Where to shop in Long Beach
Mar 1st, 2006, 07:39 AM
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Where to shop in Long Beach
As part of a week-long trip, my college-age daughter and I will be spending 1 night at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel next week prior to flying out of Long Beach Airport. Our flight is at 1:30pm, so I figure we have a couple of hours to sightsee or shop. We toured the Queen Mary years ago, so will skip that. Any suggestions on where to shop? We will have a car. I would also appreciate info on how much time it will take to get to airport.
We will be arriving at hotel late, so do not need info for evening. Btw, I got the Renaissance Hotel for $65 on priceline. It was my first bid, so it might have gone for even lower!
Thanks in advance.
We will be arriving at hotel late, so do not need info for evening. Btw, I got the Renaissance Hotel for $65 on priceline. It was my first bid, so it might have gone for even lower!
Thanks in advance.
Mar 1st, 2006, 07:56 AM
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Hi Susan4,
I will just add what I can. There is a delightful little area, 2nd Street, that has many shops where you can wonder all afternoon. One of the regulars here can tell you exactly how to get there, it has been five years since I lived there and for the life of me I cannot remember the long street that connects downtown to 2nd Street, they will know.
Enjoy, there is a lot of info here for restaurant recs and whatnot.
I will just add what I can. There is a delightful little area, 2nd Street, that has many shops where you can wonder all afternoon. One of the regulars here can tell you exactly how to get there, it has been five years since I lived there and for the life of me I cannot remember the long street that connects downtown to 2nd Street, they will know.
Enjoy, there is a lot of info here for restaurant recs and whatnot.
Mar 1st, 2006, 08:04 AM
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The best place to shop in Long Beach-- well, it ain't downtown. Our favorite little collection of shops, funky boutiques, etc. is in Belmont Shore, a few miles east. NOTE: You should plan to arrive at LGB, drop off your rental and get through security no later than 12:00 noon, and most shops in Belmont Shore will open at 10, so you won't have a heck of a lot of time. Plan on grabbing breakfast on the way.
To get to Belmont Shore: Get on Ocean Blvd. out front of the Renaissance. Follow it east. You will pass the little Long Beach Museum of Art on your right, then you will see some fairly big luxury homes (including an original Irving Gill from the 1910s) on your left as you drive on the bluffs. When you see a fork in the road (Livingston/Ocean), bear left onto Livingston, which will take you to Second Street, the main drag in Belmont Shore (you will take a soft right onto Second). There's a joint about nine blocks down called the Shorehouse Café-- great for breakfast. Get there by 9, eat, take a nice stroll around. Get in your rental around 11:30, and you're about 10 minutes from the airport. From Belmont Shore:
-- Second Street east to PCH. Make a left there.
-- Follow PCH up to the Traffic Circle, then follow the signs (carefully) to Lakewood Blvd. North.
-- Take Lakewood up to LGB-- a left onto Donald Douglas Drive (no, I'm NOT making the name up). You will have passed under the main runway at LGB, and you will see the Skylinks golf course on your right. Follow the signs to Rental Return.
At that hour, security lines will be relatively fast (meaning less than two minutes-- even at their worst, I've never spent more than 10 minutes in a security line at LGB).
I just thought of another area with super-funky consignment stores, salons, galleries and coffeehouses, but it's pretty gritty. That would be Fourth St. around Cherry and Junípero Sts. It's really a locals-only neighborhood-- fun, but not picturesque. Still, if Midcentury antiques are your scene....
To get to Belmont Shore: Get on Ocean Blvd. out front of the Renaissance. Follow it east. You will pass the little Long Beach Museum of Art on your right, then you will see some fairly big luxury homes (including an original Irving Gill from the 1910s) on your left as you drive on the bluffs. When you see a fork in the road (Livingston/Ocean), bear left onto Livingston, which will take you to Second Street, the main drag in Belmont Shore (you will take a soft right onto Second). There's a joint about nine blocks down called the Shorehouse Café-- great for breakfast. Get there by 9, eat, take a nice stroll around. Get in your rental around 11:30, and you're about 10 minutes from the airport. From Belmont Shore:
-- Second Street east to PCH. Make a left there.
-- Follow PCH up to the Traffic Circle, then follow the signs (carefully) to Lakewood Blvd. North.
-- Take Lakewood up to LGB-- a left onto Donald Douglas Drive (no, I'm NOT making the name up). You will have passed under the main runway at LGB, and you will see the Skylinks golf course on your right. Follow the signs to Rental Return.
At that hour, security lines will be relatively fast (meaning less than two minutes-- even at their worst, I've never spent more than 10 minutes in a security line at LGB).
I just thought of another area with super-funky consignment stores, salons, galleries and coffeehouses, but it's pretty gritty. That would be Fourth St. around Cherry and Junípero Sts. It's really a locals-only neighborhood-- fun, but not picturesque. Still, if Midcentury antiques are your scene....
Mar 1st, 2006, 09:45 AM
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RJW and Tiff,
Thanks alot. I can always depend on Fodorites for answers.
Belmont Shore sounds good to me, but my daughter has heard about Pine Ave. How does that compare?
And, thanks for the excellent directions.
Thanks alot. I can always depend on Fodorites for answers.
Belmont Shore sounds good to me, but my daughter has heard about Pine Ave. How does that compare?
And, thanks for the excellent directions.
Mar 1st, 2006, 10:07 AM
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Pine Avenue? It's got some great restaurants. The shopping isn't as good as Belmont Shore, but it's getting better.
The one thing Belmont Shore doesn't have (and I'm not sure I'd be happy if it did) is good hotel choices in the immediate area. Oh well....
The one thing Belmont Shore doesn't have (and I'm not sure I'd be happy if it did) is good hotel choices in the immediate area. Oh well....
Mar 1st, 2006, 05:25 PM
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Hi susan, you will love Belmont Shores. I use to get to go there a lot when my husband had family in Long Beach. Consider it a blessing that you won't have all day to shop..just think of all the money you will save, LOL. Enjoy Long Beach
Mar 2nd, 2006, 05:26 PM
#8
Yes, most stores will not open til 10, but Belmont Shore is mostly fun for window shopping anyways. Shorehouse Cafe is my favorite breakfast stop, unless I get suckered in by Jill's Cinnamon Rolls and Pete's Coffee first. There is not much on Pine Avenue.
