Chocolate lovers rejoice! It’s time for the Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival once again. Stroll Second Street and sample delicious, delectable dessert delights provided by the businesses of Belmont Shore. You can also compete in the Homemade Chocolate Dessert Contest or sign your kids up for the Chocolate Pie Eating Contest. Chocolate treats are exchanged for tickets, and you can buy a book of 12 tickets for $10.

The festival will be held this Saturday, February 2, with activities beginning at 1:00pm. See the BSBA website for further information or to download the dessert contest entry form.

Sign up now for a four-person scramble golf tournament on February 4 at Recreation Park! Proceeds from the annual Sylvia Maxson Golf Tournament will benefit Long Beach State women’s athletics. The entry fee of $175 per person (or four for $700) includes 18 holes of golf with cart, refreshments on the course, admission to the awards banquet, tee prizes and more. Click here for more information and sign-up details.

Each year, Gray Whales make the journey from the Bering Sea south to the coast of Baja California. These creatures move slowly past Southern California’s coastline between November and March, prompting scores of nature enthusiasts to head out on the water.

Whether you live in Long Beach or are just in town visiting, a whale watching excursion in January can be an invigorating, memorable experience. On a good day, you will see a few spouts, majestic flukes (tails) and ridged whale backs rising up from the water.

Long Beach whale watching excursions are available out of The Pike area, near the Aquarium of the Pacific. Try Harbor Breeze Cruises (100 Aquarium Way, Dock 2) or Pierpoint Landing (200 Aquarium Way).

On Friday, January 11, 2008, Sam’s Seafood will be hosting a very special live music show to benefit Interval House Shelter for Abused Women and Children. The event will feature performances by The Blame, Dennis Kaiser and the Republicans. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance or at the door; the show begins at 7:30 pm. Sam’s Seafood is located at 16278 S. Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach. Please call 562-858-9269 for further information.

Remember when the Griswold family arrived at Walley World theme park in National Lampoon’s Vacation? And, as the ultimate vacation mishap, the park is closed for renovations? It’s likely you’ve had a similar experience in your own travels: perhaps arriving at a so-called resort that looks like the Bates Motel or realizing at 2:00 am that you’re staying in a party town.

Let’s face it: Vacations are best experienced without too many surprises. To that end, here are the tips you need to know when planning a trip to Long Beach:

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As long as it doesn’t rain, five Long Beach Parks will give kids a chance to play in the snow on Saturday, January 5, 2008. The parks are providing the snow and sleds, and kids aged 5 to 12 can participate in winter-related craft activities for free. Activities will be held between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm at Cesar E. Chavez Park, El Dorado Park West, Houghton Park, McBride Park and Silverado Park.