"The week before Christmas" Top 5 Page for this destination Long Beach by kyoub

Long Beach Travel Guide: 481 reviews and 1,215 photos

Sunrise - Long Beach
Sunrise
Sunrise on the bay

December is a great month to visit Southern California. While many parts of the country has snow and cold temps, you can expect warm days and cool nights in Long Beach. Long Beach is a big, urban city but it is also a city by the sea, with a laid back atmosphere like a beach resort. BEWARE, it is habit forming. This was my second Christmas there.

Long Beach
Relaxing - Long Beach

Relaxing

Long Beach is the 5th largest city in California with all of the excitement and amenities a big city can offer. World class attractions such as The Queen Mary, the Aquarium of the Pacific, art museums, and more than 5 miles of beach.
Take a stroll along Belmont Shore's 2nd Street, a fun place to shop and dine while sitting outside people watching. This was one of my favorite passtimes.
I also like to walk along the bay and look at the beautiful houses and boats.

Birdwatching on the bay
For the Birds - Long Beach

For the Birds

There were many birds enjoying the bay and the nice sunshine also. I saw a lot of pelicans grabbing their breakfast from the sea. There were also many shorebirds walking along the beach. I always saw seagulls flying about and many coots out in the water.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Lovely area
  • Cons:How can you afford to own a house here?
  • In a nutshell:A great place to visit.
  • Last visit to Long Beach: Dec 2006
  • Intro Updated Dec 30, 2006
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (24)

Seaside - Long Beach Beachside dining Restaurants (7)

We didn't eat here, it is just another of the numerous places to go for a drink and watch the sun as it is setting. Our... more travel advice

Dancing - Long Beach Listen to the music Nightlife (2)

Good Mexican food. Live music on some nights. Casual dress more travel advice

Aquarium Xmas tree - Long Beach Xmas tree Favorites (1)

I loved the tree that they had at the aquarium. Just look at those jelly fish ornaments hanging from the branches. more travel advice

Pier - Long Beach High surf Warnings and Dangers (1)

When we were there an atlantic storm was producing very high surf along the southern California coastline. Waves from a... more travel advice

Comments (13)

  • Reply
    Yaqui's Profile Photo
    Apr 8, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    Awesome page Kay! Long Beach has so much to offer. The Queen Mary is one way to spend a wonderful day. We stayed there once for one of our anniversaries. It was a wonderful experience.

  • Reply
    darryl.wilson's Profile Photo
    Apr 23, 2008 at 1:01 AM

    Could you provide me with the name of the company that rents the boats pictured in your tip?

  • Reply
    scottishvisitor's Profile Photo
    Dec 12, 2007 at 1:00 PM

    Fine place to spend the week before Christmas = must bring back happy memories for you

  • Reply
    VeronicaG's Profile Photo
    Apr 4, 2007 at 3:22 PM

    The Queen Mary looks so elegant! This would be a prime destination for us if we were to visit Long Beach---thanks for the wonderful description of your visit!

  • Reply
    matcrazy1's Profile Photo
    Feb 12, 2007 at 6:27 AM

    Very warm Christmas you had there :-) Nice page! My foundest memory from LB was surely Quenn Mary byt feeding sea gulls, watching people on a beach and quite good meal in Long Beach Cafe.

  • Reply
    starship's Profile Photo
    Jan 11, 2007 at 5:58 AM

    I'd love to visit this area of California and seeing the Queen Mary would be tops on my list!

  • Reply
    Ken_Weaver's Profile Photo
    Mar 27, 2006 at 2:22 PM

    Somehow I have missed the Queen Mary on previous trips to Long Beach. I must make a point of visiting that great ship!

  • Reply
    aussiejen's Profile Photo
    Jan 12, 2006 at 4:34 AM

    I loved the sea jellies too, but they were at the Melbourne Aquarium.

  • Reply
    JudyinPA's Profile Photo
    Jan 4, 2006 at 7:43 AM

    It's very special to spend Christmas elsewhere and eat in a most unique place. We do that almost yearly. Kay, hope your 2006 contains many travels and good and healthy times.

  • Reply
    sachara's Profile Photo
    Jan 3, 2006 at 7:52 AM

    Lovely place to spend this time of the year. Happy New Year, Kay ! I love to 'green' wishes at your HP.

kyoub's Related Pages

Long Beach Travel Guide

 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
kyoub's Profile Photo

kyoub

“I choose the path of kindness.”

Online Now

Female

Top 1,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 0 0 4 5
Forum Rank:
0 2 7 9 8

Badges & Stats in Long Beach

  • 24 Reviews
  • 45 Photos
  • 0 Forum posts
  • 13 Comments
  • 2,355PageViews
  • See All Stats
  • See All Badges (63)

Have you been to Long Beach?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Long Beach

Photos in Long Beach

See All Photos (45)

Top 10 Pages

See All Travel Pages (173)

Friends

See All Friends (50)

Travel Interests

See All Travel Interests (4)

Latest Long Beach hotel reviews

Coast Long Beach Hotel
369 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2013
Queen Mary Hotel
1133 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013
Inn of Long Beach
25 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 13, 2013
Marriott Long Beach
140 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 1, 2013
Hilton Long Beach & Executive Meeting Center
340 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2013
Hotel Current
171 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 19, 2013
Vagabond Inn Long Beach
43 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 10, 2012
Residence Inn Long Beach
61 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
La Bonita Inn Motel Long Beach
11 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 9, 2012
Carlton Motel Long Beach
37 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 25, 2013
Colonial Motel
20 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 19, 2013
Hyatt Regency Long Beach
485 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2013
Renaissance Hotel Long Beach
237 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 10, 2013
AVIA Long Beach
283 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 18, 2013
Westin Long Beach
405 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013