There are many sights to behold on Long Beach. Come to the Aquarium of the Pacific which has over 11 000 animals and over 5 000 species. There is a three-story tank with animals from Catalina Island. There are three main permanent galleries: Southern California and Baja, the frigid waters of the Northern Pacific, and the reef of the Tropical Pacific. There is an interactive shark lagoon where guests can pet sharks and sting rays.
Right near the Aquarium of the Pacific is the famous Queen Mary. The art deco ocean liner is known for being the fastest in the world from 1936 to 1952 and its use during WWII as transportation for troops. It now serves as a tourist attraction with restaurants, a museum and a hotel. It is listed as a National Historic Place and it is part of the Historic Hotels of America.
There are many interesting neighborhoods in Long Beach. For instance, Naples was built on three islands located in Alamitos Bay which was inspired by the concept of Venice, Italy. There, you can go on singing gondola trips along the canals. Come to Point Fermin Park for a jog, a picnic, to watch the kite surfers, to watch the ocean or to listen to live jazz music. In the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach there are Spanish style homes from the 1920s and 1930s, remodeled older homes, large modern houses and apartment buildings. The area is popular with kayakers, kite surfers and boaters. In Bluff Park neighborhood there is the Long Beach Museum of Art which has over 3 000 works of art. The museum features American decorative arts objects, early 20th century European Art, California Modernism and contemporary art of California. The museum hosts free family art making workshops so be sure to check it out. In East Village Arts District there is a range of different housing types and people from all walks of life. The district offers independent boutiques, record shops, and coffee shops. It is home to artists, galleries, nonprofit organizations, and the Museum of Latin American Art.
Los Cerritos Ranch House is a National Historic Landmark in Long Beach. It was the largest residence in Southern California during the Mexican period. It is dedicated to educating the public about the Rancho period. It traces the history of the site from Native American times to the present. There are guided tours every hour on the weekend otherwise you can go on a self-guided tour. Los Cerritos Ranch House is in the affluent neighborhood of Los Cerritos where several Hollywood movies have featured their houses. Los Cerritos houses have been in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, American Pie, Not Another Teen Movie, and Donnie Darko.
