Welcome to Long Beach also known as “LBC” by locals, a city of about half a million people. Long Beach is best known for its urban waterfront attractions, like the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific but despite being the sixth largest city in CA, it has a small-town provincial feel, with bike-friendly streets, active neighborhood associations, and artist collectives. We have more music and cultural festivals every year than anywhere else in southern CA. Its thriving dining and entertainment scene includes famed dive bars and live music venues that have launched number of notable bands. The city also hosts the annual Toyota Grand Prix by turning downtown streets into race course every April. We also host the Annual Long Beach Pride Festival for two day celebrity-filled festival in the heart of downtown attracting close to one hundred thousand people.
Alamitos Beach is the western end of Long Beach City Beach near the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Alamitos Avenue, hence the beach name. Despite the name this beach is on the ocean and not on Alamitos Bay (see Alamitos Bay Beach for an excellent beach on the bay). Adjacent Long Beach City Beach is south facing, but at the west end it curls around a bit to meet Shoreline Marina so Alamitos Beach actually faces southeast. It’s a wide open sandy beach with many nice hotels and urban amenities nearby.
Sunbathers spread out here, volleyballers hit the sand courts, and bikers ride the paved path that meanders east to Belmont Pier. What you won’t see are surfers because the waves are blocked by the port and the Long Beach breakwaters. Check with the lifeguards for water conditions before swimming here. A parking lot is available off Shoreline Drive, but it fills up quickly.