Top 8 Reasons People Love Living in Long Beach

With miles of pristine white sand, Long Beach is the perfect town for beachgoers. The wide, flat shoreline is ideal for beach volleyball and sunbathing at beaches like Belmont Shore Beach and Mother’s Beach. Several protected beach areas have easy access to comfort facilities and concessions.

 

The waters along this coastal region are calm thanks to the breakwater installed during World War II. Without waves, the warm water is perfect for swimming, paddleboarding, sailing, kitesurfing, and kayaking at beaches like Long Beach City Beach and Alamitos Bay. Long Beach also has a seaside spot just for pet owners. Rosie’s Dog Beach is a four-acre span of sand and surf for some off-leash fun.

This charming coastal haven is a foodie paradise. With high-end global fusion restaurants like Sushi Nikkei and shoreside steak and seafood houses like Parkers’ Lighthouse, there are many upscale, local eateries for food lovers. Long Beach has a lively nightlife at downtown spots like The Stave Bar and Algeria Nightclub. Several Long Beach lounges, such as Yard House and Observation Bar, have expansive patios to enjoy the perfect weather and views of southern California

 

At the Pike Outlets, shoppers can find retailers of national, upscale brands. Along Retro Row, you can find everything from vintage clothing to handcrafted jewelry. East Village is an enclave of artisan vendors and small-batch clothing boutiques. The Downtown Long Beach Farmers Market brings the best, freshest local produce, flowers, and artisan goods to the city each Friday.

Long Beach is a haven for artists, musicians, and those who appreciate a robust cultural scene. The Long Beach Jazz Festival is a three-day celebration of traditional and Latin jazz music held at Rainbow Lagoon Park each summer. At the Long Beach Playhouse, theater lovers can catch musicals and plays throughout the year.

 

In the East Village Arts District, residents can stroll through galleries with work from local and nationally recognized artists and view the vibrant murals lining the streets. Each month, the streets of the East Village are filled with works of painting, sculpture, performance art, and live music for the Long Beach Art Walk.

Long Beach has many parks, gardens, and nature preserves to enjoy the gorgeous weather and spectacular landscape. The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens on the California State University, Long Beach campus is a lovingly maintained garden with winding paths and a koi pond. One of Southern California’s best-kept secrets is El Dorado Park, a 100-acre park with trails for hiking and biking, lakes for fishing, and spots for picnicking. Active residents will love the tennis courts, baseball fields, and 18-hole golf course.

 

Shoreline Aquatic Park is a seaside green space with miles of walking trails along the beach and a lighthouse. This city park boasts impressive views of the Queen Mary, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and the Long Beach skyline. Many local parks, like Bixby Park and Marina Vista Park, have athletic fields and courts, bike paths, and skating areas.

Long Beach is home to several art museums, galleries, and a massive aquarium. The Aquarium of the Pacific is one of the largest aquariums in the world and offers a look into the vital, diverse sea life of the Pacific. The aquarium has rotating exhibits, special lecture series, and summer camp programs.

 

Located in the historic Anderson House on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, the Long Beach Museum of Art boasts over 3,000 works of contemporary and historical art pieces across various media. At the Museum of Latin American Art, the only museum in the country dedicated to works by Latino and Latin American artists, visitors can find permanent and rotating exhibits as well as special seminars and camps.

Homes in Long Beach range from picturesque California Crafstman-style bungalows to Spanish-inspired white stucco estates to mid-century ranch homes. These historic houses make the architectural scene in Long Beach both unique and charming.

 

Soaring coastal condominiums give a more modern feel to those looking for contemporary architectural vibes a more modern feel. Iconic high-rises along Ocean Avenue, like Villa Rivera and the Sovereign, are perfect for those desiring an endlessly chic home with sweeping views of the Pacific and the city.

Long Beach is lauded for its excellent public schools and extensive higher education complexes. The Long Beach Unified School District is highly-rated, boasting 42 State Distinguished schools and nine National Blue Ribbons schools.

 

California State University, Long Beach, with its distinguishable blue pyramid at the center of campus, is a nationally-recognized public university with excellent programs in legal studies, engineering, and medicine.

If you are looking to move to Long Beach, a local market expert can help you in this highly-desirable market. Ginette Skelton is one of Southern California’s most knowledgeable and successful agents. With over 15 years of experience in the Long Beach real estate market, she is an agent with unrivaled industry expertise that can help you find the perfect home.