Four Hours in Long Beach

Before I begin, I know that there are plenty of attractions to take up a day or three in Long Beach. But I was curious to see just how much you could possibly cram into four hours.

Located about 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, a straight shot down the 405 south, and a short ride on the 710 south leads you directly to the Aquarium of the Pacific, one of the main attractions along Rainbow Harbor. (You can also take the 110 South out of downtown L.A., merge onto the 91 East and catch the 710 South.)

The entrance to the Aquarium of the Pacific.

When purchasing you ticket for the Aquarium, you can use the AAA discount to take 10% off the admission price ($23.99) but not for admission after 5p., when the admission price drops to $11.95. Discounts also do not apply on the packages the Aquarium offers, including the whale watching or harbor tours.

That been said, getting the Aquarium admission with a 45-minute harbor tour is worth the $33.95 price tag. Boarding a small vessel, you can climb to the upper deck or stay on the main floor as you survey the Long Beach skyline. Be aware that the boat sways more on the upper deck and the Harbor has choppy waves.

Captain Tom Beardsley informs us that, "These waves you're feeling are not from the wind but from the other boats and tankers moving around in the harbor." About ten minutes into the tour, after passing the Queen Mary and L.A. River Gate Lighthouse, which was donated by a local Lions Club, Beardsley stops the boat and shuts the engines off beside a large red buoy.

Resting on the buoy is a group of sea lions and as the boat sways to and fro, you get the opportunity to take pictures of these marine mammals who seem pretty acclimated to the celebrity.


Harbor cruise celebrities.

The engines fire up again and Beardsley guides us out to the 9-1/2 mile long breakwater, the longest of such structures in North America. From there, the boat swings around and heads back to dock, passing large oil and freight tankers anchored in the harbor.

Once back on solid ground, the Aquarium is a short walk away. Upon entering, you'll notice a life-size replica of a blue whale hanging from the ceiling. While it presents an impressive greeting to the Aquarium, the display also serves as the focal point for bi-hourly presentations on the migration and life of the blue whale. The lights in the lobby dim and special effect lighting spread a watery effect along the walls as the sound of blue whales calling to one another echo through the crowded lobby.

The life-size blue whale pulls double-duty at the Aquarium.

The Aquarium features indoor and outdoor exhibits. Many of the indoor exhibits feature tubular type walkways where you can view 180 degrees above you as fish, sharks, eels and turtles float around by. The indoor exhibits are divided into regions of the sea; Southern Tropics, California Coast, etc. There are also two movie small movie theaters showcasing various sea-themed short films. A large gift shop features a wide selection of Aquarium trinkets and clothing.

Outdoors are several touch tanks, one with stingrays, the other with small sharks. There's also a seal and sea lion enclosure mixed into the myriad of cafes, vendors and snack shops.

Once you exit the Aquarium, a wide variety of big-chain and touristy restaurants surround the harbor. Outback Steakhouse, Yardhouse and Gladstones are some of the bigger names that have set up shop along the waterfront. After taking a tour of the crowded harbor, I settle on Bostons and as luck may have it, try their version of the Cheesesteak sandwich. No two are the same.

A very meaty, not so cheesy Cheesesteak.

The Cheesesteak at Bostons is very meaty. Thin slices of bland beef are stacked between a plain hoagie, with sparse amounts of peppers and onions melding with the cheddar and Mozzerella cheeses. There's an added bonus of dipping sauce, which you actually need to soften the hoagie a bit before you bite into it. The service, while very polite and thorough (my waitress was Kelsey) takes a while. Mind you this place wasn't even crowded, yet the sandwich took about a half hour to reach my table.

After finishing the Cheesesteak, I walk around the harbor, popping in on a small shop with barrels of candy lining the walls. The Candy Baron features a nice selection of taffy flavors (the chocolate chip cookie dough was the best) as well as the usual candy fare of licorice, chocolate and ridiculously oversized jawbreakers. Small cart vendors also line the boardwalk, hocking baby clothing, soccer apparel and jewelry.

Four hours in Long Beach goes by very quickly. Like I said in the beginning, it is easy to find something to occupy your time in this city for more than a day. Events at the Long Beach Sports Arena, shopping along Belmont Shores, three-hour whale-watching tours and so much more happen in this bustling sister city to Los Angeles.

EXPENSES:
Aquarium ticket with Harbor Cruise - $33.95
Boston's Cheesesteak - $14.00 (tip included)
Half pound of taffy from Candy Baron - $6.50

TOTAL EXPENSES: $54.45