What should you do during a weekend in Long Beach, California?
Spend your weekend exploring Long Beach’s independent boutiques, relaxing at Rosie’s Dog Beach, enjoying specialty coffee shops like Good Time and Confidential Coffee, visiting museums such as MOLAA and the Long Beach Museum of Art, dining on the waterfront at Gaucho Beach or Boathouse by the Bay, walking at El Dorado Park and the Nature Center, listening to live music at Alex’s Bar or The Gaslamp, touring historic landmarks including the Queen Mary and Rancho Los Alamitos, and taking kids to top attractions like the Aquarium of the Pacific, and the Junipero Beach playground. Long Beach offers beaches, food, arts, nature, nightlife, and family activities within a relaxed, walkable coastal community.

From a Born-and-Raised Local Who Actually Lives, Shops, Parents, Plays, Eats, and Breathes the LBC

If you want a weekend getaway that actually feels like a breath of fresh, salty, ocean air instead of a chaotic tourist trap, let me introduce you to Long Beach. I grew up here back when Downtown was a place you didn’t wander into at night, the Queen Mary was just something we waved at from the freeway, and Pine Avenue was basically off our radar. Long Beach was slower, calmer, and full of familiar faces. But the LBC has grown up right alongside me; now it’s bigger, bolder, tastier, more creative, and still every bit as warm and community-driven as the city I fell in love with as a kid.

This guide isn’t written by some corporate brochure, AI bot pretending it’s been here, or a travel writer who spends 90 minutes at Shoreline Village and then claims to know “the real Long Beach.” This is the insider list. The stuff we actually do. The neighborhoods we actually hang out in. The places where you can blend in with locals instead of feeling like you’re on a school field trip.

Let’s get into the good stuff.

1. Shop Local at Independently Owned Stores

Because in Long Beach, “shopping local” isn’t a trend — it’s our culture.

Long Beach is practically powered by independent boutiques and small makers. We don’t have a giant mall where everyone congregates on weekends. Instead, we have clusters of small shops that feel like family living rooms with better lighting. These are the kinds of places where the owner remembers your name, your dog, and what candle you bought last time.

Native Sol

Address: 2018 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814
Hours: Daily, typically 11 AM – 6 PM

You know those stores that reflect their neighborhood perfectly? Native Sol is that store. Retro Row wouldn’t feel like Retro Row without it. It’s full of boho clothing, local products, sustainable goods, and the kind of gifts you buy for your friend and then end up keeping.

Insider Tip: Make a morning out of Retro Row. Native Sol, then a latte, then the thrift shops.

Anneise

Address: 440 E 1st St, Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours: Typically 11 AM – 5 PM

Anneise is for people who appreciate good design without needing a giant “luxury” logo stamped onto everything. Clean beauty, leather goods, jewelry that looks intentional, not mass-produced. If your wardrobe needs a grown-up upgrade, start here.

Insider Tip: Their jewelry section is dangerous. In a good way.

2. Rosie’s Dog Beach

The one place where everyone is happy — especially the humans.

Address: 5000 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803
Hours: 6 AM – 8 PM daily

Even if you don’t own a dog, Rosie’s Dog Beach is worth a visit. I grew up on these beaches, and trust me when I tell you: nothing beats watching 50 dogs sprinting in total freedom. Rosie’s is wide, welcoming, and surprisingly calm despite all the excitement.

If you do have a dog, well — prepare for the happiest day of their life. Compare that to the next closest option, Huntington Dog Beach, which is… a hard pass these days.

Insider Tip: If you don’t want to pay for the metered parking lot, drive down one of the streets in Belmont Shore and park there for free. And bring a towel for yourself. The dogs will share their joy and their sand with you.

3. Waterfront Cocktails at Gaucho Beach or Boathouse by the Bay

Because everything tastes better with a marina breeze in your hair.

