Long Beach is an ocean-facing city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, approximately 20 miles south of Los Angeles. Its central attraction is the ocean, with approximately 5.5 miles of beach. The Shoreline Pedestrian Bike Path runs the entire length of this long stretch of sand, connecting its different beaches and points of interest.

The ocean experience in Long Beach culminates in the Downtown Waterfront District. Here, places like the Aquarium of the Pacific and Rainbow Harbor offer authentic Southern California travel experiences. And nearby, The Queen Mary ocean liner enjoys her retirement in Queensway Bay, where those looking for something unique to do can hop aboard and enjoy the history.

And it's not all nautical adventures in Long Beach, even though the smell of saltwater is always present. Other ways to enjoy the city's beautiful weather include visiting the expansive regional parks; Japanese gardens; and the inland downtown district, bursting with a community flavor. Extended adventures in the area include the nearby Naples neighborhood, home to the Gondola Getaway, operating one of the largest fleets of gondolas in the country.

The Downtown Waterfront overlooks Queensway Bay on the south side of the city. It's often the first place to visit for tourists and residents looking for entertainment. The area is packed with tourist attractions, including the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Long Beach Convention Center. And its water-adjacent landscape offers a scenic place to walk and spend the day.

Junipero Cherry Beach, also known as Junipero Beach or Long Beach City Beach, is the central spot to access the ocean. This long stretch of sand sits below the aptly named Bluff Park and Ocean Boulevard. The beach itself is very wide and accomodating for all types of under-the-sun activity.

Aquarium of the Pacific

The esteemed Aquarium of the Pacific, in the Downtown Waterfront, has approximately 100 exhibits, and houses over 12,000 ocean animals. These impressive statistics make it the largest facility of its kind in Southern California, and millions of tourists visit the aquarium each year to marvel at the exhibits showcasing the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Downtown Long Beach

For local shopping, dining, and nighttime entertainment, downtown Long Beach has it all. Pine Avenue is a historic thoroughfare extending from the attraction-dense Downtown Waterfront district, offering international flavors at local eateries like George's Greek Café and L'Opera Ristorante.

Both inland and along the waterfront, the downtown district is very walkable and designed with cyclists in mind, including well-marked bike lanes.

Major events occur in the downtown area throughout the year. The Long Beach Art Walk always brings out creative characters, and nightlife in downtown occurs every day of the week. Perhaps the biggest event to hit downtown Long Beach is the annual Grand Prix of Long Beach, where turbocharged cars take over the streets for thrilling race-day action.