Long Beach, California
Feb 13th, 2007, 02:13 PM
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Long Beach, California
My husband will be taking a business trip to Long Beach & Santa Monica the first week in APril and I will be joining him. We plan to stay in Long Beach for 2 nights and at Le Merigot in Santa Monica for 2 nights.
Would it be possible to get from Long Beach to downtown LA (I would need to use public transportation because my husband would have a rental car for work)? Or, is there a lot enough to do in Long Beach for 2 days? I love museums and walking around town. I also love the beach! Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Would it be possible to get from Long Beach to downtown LA (I would need to use public transportation because my husband would have a rental car for work)? Or, is there a lot enough to do in Long Beach for 2 days? I love museums and walking around town. I also love the beach! Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Feb 13th, 2007, 02:38 PM
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Long Beach to downtown LA is easily done via the LA Metro Blue Line train:
www.mta.net
There IS quite a bit to do in downtown Long Beach (I live in east Long Beach in one of the first suburban neighborhoods in the western US). One could fill a whole day between the Queen Mary (a quick 2-minute Long Beach Transit shuttle ride from downtown), the Aquarium of the Pacific, hokey and fun Shoreline Village and the Pike entertainment complex (but for God's sake, resist the temptation to dine at any of the Chain Restaurant Circles of Hell that operate there!). In the evening, head to Pine Avenue and indulge in some nice fine dining; L'Opera and Alegría are great eateries. Or, head east to Belmont Shore and walk around the little shops on Second Street, then grab dinner at one of the places there, like Bono's (Christy's coastal tribute to her dad Sonny's Palm Springs restaurant), George's Greek Café (Cypriot-Greek food in a boisterous, delightful room), Café Gazelle, Nico's on Naples Island, etc. The beaches in Long Beach aren't that great, to be honest, but the bike path runs from downtown to Belmont Shore, and that can be fun. The LB Museum of Latin American Art is downtown and widely considered one of the best in that specialty in the US.
Having said all this, I would save the beach visit for Santa Monica. I think you'll enjoy Santa Monica a great deal (I work there). Long Beach is nice enough, and it's a great city to live in-- but Santa Monica is more like what people picture when they think "southern California beach town". Have fun!
www.mta.net
There IS quite a bit to do in downtown Long Beach (I live in east Long Beach in one of the first suburban neighborhoods in the western US). One could fill a whole day between the Queen Mary (a quick 2-minute Long Beach Transit shuttle ride from downtown), the Aquarium of the Pacific, hokey and fun Shoreline Village and the Pike entertainment complex (but for God's sake, resist the temptation to dine at any of the Chain Restaurant Circles of Hell that operate there!). In the evening, head to Pine Avenue and indulge in some nice fine dining; L'Opera and Alegría are great eateries. Or, head east to Belmont Shore and walk around the little shops on Second Street, then grab dinner at one of the places there, like Bono's (Christy's coastal tribute to her dad Sonny's Palm Springs restaurant), George's Greek Café (Cypriot-Greek food in a boisterous, delightful room), Café Gazelle, Nico's on Naples Island, etc. The beaches in Long Beach aren't that great, to be honest, but the bike path runs from downtown to Belmont Shore, and that can be fun. The LB Museum of Latin American Art is downtown and widely considered one of the best in that specialty in the US.
Having said all this, I would save the beach visit for Santa Monica. I think you'll enjoy Santa Monica a great deal (I work there). Long Beach is nice enough, and it's a great city to live in-- but Santa Monica is more like what people picture when they think "southern California beach town". Have fun!
Feb 13th, 2007, 11:46 PM
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I'd spend the two days in Long Bedach as rjw described. Maybe take a harbor cruise or a whale watching boat trip if the season is right. You could also take a day trip out to Santa Catalina island.
Feb 14th, 2007, 01:05 AM
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I have often stayed in LB. A trip to Catalina island can easily consume a day.
It is absolutely wonderful, almost like being on the Riviera; you can walk, enjoy the beach from a restaurant by the water or have a drink on the grass of the beach club.
The tour of the "casino" is very interesting. If you like museums, there are two interesting ones in LB, cant recall the names-one is on the waterfront and you can have a snack in their outdoor cafe and the other is an hispanic art museum which is quite interesting as well. The train into LB runs often, if you are uncomfortable around poor folks, you might not like it but I found it to be excellent. It takes you to union station where you transfer to other trains/subway. That said, it only goes so far into LA.
You can see the famous art deco library,
a modern art museum (lamaca?), Olivera St all within walking distance of union sta. which is interesting itself.
The Los County Art Museum is interesting but far from the train. You can get there by taxi if you are willing to pay
a large-ish fare.
If you like museums you can take the LB train to Union sta and go to Pasedena to see the wonderful Norton Simon museum (opens at noon) and a 20 min walk.
You can also take a bus to a beach in LB.
SM has the Getty Villa and museums, both
amazing. You need to call and make res. at the VIlla, you wont regret it. If you do the web res. they will probably be discouraging. Excellent food options at both. Have fun and let us know what you decide to do.
It is absolutely wonderful, almost like being on the Riviera; you can walk, enjoy the beach from a restaurant by the water or have a drink on the grass of the beach club.
The tour of the "casino" is very interesting. If you like museums, there are two interesting ones in LB, cant recall the names-one is on the waterfront and you can have a snack in their outdoor cafe and the other is an hispanic art museum which is quite interesting as well. The train into LB runs often, if you are uncomfortable around poor folks, you might not like it but I found it to be excellent. It takes you to union station where you transfer to other trains/subway. That said, it only goes so far into LA.
You can see the famous art deco library,
a modern art museum (lamaca?), Olivera St all within walking distance of union sta. which is interesting itself.
The Los County Art Museum is interesting but far from the train. You can get there by taxi if you are willing to pay
a large-ish fare.
If you like museums you can take the LB train to Union sta and go to Pasedena to see the wonderful Norton Simon museum (opens at noon) and a 20 min walk.
You can also take a bus to a beach in LB.
SM has the Getty Villa and museums, both
amazing. You need to call and make res. at the VIlla, you wont regret it. If you do the web res. they will probably be discouraging. Excellent food options at both. Have fun and let us know what you decide to do.
Feb 14th, 2007, 07:27 AM
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Jumping in to add onto hellokittie's post: The museum on the bluff overlooking the Pacific is the Long Beach Museum of Art. It's a very small facility with very narrow focus; the permanent collections include "early California" paintings (19th century) and artisan glass and ceramics, as well as Midcentury Moderne furniture iconic pieces (George Nelson, Charles and Ray Eames, etc.). However, the views from the bluff are beautiful, and the café is a nice place to nosh and take in the ocean breezes. If it's not raining.
Feb 14th, 2007, 07:31 AM
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Oops-- another thing. Although Santa Monica puts you closer to both of the Getty facilities, neither is IN Santa Monica. The Getty Center is in Brentwood, a ritzy neighborhood of Los Angeles; the Getty Villa is in Malibu. Both are a little bit of a drive from downtown Santa Monica.
