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:
Sandy Beaches, No Waves. Long Beach has more than five miles of sandy beaches, but don’t expect to hear the surf crashing from your hotel room. The city’s shoreline is protected by breakwater, which means no waves. This is ideal for families with young children, but surfers and body boarders will be disappointed.
Diverse Experiences, Diverse Neighborhoods. Long Beach is a big city, even by California’s standards. As with many urban communities, the city is really more of a grouping of neighborhoods, each of which has its own personality. Before you book your hotel, get a recommendation on where to stay from a trusted source, either a travel agent or someone who understands your tastes. Once you’re here, a knowledgeable concierge can direct you on where to go and where not to go. The popular dining and shopping districts are: Belmont Shore (casual beach atmosphere), Shoreline Village (waterfront shopping and dining) and Downtown (restaurants and nightlife).
Easy Airport, Handy Buses. Long Beach has a great transportation system for tourists. If you can, fly into Long Beach Airport rather than LAX: You’ll be closer to your hotel and you’ll be amazed at how efficiently you can get off your plane, grab your luggage and get your vacation started. Once you’re settled in, ask your hotel (or check your Discovery Map) to find out about the Passport Bus, the AquaLink and the AquaBus. All three are efficient, simple ways to see the best parts of the city.
Big-Time Attractions, Low-Key Activities. You may be planning your vacation around seeing The Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific. But don’t forget to leave some extra time to see everything else Long Beach has to offer. At various times of the year, you can rent kayaks or bicycles, see a show, groove to live music, explore Latin American artwork or cheer on a Long Beach State sports team. On top of that, there is a multitude of activities within driving distance, including Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and South Coast Plaza. So plan to stay in Long Beach for a few extra days–you’ll be glad you did.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, January 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm by Catherine Brock and is filed under Local News.
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Long Beach Publisher’s Corner
January 6th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
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