Places to stay and things to do in Long Beach, Cali.?
I'll be travelling to Long Beach, Ca. and I have no idea where to go, what attractions are in the area, is it better to stay nead the beach? Are there great shopping malls/outlets in the area? Nightlife/bars/clubs? Is there a specifc area in Long Beach to find a decent hotel to stay at?
Los Angeles - 4 Answers
People's Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
I bought a book from swazzletravel.com that had info on all the areas in texas , maybe there is one about california
Answer 2 :
Long Beach is not the most interesting part of the LA area, but it does have a museum or two, a Japanese Garden on the Cal State Long Beach campus, and a cute shopping area called Belmont Shore. The beach is not much. Better to use Long Beach as your springboard to other attractions and areas in LA as a tourist.
Answer 3 :
There are literally hundreds of things to do here in the LA area. Here is my top ten list: Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can’t be wrong. (Sometimes it seems all at once) Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. And Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park. Hollywood: Hollywood Boulevard is ready for its close-up, thanks to years of urban renewal and renovation. Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Chinese Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. The Hollywood & Highland complex has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards). I also like the El Capitan theater, because it has been restored to its former glory. Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something. Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best. Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore. Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. And it's a short bike ride from Santa Monica Pier. Santa Monica Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. (The Sting and "Three's Company" come immediately to mind). After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach. Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica's shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier. Sunset Boulevard: Perhaps one of the world's most famous streets, it began as a route between the stars' posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the "Sunset Strip" on its way. It makes for a fun drive. Along the way, you see a lot of different neighborhoods: Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone's for Fish. Queen Mary: Once the largest ship afloat, she's been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price. Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, The Grove and Farmers Market coexist. Enjoy a movie or shopping, and then take the trolley to the Farmers Market for lunch or dinner. It is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping "The Price is Right". You might even get in. TAAB: The Americana at Brand- The newly opened TAAB, developed by the same group that gave us The Grove, breathes new life into Glendale, and gives all those hip people in Eagle Rock and the eastern half of LA a great place to go. Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage. Getty Museum - The Getty's architecture is so beautiful that it keeps me fascinated. No matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you'll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free. Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, tvtix.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the Tonight show with Jay Leno. Check the NBC web site for all the details there. Wicked at the Pantages Theater- Located in the heart of Hollywood, this is an excellent and long running production, the most POPULAR show in LA right now. Places to eat: In-N-Out Burger: Multiple locations, best burger in LA, ask anyone. Pink’s Hot Dogs: 709 N. La Brea, just north of Melrose. You might even see a celebrity. Maybe. Tommy’s Chili Burgers: Look for the shack, an LA tradition. The original location is at Beverly & Rampart, a couple miles west of downtown. Canter’s Deli: 419 N. Fairfax, between Beverly & Melrose. Near CBS, you might spot a celebrity. Phillippe’s: 1001 N. Alameda. Great roast beef sandwiches. Near Union Station and Olvera Street. Watch the mustard, it’s hot. The Pantry: Corner of Figueroa and 9th, downtown. Huge portions, they never close, GREAT steak and eggs. Places to Stay: Since LA is so spread out, there is no single place that is close to EVERYTHING. Most people who come here tend to stay in Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Anaheim. In Hollywood, I recommend the Renaissance Hotel at Hollywood and Highland, the Best Western Sunset Plaza, or the Holiday Inn Walk of Fame. In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced. In Anaheim, I recommend the Howard Johnson (HoJo) Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. If you want to splurge and make this a most memorable trip, stay at Disney’s Grand Californian. You get the full Disney experience. If you must stay in LB, stay down close to Pine Ave, Shoreline Village, or the Queen Mary. Places to Shop: Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica The Grove, Los Angeles Americana @ Brand, Glendale Beverly Center, Los Angeles Citadel Outlets, Commerce Brea Mall, Brea The Block at Orange, Orange South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa Fashion Island, Newport Beach Santee Alley, Los Angeles
Answer 4 :
In addition to Obviousman's recommendations. The beach sucks in Long Beach, we have some of the most polluted water in the state and nobody goes to the beach here. However, it is best to stay close to the beach, for safety's sake. Some places to stay are the Rennaisance, Westin, The Queen Mary (old luxury oceanliner), Hyatt, Marriott Courtyard and the Hilton. If you like Bed and Breakfasts try the Beachrunners Inn. The paved bike path along the beach is a good place for people watching. You can rent a Segway or a bike if you'd like. If you stay west of 4th Street than you will be in the nicer and safer parts of Long Beach. 85% of Long Beach is comprised of poor working class neighborhoods. There are pockets of nice neighborhoods, but the vast majority isn't a place I would vacation in. There aren't any decent malls or outlets in Long Beach. The best mall in the area is Southcoast Plaza in Costa Mesa. All hope isn't lost though. 2nd Street in Belmont Shore has cool shopping, bars and restaurants and if you like vintage clothing 4th Street has Retro Row. Pine Street also has bars and restaurants and a small amount of shopping. King's Fish House on Pine is a good place to get a nice meal. Those are the 2 main party areas. Redondo and 2nd also has a small pocket of unique shops, bars and restaurants. Some local tourist traps to visit are the Aquarium of the Americas, The New Pike, Shoreline Village, Queen Mary Pine Avenue and Rainbow Harbor. The Long Beach Museum of Art and the Museum of Latin American Art are worth visitng. Long Beach has tons of bars, the majority of them are dive bars, but they can be a lot of fun. If you drive around some of the old neighborhoods there is a bar every 2 blocks. We have lots of gay bars and clubs that don't hang rainbow flags out front so it is possible to stumble into a gay bar and not know it. Puka Bar is cool to check out if you've never been to a tiki bar. The Pike Bar & Fish Grill has live music at night and is owned by the drummer for Social Distortion. Tattoos and piercings abound in LB and in Southern California, don't let that scare you, we're friendly. The Yard House is a very popular restaurant with a huge beer selection that sits right on the water. Tequila Jack's next door has good margaritas. Be sure to visit Main Street in neighboring Seal Beach for a super-cute classic beach town with cool shops that aren't chain stores and more bars. Eat at Walt's Wharf for good seafood. Just chat up the bartenders or waitstaff and I'm sure they will offer some good tips on what to visit.
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