As one of the only urban centers right along the Southern California coastline, Long Beach has no shortage of things to do — but it’s not all beaches and surfing.
Spend a weekend in the city exploring its famous haunts, like Shoreline Village, and a whale-lined harbor. You’ll also discover some of its lesser-known parts, like burgeoning food and arts scenes and Italian-inspired canals.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Explore the Best of Downtown
Start your weekend in Long Beach with a big breakfast at the Potholder Cafe, a downtown diner that’s considered by many to be the “king” of breakfast. You’ll find plenty of locals here and no shortage of pancakes, bacon, omelettes and scrambles.
Once you’ve had your fill, head to the Aquarium of the Pacific to get up close and personal with aquatic life of all kinds. Make sure to wear shorts or pants that you can easily roll up because in addition to looking at stingrays and bamboo sharks through glass, the aquarium actually lets you wade around in their waters and hand-feed them.
Next, make your way to Shoreline Village, an iconic area along the water and a must-visit during any trip to Long Beach. Here, you can stroll along the boardwalk, pop your head into colorful shops to stock up on some souvenirs and capture the essential Instagram photo with the Rainbow Harbor in the background.
Stick around this area for lunch at Parker’s Lighthouse, a laid back restaurant known for its mesquite-grilled seafood, sushi and steaks.
After lunch, get your body moving with a bike ride on the bay, one of the more unique outdoor activities Long Beach offers. Rent a water bike from Long Beach Waterbikes and ride around the harbor to take in all the sights from an unexpected angle — all the while getting in some cardio.
After your water-soaked ride, you’ll likely want to head back to the hotel to get cleaned up. But don’t take too long, as you won’t want to miss dinner at The Ordinarie, a tavern on the downtown promenade, where you can order comfort food and creative cocktails.
Saturday: Taste Long Beach’s Sweeter Side
All Saturdays should begin on a sweet note and your Saturday in Long Beach is no exception. Head to Sweet Jill’s Bakery for what will be some of the most mouthwatering cinnamon rolls, cakes and muffins of your life — and be sure to grab something to go for later in the day.
From there, spend the rest of the morning beach hopping. Start at Long Beach City Beach, also known as Junipero Beach, for calm waters and expansive views of the coast, then make your way to Rosie’s Dog Beach to watch four-legged beachgoers frolic in the sand and splash around in the ocean.
Grab lunch at Saint & Second, a casual but popular spot for all sorts of American fare, including burgers and flatbreads. Then, spend the afternoon getting transported to Italy on nearby Naples Island. We’re not joking, it was designed to do just that: The picturesque-island boasts Italian-themed street names and gondola rides in the canals.
Take a scenic stroll along the canals and, if you feel so inclined, take a romantic ride in a gondola (just don’t expect your gondolier to break out in operatic tunes). And if gondolas aren’t your speed, you can still experience the canals from the water by renting a kayak or paddleboard.
Head back to the mainland for drinks at the Belmont Brewing Company, the oldest pub in all of Los Angeles County. Then, get dinner at The Attic, a southern-inspired eatery housed in a 1920’s Craftsman bungalow. Don’t miss the crispy octopus and fried green tomatoes or the gumbo and grandma’s cornbread.
Sunday: Soak in the Art Scene
Begin your last day in Long Beach with a cup of joe and an avocado toast at Ground Hideout Coffee, a family-owned coffee shop that many say is home to the best coffee in town. Then, spend the rest of the morning getting lost in the East Village Arts District, where you can pop into galleries and take in colorful murals painted around the neighborhood.
You may even want to check out a museum while you’re here, in which case the Museum of Latin American Art is a can’t-miss. As the only museum in the United States that’s dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin-American and Latinx art, you’ll find an impressive collection of paintings, sculpture, drawing, photography and mixed-media artwork.
For lunch, head to Seabirds Kitchen, a pleasant eatery on 4th Street with beach décor and cheery staff. Be sure to order some avocado tacos and jackfruit sliders, two of the vegan restaurant’s most popular dishes.
After lunch, make your way to the harbor to take part in a favorite Southern California pastime: a dolphin and whale-watching tour. Buy a ticket to the 3pm Whale Watching Cruise offered by Harbor Breeze Cruises and get ready to spot some whales, dolphins and plenty of other exciting sealife.
Finish your day (and your weekend) by dining in style at Queensview Steakhouse.
The classic chop house is situated on the waterfront with a direct view of the famous Queen Mary — an historic ocean liner that sailed between the U.S. and Europe for more than 30 years before being decommissioned in the 1960s — so whether you’re hoping for a romantic date night or just want to end your trip with a hoorah, it’s the ideal place to go.
There’s a stellar steak selection, plenty of freshly-caught seafood, and even the option to build your own surf and turf, so there really is something for every kind of eater.
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