Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Nestled between Orange County and Los Angeles in coastal Southern California, Long Beach has a moderate and sunny climate. What may surprise many visitors is that Long Beach also has many wonderful tourist sites that rival its neighbors.
One of the primary attractions for any visitor arriving in Long Beach would be the massive new retail and entertainment village that has sprung up along the waterfront in downtown Long Beach, The Pike at Rainbow Harbor. There are over two dozen eateries and a state-of-the-art, all-stadium seating theatre complex. There is also an antique carousel for children of all ages, bringing to mind the wonderful pier front attractions that were once part of Long Beach.
One of the anchors of The Pike complex is the Aquarium of the Pacific. The Aquarium of the Pacific is one of the largest aquariums in the United States. It contains over 1000 species that are displayed in 19 major habitats.
Just down the harbor from the Pike is perhaps the most famous attraction in Long Beach, the elegant ocean liner from an earlier age, the RMS Queen Mary. The Queen Mary has 365 hotel state rooms offering visitors an experience of the faded elegance of the pre World War II ocean liner, an ambience that cannot be found on modern ocean liners. A Sunday brunch with more than 50 world class entrees is served every week in the Grand Salon. For visitors of a more adventuresome nature, tours are offered that play up the Queen Marys well known reputation as one of the most haunted locations in the United States.
Also near The Pike is a charming little shopping area known as Shoreline Village. Shoreline village is a sleepy little tourist spot in the daytime, home to t-shirt shops and family-friendly spots like The Candy Baron and The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. At night, the village is a well known party spot for local business folk ready to blow off steam. The Yardhouse and other establishments are filled with rowdy but good-natured locals and could offer a good time for certain tourists.
Long Beach also has some quieter spots for restoration and reflection if the nightlife leaves you drained. The Earl Burns Garden located on the campus of the California State University at Long Beach, is one of the prettiest and most elegant Zen gardens on the West Coast. Trickling water and sparkling koi are set amidst lush grass and wood grain teahouses to create a truly peaceful spot amidst the big city chaos.
Another island of serenity that Long Beach offers visitors is the El Dorado Nature Center. The center has 102 acres of dirt trails, large trees, and native fauna. There are two lakes on the premises. For tourists with children, the center has a variety of hands-on nature programs.
If you feel you are in need of something more electrifying after your sojourn in nature, feel lucky if you have arrived in Long Beach in April. Every April, the city streets of Long Beach are home to the Long Beach Grand Prix, a world-renowned racing event. The Grand Prix ratchets up the excitement by taking place in the actual streets if Long Beach instead some isolated race track.
In addition to its own charms, Long Beach is centrally located in relation to sites in Orange County and Los Angeles. But there is enough to keep visitors happy in Long Beach proper if one knows where to look. Long Beach has made a concentrated effort to attract tourists in the last decade, and the wonderful shopping and entertainment experiences now offered there will ensure that any visitor will agree that the efforts have been well worth it.
Print article ||
Send to friend ||
Publish this Article ||
Author feedback ||
Add new Comment ||
Article Comments
