Things to Do in Long Beach CA: 12 Fun Stops Worth Your Time

Looking for the most unforgettable things to do in Long Beach? Start with attractions that are equal parts fun and fascinating.

In downtown Long Beach, you’ll find a mix of culture, history, and ocean views all within walking distance. Vintage ocean liners, mesmerizing jellyfish, and museums cool enough to ditch the beach for!

This place has sea otters that could easily out-cute your dog and jellyfish that look like mood lighting. It’s the only aquarium focused on the Pacific Ocean, which means big ocean energy, inside and out.

Touch tanks, shark tunnels, and a giant blue whale sculpture make this spot anything but basic.

She’s retired but still serving looks! The Queen Mary is a 1930s ocean liner turned floating museum, hotel, and haunted hot spot. Come for the history, stay for the drama, and maybe don’t go alone after dark.

This museum is colorful, cultural, and completely cooler than you’d expect. It’s the only one in the country dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latinx art.

Bonus points if you leave inspired to finally hang something on your blank living room wall!

Art and ocean views? Yes, please! This cozy spot, also known simply as the Long Beach Museum, mixes rotating exhibits with serious coastal main character energy and a café that slays the brunch game.

It’s like visiting your rich aunt who has great taste and better mimosas.

This hidden gem has old-school charm without the field trip energy. Wander through an 1840s adobe home, stroll the gardens, and low-key feel like a time traveler.

It’s one of the most peaceful historic sites in the city, blending education with old-world charm. It’s cute, calm, and totally free!

Some of the best things to do in Long Beach CA involve fresh air, salty hair, and just enough movement to justify your next iced latte.

This city knows how to show off outside. From oceanfront bike paths to bluff-top views, here’s where to live your best outdoorsy life without pretending to like hiking boots.

This colorful waterfront spot is perfect for aimless wandering, souvenir shopping, and eating something fried near the water.

You’ll find quirky boutiques, casual seafood joints, and ice cream worth standing in line for. Hop on a boat tour or just people-watch while pretending you’re in a coastal rom-com.

Pro Tip: You can even hop on a whale watching cruise right from the marina if you’re lucky enough to visit during migration season.

If SoCal had its own little Venice, this would be it!

Take a romantic gondola ride through the canals or walk along the palm-lined paths with views that somehow feel European. It’s peaceful, scenic, and wildly photogenic during golden hour.

Tucked inside the Cal State Long Beach campus, this garden is a total hidden gem. Expect koi ponds, bonsai trees, and the kind of calm that makes you want to whisper.

It’s perfect for a midday reset or an “I do” moment if you’re scouting wedding spots.

This 105-acre park is ideal for escaping your group chat and reconnecting with your nervous system. Walk shaded trails, spot turtles sunbathing, or hit the small museum to learn what’s living in the brush.

It’s nature without the drama of a full-on hike.

Long Beach said yes to sandy paws and off-leash zoomies. This is the only beach in the city where dogs can run free, splash around, and live their best lives.

Bring a towel, bring treats, and prepare to meet ten new furry friends you weren’t expecting.

One of the best things to do in Long Beach California is eat something amazing, then immediately justify it with a little shopping. From indie boutiques to waterfront dining, this city knows how to spoil you.

Whether you’re hunting for the perfect fish taco or a new outfit you didn’t know you needed, consider this your guide to eating and spending well.

Belmont Shore is where beachy vibes meet boutique shopping and brunch that actually delivers.

Start your stroll at Frosted Cupcakery for something sweet, then browse curated finds at Blue Windows.

Grab brunch at The Attic for their famous mac n’ Cheetos (yes, you read that right), or head to Saint & Second if you’re feeling fancy with a craft cocktail on the side.

Get a beachy blowout at Salon Soma, then walk it off on the beach path just a few blocks away.

If your meal doesn’t come with a view of sailboats and sea breezes, are you even in Long Beach?

For laid-back eats, hit The Crab Pot and make a glorious mess of seafood with ocean views.

Want something date-night approved? Book a table at Parkers’ Lighthouse for seafood towers and sunset vibes or try Boathouse on the Bay near Alamitos Bay for steaks, sushi, and live piano.

End the night with a scoop from Pelican Pier Ice Cream while watching the boats drift by like a living screensaver.