5 Best Things To Do In Long Beach, California

Long Beach is a coastal city in southeastern Los Angeles County, California. This waterfront playground is a popular recreational and cultural destination for Angelenos. Whether you crave a deep-sea adventure at the Aquarium of the Pacific, want to whale watch on the water, go shopping in one of the city's many unique districts or tour the coastal breweries and food scene, we guarantee you won’t be bored for a single moment.

Here are five things you should do in Long Beach during your US tour.

Hop Aboard The Queen Mary

In 1967, the Queen Mary began her final voyage from Southampton in the United Kingdom to dock at Long Beach, where she remains permanently moored. In the years since, the nearly one-century-old ocean liner has been transformed into a historic hotel and one of Long Beach’s top attractions, welcoming visitors to explore its storied halls and learn of the ship’s history through tours and onboard exhibits. Visitors must not miss the "Haunted Encounters" and "Grey Ghost Project" tours which counter many of the paranormal legends associated with the ship.

Visit The Ranchos Los Cerritos Historic Site

The Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is a public museum. Built in 1844, the adobe home and grounds echo the rich history of Spanish, Mexican and American California, as well as the families who helped transform Southern California from its ranching origins into a modern, urban society. The two-story Monterey-style adobe is primarily furnished to reflect the occupants and lifestyles from the 1860s-1880s. The site also includes historic gardens, a research library and archives. Guided tours are available of the house and gardens free of charge.

Explore The Battleship Iowa Museum

This award-winning museum houses the Battleship USS Iowa which served during World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War. Visitors can walk the wooden decks and see 16-inch guns, 5-inch guns, missile decks, the bridge, the mess area and the world-famous “Captain’s Cabin”—the only bathtub installed on a battleship for a president. A newly-launched "Stewards of the Sea" interactive display shows how the US Navy cares for the ocean. The ship also has a new, escape room-style scavenger hunt that is fun for the entire family.

Stroll The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden

This Japanese garden sprawls across 1.3 acres on the campus of California State University. The landscape master plan architect for the university, Ed Lovell, travelled to Japan and took inspiration from the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo before designing the garden. There’s a spectacular koi pond, waterfalls, a tea house and a bonsai collection for visitors to see. The garden is also a popular wedding venue.

Check Into The Aquarium Of The Pacific

Opened in 1998, the Aquarium of the Pacific is the largest aquarium in California and occupies more than 360,000 square feet of space along Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor. An estimated 1.7 million visitors come here each year to admire and study the 12,000 animals from 500 different species. The staff conducts conservation programs to benefit endangered marine animals, hosts citizen science programs, runs a sustainable seafood program, and houses mammals and birds that cannot be released into the wild. The aquarium’s galleries represent the frigid waters of the northern Pacific, the temperate Southern California/Baja region, and the warm coral reefs and lagoons of the tropical Pacific. The newly-opened "Pacific Visions" wing houses a state-of-the-art immersive theatre, an art gallery, a game table and live animal exhibits.