Located to the south of Los Angeles, Long Beach is the quintessential southern California beach community and the fifth largest city in the state. It is best known as the permanent home of the former cruise liner Queen Mary, the Long Beach Grand Prix, and a sleek new aquarium on the waterfront.
Getting there
Five airports service the city, including Long Beach Municipal Airport, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, John Wayne Airport (Pasadena) and Ontario International Airport. All major domestic carriers serve LAX as well as many Asian and European flyers.
Car rental is easily available at the airport, and national travel deals make sure you get the best price. Numerous shuttle companies offer transfer to Long Beach and taxis are also readily available.
Amtrak trains serve the city via LA and direct from the south. Long Beach is fed by a host of interstates and state highways, including I-110, I-710 and I-605, while I-5 and I-405 run through the city. I-5 serves Long Beach from Seattle (north) through to San Diego (south), while I-10 joins up with I-110 and approaches from the east.
Key attractions
A major attraction of the area, the Queen Mary is a beautiful vessel. Weighing in at over 81,000 tons, she is the epitome of luxury and is now moored-up as a fantastic floating museum. The Aquarium of the Pacific is the other main attraction at Long Beach and is one of the best man-made aquatic attractions on the west coast, housing 12,000 creatures, including sharks and sea lions. Car rental gives you the option of visiting all the attractions without worrying about public transport or the cost of taxi travel.
Out and about
Nearby Los Angeles is hard to miss а it’s a huge conurbation of 88 cities encompassing an estimated 16 million people, set a comfortable drive away with a rental car. The glitz of Hollywood and Beverly Hills and the surfing beaches of Venice Beach and Malibu, not to mention the busy night scene, make this a stunning destination. For something different, La Brea Tar Pits (near Hollywood) are one of the most important paeleontological sites in the world.
Leisure options
The Pike at Rainbow Harbor is a vibrant dining, retail and entertainment destination ideally located on the waterfront in the heart of downtown Long Beach. Alternatively, have fun with the whole family at GameWorks; ride the antique carousel or see a movie at the all-stadium seating Cinemark Theatre complex. Self-drive expeditions via a rental car to the rural hinterland are fun, and youеll save money by checking out national travel deals before you rent.
Safety
Long Beach and the LA area are full of dangers, from pickpockets and muggers to overly congested highways and dangerous drivers. Always try to remain vigilant, day and night, and never park your car on a street overnight. Road congestion can also possibly lead to missed travel arrangements. We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance when visiting Long Beach.