Hotels in Long Beach

Long Beach is one of the West Coast's hidden gems: a vibrant cultural destination with art museums, hundreds of restaurants, the awe-inspiring Port of Los Angeles, the world-famous Queen Mary and the remarkable Aquarium of the Pacific. Long Beach even has its own airport (LGB) for convenient access, and visitors can take a short, leisurely cruise to nearby Catalina Island.

Things to see and do

The Queen Mary

The retired ocean liner is a historical landmark located in downtown Long Beach. Take a tour and learn about its fascinating maritime history; there 's also a special haunted tour around Halloween where guests learn why the ship is considered one of the most haunted places in the country. There are numerous art exhibits and award-winning restaurants sprinkled throughout the ship, which still shows off its Old Hollywood glamor with Art Deco décor. The Queen Mary also serves as a full-service hotel.

Aquarium of the Pacific

This remarkable aquarium is located in downtown Long Beach 's Rainbow Harbor. This nonprofit aquarium has over 11,000 creatures that range from the tiniest kelp to huge sharks. There are three galleries that house different species from different parts of the coast, including: Baja, Northern Pacific and Tropical Pacific. For those brave souls who love to interact with animals, there are touch pools where you can feel Epaulette and Bamboo sharks. And for visitors who like their sharks inside a big, safe tank, the beautiful Shark Lagoon is conveniently located right next door. There is an underwater crawl space that lets you watch penguins waddle, play and swim. The aquarium also offers the Lorikeet Forest where, for a small fee, you can feed nectar to these delightful rainbow birds.

Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)

Located in downtown Long Beach, this beautifully designed building is the only museum in the country dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art. The museum has four galleries, a project space and an outdoor sculpture garden. There are tours and art workshops that cater to all ages, and they provide a fantastic way to learn about wide-ranging Latino culture. The museum offers free admission on Sundays.

Catalina Island

What's better than taking a vacation during your vacation? When visiting Long Beach, visitors can do this by embarking on a cruise over the Pacific Ocean to Catalina Island. There, guests have the opportunity to explore its many shops and sample local island foods. Enjoy activities like hiking, kayaking on the crystal blue water, snorkeling, sail boating along the coastline, or simply enjoying the relaxing island life. Catalina offers a bouquet of activities for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, and it's only a short cruise away.

Best time to visit

Southern California is known for its impressive weather, and Long Beach is warm and mild most of the calendar year. Summer highs average in the 80s, with the winter average typically in the 60s. However, Long Beach has been experiencing "Indian Summers" for a number of years, so it's possible for it to be 85 degrees in October. The benefit of being near a beach is the cool ocean breeze taking the edge off a hot day.

Downtown Long Beach is the most convenient neighborhood to stay in while visiting. There are a plethora of Long Beach hotels near the beach to choose from, numerous activity sites, restaurants, and clubs and bars galore. The prices typically range from $100 to $200 a night, and average about $130 per night. Another nice feature is the ability to walk from place to place, so sightseers and pub crawlers should be pleased.