If you’ve never had a perfectly cold drink while watching boats glide by, you haven’t fully unlocked the Long Beach lifestyle. We take waterfront dining seriously here — not in a snobby way, but in a “this is how Saturday should feel” way.

Gaucho Beach

Address: 780 E Shoreline Dr Suite B, Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours: Lunch through late night

Gaucho’s sits at the intersection of “beach lounge” and “sunset bar,” and frankly? They nailed it. The drinks are great, the people watching is top notch, and the vibe is chill without being sleepy.

Boathouse by the Bay

Address: 190 N Marina Dr, Long Beach, CA 90803
Hours: 11 AM – 9:30 PM daily

Boathouse is the elegant version of Gaucho’s. Piano music, white tablecloth energy, and the kind of marina views that make you start mentally pricing Duffy boat rentals.

Insider Tip: Make a reservation around sunset. Trust me.

4. Long Beach Coffee Culture: Good Time & Confidential Coffee

We don’t mess around with coffee here; this is a lifestyle choice.

Long Beach’s coffee scene has grown along with its creative community. Our coffee shops aren’t chains or trend-chasing Instagram traps. They are personality-filled hubs where artists, freelancers, students, and caffeine addicts all cross paths.

Good Time

Address: 1322 Coronado Ave, Long Beach, CA 90804
Hours: 7 AM – 6 PM daily

Good Time is bright, friendly, and gives off that “I’m going to get my life together today” vibe. Highly recommend this spot before a day of exploring East Long Beach or Retro Row.

Confidential Coffee

Address: 137 W 6th St, Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours: 7 AM – 5 PM daily

Their holiday drink menus are an annual event. Expect bold coffee, creative flavors, and a Downtown crowd that’s low-key stylish.

Insider Tip: Get the horchata latte at Confidential. At Good Time, grab a pastry early — they go fast.

5. Outdoor Activities: Yoga, Parks, Playgrounds, Nature

Long Beach has more green space than people expect, and locals take full advantage.

We’re a coastal city with surprisingly big parks, nature preserves, and outdoor classes that run year-round. This is where you’ll find families, early morning runners, and retirees who somehow have more energy than all of us.

Yoga on the Bluff

Location: East Ocean Boulevard & Junipero Ave, Long Beach, CA
Schedule: Daily at 11 AM

Daily oceanfront yoga. Donation-based. Friendly, inclusive, and deeply Long Beach. I’ve seen tourists sneak into a class and instantly look like they wish they lived here.

El Dorado Park

Address: 7550 E Spring St, Long Beach, CA 90815
Hours: 7 AM – dusk

This is the park you take people to when they say Long Beach is “just a beach town.” It’s huge and there is an East and West that includes: playgrounds, picnic areas, lakes, ducks, bikes, archery, and more.

El Dorado Nature Center

Address: 7550 E Spring St, Long Beach, CA 90815
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 8 AM – 5 PM

This place is magic. Turtles on logs, quiet walking paths, bridges over ponds — it’s peaceful in a way no coastal city has any right to be.

Insider Tip: Nature Center is most beautiful right after it opens. Bring comfy shoes.

6. The Long Beach Food Scene

Diverse, delicious, and refreshingly unpretentious.

Long Beach has one of the most eclectic food scenes in Southern California. We have Cambodia Town, vegan restaurants with cult followings, family-run spots that have been here longer than I’ve been alive, waterfront dining, taco trucks everywhere, and brunch that lasts until dinner.

You can eat your way through this city and still have 20 restaurants left on your list.

Insider Tip: Start with Cambodian, move to tacos, and end with a waterfront dinner. It’s the perfect LB food tour.

7. Events Every Weekend

Part of living here is accepting that you’ll never make it to everything.

Markets, live music, maker pop-ups, food festivals, boat parties, sports events, workshops, markets, brewery events, neighborhood celebrations — there’s literally always something happening. You could live here for a decade (or five!) and still keep discovering new weekend happenings.

