downtown long beach

I live here so it's easy to take it for granted. With a mix of the old and new it is magnificent. From turn of the century art-deco to modern it all mixes beautifully. For many tv and film fans, most productions 'set in Miami' are actually filmed here. For high end hotels there is a Westin, Renaissance, Hilton, two Hyatt's, a Hilton, the Queen Mary, and a Courtyard, Best Western, Varden, Rodeway, only to name a few. High scale eateries all the down to fast food, organic vegetarian, and pubs and small craft brewhouses galore. An expansive arts district and shopping, both boutique and chain retail all within walking distance of each other and the waterfront; as well as one of the largest convention centers in the area complete with a major sports arena and a major 'green marina area which annually hosts one of the largest gay pride celebrations each May and the nations most prestigious, and oldest running open wheel street racing event, the Long Beach Grand Prix each April. Pine Avenue is the main spot for fine and semi-casual dining and spirits and it often closed off to traffic for special events. Going on a cruise, stay at the Queen Mary the night before or after and Carnival Cruises terminal is just a few steps away. Also Catalina Express is right there as well. We also have a world class Aquarium of the Pacific.Not to be confused with the Long Beach Arena, painted by one of enviromental artist Wyland's largest murals in the world, encompassing not just the building but the roof as well. This is a great place to be year round and especially April through Labor day there is always something going on down on the Marina green, the Pike, or around. And year, this is all in walking distance. There is free mini bus transportation throughout the area and a minimal charge will take you east towards Belmont, Naples, and Alamitos Bay. There is even a water taxi. And free harbor tours as well. And our year round weather is almost always in the 70's or the 80's. Disclaimer: I do work for the Long Beach Grand Prix as a volunteer yet I am not paid or encouraged in any way to say this. As many of my friends have told me, they had no idea this was all here. Yeah it is, and we even have a ferris wheel and an everchanging lighting motif lighthouse. I'll be working at the grand prix and hope you make it out here.

Not much to see- library, City Hall, post office, heading to free way. It is a walking city in the sense they have side walks, but you might find yourself ending on the free way. There are ample signs to tell you how to get around but you are probably better taking the bus to unfamiliar destinations. A lot of the stores are closing down (eg Nordstrom Rack) and Ross didnt have great selection. Other stores didnt interest me. Doesnt seem like a very popular tourist area. Better for business meetings. Kids will enjoy the boat trips and aquarium.

So many places to check out. Yard house is right on the ocean and has a great selection of beer and vegetarian items. It is gorgeous down by the ocean and lots of cute little shops and bars.

Downtown LB has been abandoned by those who can afford to leave. There are too many homeless people who are doing daily and nightly battle with the cops. Every sidewalk smells of urine or dog crap (or many the human stuff). There are better places to visit in SoCal.

Restaurants, shops, bars, local mom and pop stores.....in a great setting make this small downtown area just great to sightsee and stroll for the day. Seems really safe and it is very clean as there are many local attractions that you may dive into. The aquarium is a cool joint to spend some time at and the restaurants are really good in this area. NICE

Many years ago, Long Beach became a little seedy, the Long Beach Pike contributed to it's gradual decline. But...it has made a tremendous turn around. Take any of their fine restaurants and you are steps away from the water. It has become a fun city. A definite visit when you are in Southern California.

There is plenty to see and do for everyone around here. we visited this area a few times on our stay in Long Beach. The walking is very manageable around here as it is all flat (we walked everywhere with two small children). There are plenty of options for food and shopping.

Anyone that would visit this slum is nuts.I worked today.This slum has 50 or so open cases of human trafficing that puts it right up there on the list with all those distant places you see on TV .

Downtown area with plenty of activities to choose from in a comfortable walking distance. Well lit. We felt safe even as we wandered aimlessly.

Several restaurants and activities to choose from. Great access to the convention center.. Just a quick walk.

Went to watch a movie with my daughter at the pike and was treated bad by the condiment food workers. Not only that but had lost my parking ticket by accident and asked to speak to the supervisor all she could do is say oh well u gotta pay $25 nothing is FREE! Right there is not customer service at all , she had degraded me I never said I wanted anything free for her to talk down to me was very disrespectful and for that reason I would never visit the pike again nor would I recommend any one to spend there time or $ there. I was very disappointed with the pikes rude employees. ANGELIA at Ameri park you have no business working in any customer service jobs!

Loved Long beach a first sight, more relaxed than LA. Well maintained and clean looking buildings. Worth passing through.

The downtown area near the water has undergone a massive transformation over the past two decades. There are lots of trendy restaurants and shops here. Very nice. But the investment has been fairly concentrated. Outside of it and it's pretty obvious, you won't want to park. It is a good place to go for a meal. Relative to other places in the Southern California area it can be less crowded. But that not to say it doesn't get busy here. It does. A decent place to spend an afternoon.

There are some nice shops and restaurants downtown. I liked walking along the Promenade. It is a well landscaped area and has no street traffic or noise. I felt safe during the day but I did not go out alone late in the day.

The I-710 is a bit of challenge to get to the Queen Mary. In addition, a street sign is missing. Where Magnolia Avenue becomes Queensway Drive at Ocean Avenue the over head street sign that would hang from the traffic signal at the South East Corner is gone. Tax the rich! That's what I say. God Bless.