Best Fun For Kids In Long Beach
South of Los Angeles, the city of Long Beach offers kids a wide variety of fun activities that are sure to excite your little one. From hitting the beach to strolling through nature trails, to an afternoon at sea or discovering the area sea life, here are a few of the area's best activities for kids and families to explore together.
Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 590–3100
www.aquariumofpacific.org
With a variety of sea animal species showcased at the museum, including tropical reef fish, jellies, sea lions, sharks, and more, The Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific is a great place for kids of all ages to explore. From new interactive experiences where you can discover what goes on behind the scenes to getting up close and personal with penguins, kids get a chance to touch numerous animals in a variety of tanks. Although the shark feeding station is a huge hit, kids usually can't stop talking about how they touched moon jellies! The Aquarium also has an outdoor boat themed playground to keep your kids entertained.
Queen Mary
1126 Queen's Highway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 435-3511
www.queenmary.com
Kids of all ages will love a trip to the Queen Mary for a variety of reasons. Exploring this massive ship with all its history is reason enough but seasonal events are also offered such as CHILL. Their version of a magical holiday experience where 2 million pounds of clear and colored ice create life-size sculptures, will keep your kids in amazement. In addition, ice slides, ice skating and ice tubing slides are also on hand for their fabulous winter celebration. Kids love a visit to the famous ship just to enjoy its size and scope. Older children interested in art will love exploring the art-deco inspired ship; rotating exhibits are offered on board as well as the chance to dine or even spend the night. Teen bonus- it is rumored to be haunted!
Museum of Latin American Art
628 Alamitos Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 437–1689
www.molaa.org
The Museum of Latin American Art, housed in one of Long Beach's history 1920s buildings, is a great family friendly museum. In addition to featuring numerous art exhibits, kids will love the "Play with Me" exhibit featuring interactive fun for kids 5-12. Check the calendar for regular events including family-friendly workshops, dancing, music, and other programs.
Mother's Beach
Appian Way below 2nd St.
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 570-3100
www.longbeach.gov/park/parks
One of the best kid-friendly beaches in Long Beach, Marine Park (a.k.a. Mother's Beach) features everything perfect about a beachfront location: beautiful sand, gentle waves, picnic sites, and lifeguard stations (in peak seasons). The added bonus is that this amazing park features a grassy play area, rock climbing structures, swings, water splashpad, and more. What more could kids want?
Battleship Iowa
250 S. Harbor Blvd.
San Pedro, CA 90731
(877) 446-9261
www.pacificbattleship.com
Just minutes from Long Beach, this San Pedro icon is a must for boat loving kids. The self-guided tour is really an amazing museum that teaches kids about the history of numerous battles and US presidents. If your younger kids aren't interested in history, they can always look for "Vicky the dog" on board the ship as you tour through; pictures of Vicky are hidden all over the ship.
Rainbow Harbor
419 Shoreline Village Dr.
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 570-8636
www.longbeach.gov
Located next to the Aquarium of the Pacific, Rainbow Harbor boasts nearly 100 slips for commercial and recreational vessels making it a fun place to walk through and explore the numerous boats. From Rainbow Harbor, you can also take a whale watching cruise or rent your own boat or personal watercraft to explore the bay on. Shoreline Village, which overlooks the harbor, offers families a variety of restaurants and arcades as well. Be sure to visit the Tall ship, the American Pride; built in 1941, the boat's tan-barked colored sails are easily identifiable.
El Dorado East Regional Park and Nature Center
7500 East Spring St.
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 570-1771
www.longbeach.gov
Take advantage of Long Beach's lovely weather and head to El Dorado Regional Park which boasts a wide variety of activities kids will love. From hiking and biking trails (including bike rentals) to fishing lakes, a nature center with hands on exhibits, train rides, playgrounds, pedal boat rentals, a model sailboat and model aircraft area, archery range (and free lessons!), and food and beverage concession area, there's no doubt your kids will have a blast!
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
California State University Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90840
Located on the campus of California State University Long Beach, the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden makes for an interesting spot for your kids to enjoy nature, run around the grounds and also get a chance to feed the beautiful Koi fish. Fish food costs just $.25 and admission to this garden is free.