Insider Tip: The big events bring the crowds and the hype (and we love them), but don’t skip the smaller neighborhood events. That’s where you’ll find the real local gems, the makers, and the community energy that gives Long Beach its soul.

8. Live Music at Alex’s Bar and The Gaslamp

Because Long Beach has always had a real music scene: gritty, talented, and loudly alive.

When I say “Long Beach music scene,” I’m not talking about polished venues with overpriced drinks. I’m talking about real, sweaty, electric, high-energy rooms full of people who love music.

Alex’s Bar

Address: 2913 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804

Legendary. Punk, rock, indie, goth nights, touring bands, everything. Alex’s feels like a rite of passage.

The Gaslamp

Address: 6251 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90803

Gaslamp does energetic tribute shows and packed-out nights with very happy crowds. It’s the kind of venue where you don’t plan the night — it just happens.

Insider Tip: Follow Alex’s on Instagram. Some of their best shows drop with little warning.

9. Art, Museums, and Murals Everywhere

Long Beach is one giant art walk — you just need to look up.

Our arts culture is woven into the streets themselves. From huge WOW! murals to small curated galleries, this city takes creativity seriously.

MOLAA

Address: 628 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours: Wed–Sun, 11 AM – 5 PM

Modern and contemporary Latin American art in a museum with real heart.

PIEAM

Address: 695 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours: Wed–Sun, 11 AM – 5 PM

A small but powerful tribute to Pacific Island art and storytelling.

Long Beach Museum of Art

Address: 2300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA
Hours: Thu–Sun, 11 AM – 5 PM

Stunning oceanfront exhibits and a fantastic restaurant on the bluff.

Murals Throughout the City

Every neighborhood has murals, but Retro Row and East Village Arts District are the best places to wander.

Insider Tip: Start at 4th and Cherry, grab a juice or coffee, and walk toward Downtown. It becomes a spontaneous mural tour.

10. Family-Friendly Activities

Easy, fun, and guaranteed to deliver a solid nap on the car ride home.

Long Beach is one of the easiest cities to entertain kids in. Everything is close, parking is manageable, and activities aren’t built around huge crowds.

Aquarium of the Pacific

Address: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours: Daily 9 AM – 6 PM

Touch tanks, Sea Otter Habitat, Shark Lagoon… the Aquarium is a full day if you want it to be.

Junipero Beach Playground

Location: Junipero Ave & Ocean Blvd

A beachfront playground with giant climbing structures and soft sand.

Insider Tip: The Aquarium gets packed after 11 AM. Go right when they open.

11. Historic Landmarks

This city has layers — and each historic site reveals a different one.

Long Beach isn’t just beaches and breweries. We have roots, architecture, old California history, and stories that shaped the city.

The Queen Mary

Address: 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802

An icon. A museum, hotel, ship, and spooky story all in one.

Rancho Los Alamitos

Address: 6400 E Bixby Hill Rd, Long Beach, CA 90815

Beautiful gardens, horses, and history that predates most of California.

Rancho Los Cerritos

Address: 4600 Virginia Rd, Long Beach, CA 90807

A perfectly preserved adobe set in a quiet, leafy neighborhood.

The Bembridge House

Address: 953 N Pk Cir, Long Beach, CA 90813

A Victorian mansion full of charm and local lore.

Insider Tip: Rancho Los Alamitos has some of the best gardens in the entire city — and it’s free.

12. The Real Reason to Spend a Weekend Here: The LBC Vibe

Long Beach has a pulse — a warm, creative, coastal rhythm you feel the moment you arrive. This city is big enough to explore but small enough to feel like home. It’s a mix of art, food, nature, community, history, culture, and grit in all the right proportions.

And as someone who grew up here, left for a hot second, has traveled around the world, came back, and never plans to leave again? I can tell you: a weekend here is enough to make you want to come back for more.

If you’re ready to plan your perfect weekend, head over to our Events Calendar — it’s packed with everything happening in Long Beach, from big festivals to the neighborhood gems you don’t want to miss.