike, is fun and has lots to do, but it's a lot of stuff you'll see elsewhere (a Laugh Factory, more chain restos than you can count). Belmont Shore is a fun neighborhood for us locals to shop and dine in, but I'd be hard-pressed to tell an outsider why they should make the trip-- unless they're in the area.

However, we do have some really good restaurants here:

-- Christy's (Belmont Heights) and Bono's (Belmont Shore), both run by Christy Bono (Sonny's oldest daughter). Both popular with the locals; Christy's is particularly wonderful.

-- Frenchy's Bistro. Superb French cuisine, in a storefront in a commercial part of LB.

-- Shenandoah Café (Belmont Shore). Shabby-chic room, Southern food. Great stuff.

-- L'Opera, downtown LB. Great Italian food served in an old Bank of America branch office.

-- 555 East, downtown LB. Steak. Yum.

-- King's Pine Avenue Fish House, downtown LB. Superior seafood-- the same people run the Water Grill in downtown LA.

But as far as other things to see, the whole southern CA area is your oyster. I'd head down the coast into Orange County and see the really pretty places in the area-- especially Laguna Beach.

If time allows, how about a day trip to Catalina? We were there about this time last year and Catalina was the highlight of our trip.

We love to spend a night now and then on The Queen Mary, the old wood panneled state rooms are cool. The Observation bar is one of my favorite places. To clarify, The Queen Mary is not in dry dock , it rises and falls with the tide.

Yeah, there is really not much to make Long Beach a destination, although there is lots to do in the surrounding areas. You are not far from the Orange County amusement parks, or Los Angeles downtown. Catalina is not a bad idea for July. Whenever we have visitors, we go somewhere else. Although they did like the Bixby Rancho and gardens.
In addition to the more pricey restaurants recommended by rjw, you are near an assortment of ethnic enclaves, including Little India in Artesia, Little Saigon in Westminster, and assorted Korean and Chinese restaurants in the Cerritos/Artesia area. Long Beach has a few Cambodian restaurants, but the neighborhood is a bit dicey. We also like M&M Soul Food on Carson Street near the Bowling alley. Depending on where you are from that might be a more interesting experience.

Hi dizzymelissa, I agree with PM about taking a daytrip to Catalina. That would be a very nice day. And I love the restaurant L'Opera.

I use to have inlaws that lived in Long Beach, and although it was nice to be with them I never found Long Beach to be a destination city as a lot of other places are here in California. But if you are spending a few days there you will find enough to do and enjoy.

I second:

Queen Mary; aquarium; Christy's; Frenchy's (killer Sand Dabs!); 555 (yum is right!); King's Fish House on Pine (not-so-killer Sand Dabs but everything else I've tried has been good--ate there two nights ago).

King's is right next to L'Opera so you could check them both out and decide.

Have fun!

AL

Hi dizzymelissa,

The "2nd Street" area of Belmont Shore is a delightful little area of shops, fun to walk around on a sunny day, it is about 5 miles south of the downtwon area of Long Beach.

Also, another thumbs up for L'Opera. Yum. Had the most delicious lobster ravioli there once.

The Queen Mary is intersting to see.

Enjoy!

Best wishes, T.

Hi Tiff, good idea regarding Belmont Shores. Forgot about that, always went there with my SIL. BTW, I love the lobster ravioli at L'Opera!! My late husband remembered it when it was a bank as he basically grew up in Long Beach. I was really dissapointed in the one dinner I had on the Queen Mary, although the ship was fun to explore. Have fun dizzymelissa (love your nick!).