Looking for the best things to do in Long Beach with kids?
If so, this list is for you!
Located about two hours north of San Diego, just south of Los Angeles, Long Beach is often overlooked in favor of the more popular beach towns in Southern California. But that would be a mistake! Long Beach has plenty of fun things to do the entire family will love.
Top 5 Picks: Things to Do in Long Beach with Kids
If you are just looking for a quick list of the can’t miss, very best family-friendly things to do in Long Beach, California, I am here to help! Here are our Top 5 recommendations.
► Visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, one of the best aquariums on the west coast!
► Go on a harbor cruise or whale watching cruise.
► Stroll through Shoreline Village.
► Ride bikes along the boardwalk or spend time at the beach.
► Check out the Queen Mary, said to be one of most haunted destinations in America.
Keep reading for more details on these top five things to do in Long Beach with kids and teens, plus lots more ideas to help you plan your trip!
15 Fun Things to Do in Long Beach with Kids
1. Explore the Aquarium of the Pacific
Kids and adults alike will love visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific. Although the Monterey Bay Aquarium is often heralded as the best aquarium in California, the Aquarium of the Pacific most certainly holds its own!
The Aquarium of the Pacific features numerous indoor and outdoor exhibits, many of which are interactive! There are over 11,000 animals from 500 species, in more than 50 exhibits that represent the diversity of the Pacific Ocean on display. The aquarium is home to shark lagoon, sea lions, jellies, penguins, seals, and the usual array of fish.
Catch an educational show or one of the feedings scheduled throughout the day. We made sure to do this on a recent visit, and it was so fun and interesting to learn about the aquarium’s residents while watching the scuba divers interact with them!
The Aquarium of the Pacific has one truly unique exhibit you won’t want to miss! Lorikeet Forest is a 5,400-square foot outdoor aviary that will transport you to the coastal lowlands of Australia. In this walk-through exhibit, the colorful birds will literally surround you. Purchase a cup of nectar and you can feed them. Birds love this, and will literally land on your hands and shoulder to get a treat!
Even if you don’t want to purchase the nectar, you’ll still enjoy the experience with these very friendly, beautiful birds in the Lorikeet Forest at the aquarium. The Aquarium of the Pacific is definitely one of the best places to visit with kids in the Los Angeles area!
► Click here to book Skip the Line tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific
2. Stroll through Shoreline Village
Shoreline Village is a quaint and colorful shopping and dining district on the Long Beach waterfront. Nestled along Rainbow Harbor, it has a nice variety of restaurants and is a great spot to grab lunch and do a little souvenir shopping.
We had lunch at Tequila Jack’s Restaurant and Cantina, which had wonderful Mexican food and lovely views overlooking the boats in the harbor. Service was amazing and the food was plentiful and delicious. The menu is a mouth-watering collection of innovative, Baja-style Mexican dishes, and the refreshments are unmatched.
Shoreline Village is also home to Parker’s Lighthouse, one of Long Beach’s most renowned waterfront restaurants. In addition to its many shops and restaurants, Shoreline Village has a carousel, an arcade, and spots where you can rent boats, jet skis, kayaks, sailboats, bikes and more. In the summer, live music is scheduled to perform.
3. Take a Tour of the Queen Mary
The Queen Mary is a luxury ocean liner now permanently docked in Long Beach. Her maiden voyage took place in 1936, and she came to Long Beach in 1967. Today, the Queen Mary is one of the most popular Long Beach attractions. It also operates as a hotel if you want to experience an overnight stay. (We’ve done both, but I found the rooms to be dated – even though they are decorated in early 20th century-style Art Deco – and frankly a little bit creepy. Definitely recommend visiting on a day trip instead!)
Unfortunately, you can’t just climb aboard the ship and wander around. You need to purchase a tour (unless you are staying at the hotel).
