Guidebook for Long Beach
Shopping
Great discount household, bed & bath, furniture, electronics, etc. shopping if you are here for an extended stay!
9 locals recommend
Big Lots
2238 N Bellflower BlvdGreat discount household, bed & bath, furniture, electronics, etc. shopping if you are here for an extended stay!
Great clothing store, where you can trade your old threads for cash or get store credit for "new" (good condition) and hip vintage, 2nd hand, and sometimes new threads and shoes! Super friendly staff.
16 locals recommend
Buffalo Exchange
4608 2nd StGreat clothing store, where you can trade your old threads for cash or get store credit for "new" (good condition) and hip vintage, 2nd hand, and sometimes new threads and shoes! Super friendly staff.
Iguana Import Gallery
3440 E BroadwayVery cool gift shop!
Outdoor mall. Nearby is also the Downtown Farmer's Market on Fridays 10am-3pm (you can park in the CityPlace parking structure at 51 E. 3rd St. for both).
8 locals recommend
City Place Shopping Center
151 E 5th StOutdoor mall. Nearby is also the Downtown Farmer's Market on Fridays 10am-3pm (you can park in the CityPlace parking structure at 51 E. 3rd St. for both).
If you don't want to carry linens/blankets/towels with you (sorry, I do not provide them in my listings), then you may want to pick them up here for a good price and donate them back after use.
8 locals recommend
Goodwill Store & Donation Center
25425 Crenshaw BlvdIf you don't want to carry linens/blankets/towels with you (sorry, I do not provide them in my listings), then you may want to pick them up here for a good price and donate them back after use.
Arts & Culture
Our local vintage movie theatre...lots of character, and they even have an outdoor patio area with a wine bar on one side and cofffeehouse on the other!
83 locals recommend
Art Theatre of Long Beach
2025 E 4th StOur local vintage movie theatre...lots of character, and they even have an outdoor patio area with a wine bar on one side and cofffeehouse on the other!
If you're looking to catch a show, this is a great performing arts venue at my alma mater.
16 locals recommend
Carpenter Performing Arts Center
6200 E Atherton StIf you're looking to catch a show, this is a great performing arts venue at my alma mater.
There are cool conventions, gatherings, and events at the Convention Center just about every week, and you can easily get there by bus from our place to avoid the cost of parking.
172 locals recommend
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center
300 E Ocean BlvdThere are cool conventions, gatherings, and events at the Convention Center just about every week, and you can easily get there by bus from our place to avoid the cost of parking.
Our main arts and entertainment venue, and you can easily get there by bus from our place to avoid the cost of parking.
172 locals recommend
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center
300 E Ocean BlvdOur main arts and entertainment venue, and you can easily get there by bus from our place to avoid the cost of parking.
Plan to spend a whole day here if you want to see both the inside museum displays and the outside grounds. Great views of the city as well!
2309 locals recommend
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrPlan to spend a whole day here if you want to see both the inside museum displays and the outside grounds. Great views of the city as well!
A plethora of restaurants, entertainment, bars, and other cool local activities in our downtown area!
246 locals recommend
The Pike Outlets
95 S Pine AveA plethora of restaurants, entertainment, bars, and other cool local activities in our downtown area!
Food Scene
Great sushi bar, with awesome nightly happy hour specials and a very fun and festive vibe!
8 locals recommend
Sushi Studio
4917 CA-1Great sushi bar, with awesome nightly happy hour specials and a very fun and festive vibe!
I love the variety and "healthy" pizza options here...they even have gluten-free crusts available, along with very tasty salads! There is another location on 7th St. as well.
25 locals recommend
zpizza
4612 2nd StI love the variety and "healthy" pizza options here...they even have gluten-free crusts available, along with very tasty salads! There is another location on 7th St. as well.
I love the variety and "healthy" pizza options here...they even have gluten-free crusts available, along with very tasty salads! There is another location on 2nd St. as well.
25 locals recommend
zpizza
4612 2nd StI love the variety and "healthy" pizza options here...they even have gluten-free crusts available, along with very tasty salads! There is another location on 2nd St. as well.
One of my very favorite breakfast/brunch spots! Fantastic omelettes, and a cool, artsy atmosphere. Open 7am-2pm M-F, 7am-3pm Sat/Sun.
58 locals recommend
Coffee Cup Cafe
3734 E 4th StOne of my very favorite breakfast/brunch spots! Fantastic omelettes, and a cool, artsy atmosphere. Open 7am-2pm M-F, 7am-3pm Sat/Sun.
The Crooked Duck
5096 CA-1By far one of the very best brunch spots in Long Beach!
Stefano's Pizza
429 Shoreline Village DriveDecent pizza, great salads, but most of all a fun locale and view.
Nice place...good restaurant section, and small sushi bar, with Happy Hour 3-7pm and live music some nights.
