More Travel stories →
If you’re looking for a vacation with the kids that has good hotels, restaurants, a variety of activities for all ages, good weather (all year long), art, culture, shopping, and more, I have an idea for you. I just got back from a few days in Long Beach, California, and I have to say it was the ultimate getaway with my tween. Located along five and a half miles of beach, half way between Los Angeles and Orange County, Long Beach offers great food, cultural diversity, waterfront dining and a slew of options for families of all shapes and sizes. In two days, the two of us covered so many attractions, neighborhoods and eateries providing the perfect low-down on what makes Long Beach a great option for your next family trip.
In case you are wondering why I traveled alone with my tween, I’m a huge proponent of spending quality time with each of my children. Last summer I took my son to Palm Springs for a few days, during which time we indulged in his interests and I continue to reap the benefits of the bond that was built on that trip. My daughter’s 11 — the perfect age for a young girl to experience new places, people and things. She’s like a sponge and took everything in using her senses. It was a pleasure to travel with someone so in tune and interested in what we were seeing and where we were traveling. Plus, she loved the warm weather (they have 365 days of sun) and we were both thrilled to leave our winter coats in the hotel room, never to be picked up. She also had no idea she was going to partake in a slate of new experiences like riding a surrey, going on a gondola ride, trying new foods and more.
Where to Stay
Our hotel destination in Long Beach was the Hyatt Pike. It was hands down one of the best city hotels I’ve yet to stay in. Take a Hyatt Regency Hotel, cut in half and you have a stylish boutique getaway — voilà, the Hyatt Pike. You also get comfortable, cozy suites with free Wifi, flat-screen TV sets, on-site restaurants, big showers, a roof-top swimming pool with a great view, good service and close proximity to good restaurants and shopping. The room had a sleek, modern feel and was incredibly tidy. My tween and I snuggled up late at night after a long day out and watched The Gilmore Girls in bed and then drifted into our own separate dreams. Rooms are relatively inexpensive, too. The Hyatt Pike is located at Rainbow Harbor, 285 Bay Street.
Tween-Friendly Attractions
We started off at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, home to more than 11,000 inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean representing some 500 different species. My daughter loved learning about the animals swimming in the Pacific Ocean, including sting rays, sea cucumbers, starfish and more. We went to a sea lion feeding, gawked at penguins, fed parrots, touched sharks and saw hundreds of fish and jellyfish, some neon. The Aquarium of the Pacific is located at 100 Aquarium Way.
We then took a Harbor Breeze waterfront boat tour, a 45-minute ride around the harbor, with magnificent views of the beautiful Long Beach skyline, California Sea Lions, the world-famous Queen Mary, large cargo/container ships from all over the world, seagulls, sea lions, a light house and a view of the Shoreline Village. We both quietly took in the beautiful surroundings and really appreciated seeing the city from a different angle.
The Shoreline Village is a collection of restaurants and souvenir shops on the water. After the boat ride, we walked on its boardwalk while staring at the gorgeous sea and fishing boats before stopping for lunch at Parkers’ Lighthouse.
We then headed toward a completely new experience for both of us: riding a single surrey, rented at Wheel Fun ($25 per hour). The experience was awesome — we rode down the coastline, past sailboats, condos, other bikers. As a bonus, we got a good amount of exercise — pushing the pedals on the surrey was hard work!
On our second day, we spent hours exploring the Queen Mary, a historic ocean liner that is now both tourist attraction and 346-stateroom hotel. It was one of the world’s most luxurious ships to ever sail the Atlantic Ocean. We got there at 10am and had an hour to wait before our historical tour of the ship would start, so we headed to an exhibit about Princess Diana and were both mesmerized by royal history for an hour. We had the most expressive tour guide on the planet, which made for a very interesting tour. You can also learn about the haunted part of the ship and explore the Soviet submarine Scorpion, which is moored adjacent to the Queen Mary. We topped off the day at high tea on the Queen Mary, an irresistible experience.
While we were there, we took part in their major holiday event called CHILL. It was literally what it sounds like — a frozen celebration which included a ride on an original ride from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch and a walk through a freezing room full of ice sculptures. My daughter even went tubing in the middle of Southern California.
Later we had a really unique experience, riding the canals of Naples Island on Gondola Getaway. Who knew we’d feel so Venetian on our trip, cruising the waterways of the island, near Belmont Shores, a popular part of Long Beach. Our gondola driver was a college student who kept saying “Ciao” to everyone who rode by but an engaging storyteller nonetheless. We took the tour at night, but I’d recommend doing it with your kids during the day as the trip is very beautiful.
Culture Vulture Time
Long Beach is home to a number of impressive museums, including the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), one of the only museums in the country to focus exclusively on the contemporary art of Mexico, Central and South America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. The Long Beach Museum of Art includes the historic Elizabeth Milbank Anderson house and carriage house (built in 1912), oceanfront gardens and a pavilion with two floors of expansive gallery space for changing exhibitions.
Disclosure: The Long Beach CVB invited me to Long Beach for two days with my daughter and paid most of my expenses, but all opinions are my own.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Long Beach California with kids?
The Aquarium of the Pacific tops nearly every family’s list, followed by the Queen Mary tour, the wide flat beach at Junipero Beach, and Pine Avenue’s casual restaurants and old-school carousel at The Pike. Most families need two full days to cover the major attractions.
Is Long Beach California worth visiting with kids?
Yes — Long Beach is one of the most underrated family stops in Southern California. It’s less crowded and less expensive than San Diego or Santa Monica, but you still get a world-class aquarium, an iconic ocean liner you can sleep on, and beaches calm enough for toddlers.
How long should we spend in Long Beach with kids?
Two nights and three days is the sweet spot. Day one for the Aquarium of the Pacific and Pine Avenue, day two for the Queen Mary and beach time, day three for nearby Naples Island gondola rides or a day trip to nearby Catalina Island by ferry.
Can you stay overnight on the Queen Mary in Long Beach?
Yes — the Queen Mary has hotel rooms aboard the ship that you can book by the night. Rooms are small (these are original 1930s staterooms), but for kids the novelty of sleeping on an actual ocean liner is unmatched. Book well in advance during summer and holidays.
Is Long Beach safe for families?
The waterfront, downtown, Belmont Shore, and Naples Island are very safe for families. Stick to those neighborhoods for hotels and dining. As with any city, avoid wandering far inland late at night and use the same common sense you would in any urban beach destination.
How far is Long Beach from LAX and Disneyland?
Long Beach is about 20 minutes from LAX without traffic (45 minutes with) and about 30 minutes from Disneyland in Anaheim. That makes it a great launchpad for a multi-stop SoCal trip — fly into LAX, do Long Beach for two days, then drive to Anaheim.