General admission to the Queen Mary includes your choice of one guided tour from the following options: Glory Days, Haunted Encounters, Steam & Steel, and Hollywood. You’ll also be free to explore more than 20 exhibits, restaurants, bars, and shops onboard, or relax on deck to take in stunning harbor views. We like to have lunch or dinner onboard the ship after our tour – it makes it feel like a real vacation since the restaurants all overlook the water!
The Queen Mary is also said to be one of the most haunted destinations in America. (Wait until you hear the creepy stories about the indoor pool onboard the ship!) We really enjoyed taking a ghost tour of the ship; you can also sign up for a paranormal investigation if that is your thing. Of course, these options are best if your kids are older.
4. Take a Harbor Cruise or Whale Watching Cruise
A harbor cruise is a great way to see Long Beach from the water. Tours depart throughout the day and are conveniently located at the docks right outside the entrance to the Aquarium of the Pacific.
We took a harbor boat tour with Harbor Breeze Cruises. These short, 45-minute narrated boat cruises offer a relaxing way to take in the views. You’ll see the Queen Mary, oil drilling islands, lighthouse, Shoreline Village, and learn a bit about the area.
A relaxing boat cruise along the harbor is definitely one of the best things to do in Long Beach with kids!
Longer whale watching cruises are also available and the perfect activity especially for older kids. These tours are about two hours long and fully narrated by a guide. Marine life you will likely see include Gray Whales (November-April), Blue Whales (May-November), and year-round Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Orcas, Dolphins, Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, and much more!
► Click here for discount tickets to the best guided Whale Watching Tour from Long Beach
5. Go Shopping at the Pike Outlets
Located just steps from the Aquarium, Long Beach Convention Center, Pine Avenue and downtown Long Beach, the Pike Outlets is a shopping and entertainment complex worth a visit! It has 30 stores and restaurants – which is not a ton – but more than plenty if you are just looking to browse and whittle away a relaxing afternoon.
There is also a movie theater, which we took advantage of on one of our quiet nights in town. The Pike is also home to the Long Beach Laugh Factory comedy club, a carousel, and a giant Ferris wheel. Ticket prices for a carousel ride are $4 each, or you can take a spin on the Ferris wheel for only $6 per person.
6. Hang Out at Kidz Town
If you have little ones, you’ll definitely want to make the short drive from Long Beach to Lakewood to spend a few hours at Kidz Town, an indoor playground perfect for toddlers and young children.
Kidz Town has a multitude of activities for kids to choose from, including a ball pit, slide, obstacle courses, a race course and tons of places to climb through. There is a fun mini-section just for toddlers, too! This indoor play area is the perfect place to visit on a rainy day or when it is really hot outside.
7. Visit the El Dorado Nature Center
The El Dorado Nature Center is a 105-acre nature sanctuary located at a local park in the City of Long Beach. It has several hiking, biking, and walking trails, including an easy quarter-mile paved trail that winds around two lakes, a stream, native plants and trees – perfect if you are walking with kids in strollers! The Visitor Center has some interesting educational displays, kids activities, a picnic area, art gallery featuring local artists, and a gift shop.
El Dorado East Regional Park also features tennis courts, baseball diamonds, disc golf, volleyball courts, an archery range, soccer fields, a basketball court, a skate park and nearby golf course. This place is a sports lover’s dream!
8. Take a Gondola Ride
Speaking of Naples, the best way to explore it is not on foot but on a gondola ride through the canals. Gondola Getaway brings old world charm and thousand-year-old tradition to Southern California, right down to the singing gondoliers. Authentic Venetian gondolas gently cruise the enchanting canals and waterways of Naples Island.
We had the chance to try out this memorable activity on our recent visit to Long Beach and it was a highlight of our trip. Most people think of this as a romantic excursion and it probably is, but we did it as a family and the ride was just fine! In fact, we saw plenty of kids there when we arrived for our ride.
If you are visiting Orange County or L.A. during Christmas, it’s definitely worth the short drive to Long Beach to take the gondola tour at night and see all the waterfront home lit up for the holidays.
The tours last approximately one hour, and a souvenir photo is included.