12 locals recommend
Your House Restaurant
2838 CA-1Nice place...good restaurant section, and small sushi bar, with Happy Hour 3-7pm and live music some nights.
This place is usually packed, with a great outdoor seating area and a nice, friendly vibe. Delicious food as well, altho the menu is a bit limited. Very close to walk to, however!
154 locals recommend
The Attic
3441 E BroadwayThis place is usually packed, with a great outdoor seating area and a nice, friendly vibe. Delicious food as well, altho the menu is a bit limited. Very close to walk to, however!
Not the best Chinese food in town, but for the money, you get a lot and I find it quite tasty. And delivery is FREE with just a $5 minimum, probably the best delivery value in town!
7 locals recommend
Fortune Garden
1538 E 4th StNot the best Chinese food in town, but for the money, you get a lot and I find it quite tasty. And delivery is FREE with just a $5 minimum, probably the best delivery value in town!
Cold Stone Creamery
25 Aquarium WayYummy ice cream dessert shop!
Cold Stone Creamery
25 Aquarium WayYummy ice cream dessert shop!
I'm not a huge sport bar fan, but this spot has a wide variety of REALLY great food on their menu! Fairly large outdoor sidewalk seating area, and even bigger indoor area w/TVs streaming sports.
20 locals recommend
Gallagher's Pub & Grill
2751 E BroadwayI'm not a huge sport bar fan, but this spot has a wide variety of REALLY great food on their menu! Fairly large outdoor sidewalk seating area, and even bigger indoor area w/TVs streaming sports.
One of my favorite seafood restaurants...simply outstanding, and very affordable!
23 locals recommend
Pier 76 Fish Grill
95 Pine AveOne of my favorite seafood restaurants...simply outstanding, and very affordable!
Sightseeing
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium WayA little overpriced, but still a pretty fun excursion.
One of two departure points in the area for the nearby getaway of Catalina Island...this one is the closest and you can actually get to it by bus from our place.
132 locals recommend
Catalina Express
95 BerthOne of two departure points in the area for the nearby getaway of Catalina Island...this one is the closest and you can actually get to it by bus from our place.
Super fun getaway destination...ideal for a day trip out of the hustle and bustle of the L.A. city!
16 locals recommend
Santa Catalina Island
Super fun getaway destination...ideal for a day trip out of the hustle and bustle of the L.A. city!
A little spiritual and natural oasis at my alma mater!
57 locals recommend
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
Earl Warren DriveA little spiritual and natural oasis at my alma mater!
Aside from being the site of James Dean's Rebel Without a Cause, this is also a pretty cool place to check out for both astronomy interests as well as a great view of the city, especially at night!
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdAside from being the site of James Dean's Rebel Without a Cause, this is also a pretty cool place to check out for both astronomy interests as well as a great view of the city, especially at night!
Just a 10 minute walk from the Bungalow and you're at the beach! Bluff Park has a nice greenbelt, with stair access to the beach and LB Strand bike path below.
73 locals recommend
Bluff Park
Just a 10 minute walk from the Bungalow and you're at the beach! Bluff Park has a nice greenbelt, with stair access to the beach and LB Strand bike path below.
Belmont Pier
Belmont PierClosest pier, with access to the LB Strand Bike Path.
About a five minute drive straight up Temple Ave (which then turns into Skyline Dr.) will end you at Hilltop Park at the top of Signal Hill, with a very cool 360 degree view of the entire L.A. area!
46 locals recommend
Hilltop Park
2351 Dawson AveAbout a five minute drive straight up Temple Ave (which then turns into Skyline Dr.) will end you at Hilltop Park at the top of Signal Hill, with a very cool 360 degree view of the entire L.A. area!
Getting Around
Our central hub for public transportation info in Long Beach and beyond!
37 locals recommend
Downtown Long Beach Station
Our central hub for public transportation info in Long Beach and beyond!
CityPlace parking structure...2 hours of free parking for the Downtown Farmer's Market held on Fridays 10am-3pm (market is 1 1/2 blocks away in a parking lot on 3rd St. between Pacific & Cedar Ave).
7 locals recommend
123 E 3rd St
123 East 3rd StreetCityPlace parking structure...2 hours of free parking for the Downtown Farmer's Market held on Fridays 10am-3pm (market is 1 1/2 blocks away in a parking lot on 3rd St. between Pacific & Cedar Ave).
Everything Else
Added this to the Guidebook for the benefit of the students that I host!
48 locals recommend
California State University Long Beach
Added this to the Guidebook for the benefit of the students that I host!
Entertainment & Activities
Great spot if you have youngsters...no waves in the lagoon, a nice playground, and a cool little bridge to the other side of the lagoon. Also good for "grown ups" who want to relax!
43 locals recommend
Colorado Lagoon
Great spot if you have youngsters...no waves in the lagoon, a nice playground, and a cool little bridge to the other side of the lagoon. Also good for "grown ups" who want to relax!