9. Hit the Beach
What’s a SoCal beach town without a beach? Long Beach has one and it is pretty nice, but don’t expect giant waves or lots of surfers. The beaches in Long Beach are sheltered, so the water is relatively calm. This actually makes it a great beach for young kids to go swimming.
If you are traveling with your dog, Long Beach has one of the most fantastic dog beaches in Southern California! Visit Rosie’s Dog Beach with your pup for a fun day.
10. Go for a Bike Ride
With miles of bike trails along the harbor and an extensive beach boardwalk, Long Beach is prime for biking.
We rented bikes at Wheel Fun Rentals, located right in Shoreline Village. They offer surreys, pedal karts, traditional bikes and tandem bikes, so you can choose whatever best fits your family’s needs and ages. (A surrey bike is great if you have young kids!)
We rode from Shoreline Village, up and around the lighthouse, and then all the way back out to Belmont Shore, enjoying beautiful beach and harbor views the whole time.
11. Visit Belmont Shore
Belmont Shore is located a few miles from downtown Long Beach, but many think of it as the center of town. Belmont Shore is a charming community located on the beach, away from the hub of downtown.
The heart of Belmont Shore is Second Street, which comes alive at night with its boutiques, bars and restaurants. This stretch of Long Beach is right near the water but boasts a vibrant, urban feel.
Enjoy patio dining or an adult beverage in the warm evening air. There are a lot of people enjoying the bar scene on weekend nights, but there are plenty of kids and their parents in Belmont Shore, as well!
We had dinner at George’s Greek Café. The restaurant is owned by father and son team George and Demitri Loizides. The call it “A little piece of Greece in Southern California.”
Greek food is not normally my thing so I ordered the most un-Greeky thing on the menu: grilled salmon. It was so good! Perfectly blackened and served with lots of fresh veggies and pita. My husband had the lamb and said it was good, too.
12. See the Museum of Latin American Art
The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is the only art museum in the United States dedicated to showcasing, well, Latin American art! The museum features paintings and sculptures and has a lovely, expansive courtyard garden. The museum is located in the city’s rapidly developing East Village Arts District.
13. Take in the Views at the Long Beach Museum of Art
Another fabulous museum in Long Beach is the Long Beach Museum of Art. The museum sits atop a bluff overlooking the beach, so the views alone make it worthwhile! To really enjoy the views, plan to have lunch at Claire’s, the museum’s onsite restaurant offering spectacular ocean views.
14. Visit Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
If you’re looking for a peaceful spot to retreat in Long Beach, visit the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach.
The Japanese gardens are beautiful but small – 1.3 acres to be exact – which is perfect if you have kids who might get bored quickly!
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 am to 3:30 pm and Sunday noon to 4 pm. The gardens have free admission, but the parking lot at the University of California Long Beach Campus costs $6 per hour.
15. Ride the AquaBus
Here’s a secret. You don’t have to pay for a harbor cruise or rent a boat to get out on the water. Long Beach Transit offers watertaxi transportation around Rainbow Harbor via the AquaBus and AquaLink.
The AquaBus travels between the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, and Shoreline Village in a 20-minute loop. The AquaLink will take you on a 40-minute ride across the bay from Downtown Long Beach to Alamitos Bay Alamitos Bay.
If you are staying at one of the family-friendly Long Beach hotels near the waterfront, riding the AquaBus makes for an easy, fun, and inexpensive excursion!
Final Thoughts: Things to Do with Kids in Long Beach California
With its beautiful coastal location, amazing restaurants and array of family-friendly activities, Long Beach is a great place to visit with kids!
If you are looking for more of a day trip, Catalina Express will whisk you off to Catalina Island from Long Beach for a full day of fun. Catalina Island is located just 26 miles off the coast of Southern California, making it an ideal quick getaway.
In fact, I used to work on Catalina Island and took the boat out of Long Beach every week! So I can say from experience the city has no shortage of fun things to do.
Save These Long Beach Activities for Later!
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