Home to some of California's greatest attractions and landmarks like the Knott's Berry Farm old-fashioned theme park, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and the RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach is one of the best places to visit in the Los Angeles area. Not only that, but Long Beach is home to stunning Pacific Coast beaches, perfect for couples and families.
Alamitos Beach
If you're in Long Beach and simply want the closest and most convenient beach, Alamitos Beach is the place to go. It's easily accessible by foot or car from the downtown streets of Long Beach and offers easy access to the various stores and eateries along the oceanfront. This is a sandy beach with pretty views all around and quite a lively vibe.
It's not uncommon to see groups of friends hanging out and playing beach games together or families enjoying picnics, and you can snap some super photos of Long Beach landmarks like the Queen Mary from Alamitos Beach too. It's a great spot to watch the sunset and comes with a lot of good amenities like clean restrooms, showers, bike racks, and lifeguards.
Belmont Shore Beach
Belmont Shore Beach runs from the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier all the way down to the peninsula. It's a lovely spot, with most of the action tending to occur around the beach's fishing pier. Lots of special events and live entertainment can be enjoyed on and around the pier at different times of the year, and it's also a good spot to simply do some fishing as well.
You'll find restrooms, showers, lifeguards, volleyball courts, and various benches dotted around at this beach, which is also just a few minutes away from some top class cafes and bars. There's a large outdoor pool at the Belmont Shore Beach too and it's a good spot for swimming, sunbathing, and eating picnics.
Junipero Beach
Junipero Beach is actually located right by Alamitos Beach, so you can hop from one beach to the other on the same day if you like. Easily accessed from Long Beach, this beach is also sometimes known under the name 'Cherry Beach' due to the fact that it is located off Cherry Avenue. Whatever you decide to call it, this Long Beach beach is a welcoming, comfortable stretch of coastline with some super views and a lot going on.
Yoga classes run here on a regular basis and are open to all and part of the beach allows dogs out on the sand, so it's a cool spot to bring a four-legged friend. There are plenty of good amenities at Junipero Beach as well, including restrooms, showers, on-duty lifeguards, a local playground for kids, a local outdoor exercise area, and some good eateries just a short walk away.
Peninsula Bayside
As the name suggests, Peninsula Bayside is located on the Long Beach Peninsula, which is found at the far end of Belmont Shore Beach. It's only a small beach but it's definitely worth a visit for its uniquely beautiful and impressive views. Visitors to this beach will be able to admire the upscale residences along the local coastline and snap some photos of nearby Naples Island too. When the conditions are good, you can see a long way out to the horizon here and it's a nice spot to hop on board a kayak or paddleboard and explore the area by water. Amenities at this Long Beach include restrooms, lifeguards, a local cafe, concessions, rentals, and more. Peninsula Bayside Map
Colorado Lagoon Park
Boasting long sandy beaches along both sides of the central lagoon, the Colorado Lagoon Park is a great spot to bring the family for some recreation and relaxation. In reality, this lagoon is an inland body of water and is surrounded by parks and golf courses which provide visitors with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.
There is a dedicated swimming area and plenty of room to relax on the sand. People come here to cool down in summer, have a picnic, go walking or hiking in the surrounding parkland or to play a round of golf. Handy amenities include restrooms and showers, picnic tables and BBQ’s.
Address: Colorado Lagoon Park, 5119 E. Colorado Street, Long Beach, CA 90814, Phone: 562 570 3215
Granada Beach and Rosie’s Dog Beach
Officially called Belmont Shore Beach, Granada Beach is located at the end of Granada Avenue where it offers a long wide beach which is much loved by sun seekers and dog owners. At one end you will find a row of cones which separates the main beach from Rosie’s Dog Beach which is one of just a handful of beaches where unleashed dogs may romp and socialize. The main portion of Granada Beach is a popular event venue and there are several amenities open to the public including a boat launch, restrooms, showers and a bike path. There are lifeguards on duty to keep an eye on bathers and the beach is popular with windsurfers and kite-boarders.
Address: Granada Beach and Rosie’s Dog Beach, 5000 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803
Mother’s Beach
If you are visiting the Lon g Beach area with your family, Mother’s Beach is the ideal place to spend a few hours. The beach is located on the north eastern shore of Naples Island and is protected inside Alamitos Bay, resulting in small waves and shallow waters ideal for children to enjoy while their parents relax on the sand. In addition, Mother’s Beach boasts a large modern playground with loads of playground equipment. When the sun gets a bit too hot you can take shelter under the shady tree canopy in the adjacent grassy area. The calm waters off the beach are also ideal for kayaking and SUP and there is a pier where you can tie up your craft.
Address: Mother’s Beach, 5839 Appian Way, Long Beach, CA 90803
Marine Stadium Beach
The Marine Stadium Beach runs along the edge of the south side of Marine Stadium. Although it is not very popular as a sunbathing beach, it is popular with water sport enthusiasts. Marine Stadium has hosted 2 Olympic rowing events and the man-made waterway is open to the public for rowing in the mornings, and for water skiing from 8am to sunset. As such, the beach attracts folk who would like to enjoy the water activities or just have a picnic and watch the passing parade. Although public swimming is not allowed, the waterway has been used for large open-water swimming events.
Address: Marine Stadium Beach, 5255 E. Paoli Way, Long Beach, CA 90803
Shoreline Aquatic Park
Located on Queensway Bay, close to Downtown Long Beach, the Shoreline Aquatic Park is a popular local recreation area for Long Beach residents. The beach section of the park is located on Rainbow Harbor where it offers great views of some of the city’s prominent landmarks like the Queen Mary Ship and Hotel. Not many people venture into the water on this beach but it is popular for picnicking, relaxing and walking. You can take a stroll along the boardwalk, walk to the central lighthouse, visit the aquarium or sit on a shady bench and watch the world go by.
Address: Shoreline Aquatic Park, 200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Long Beach City Beach
The name says it all – Long Beach City Beach is everything you would expect from a long beach. The broad sandy beach stretches for 4 miles, all the way from Long Beach Harbor to Alamitos Bay. Before the Long Beach Breakwaters were installed in the 1940’s, people used to come from near and far to surf on this beach. These days the waves are much tamer and more suitable for swimming than surfing, although you can still have loads of fun with a boogie board or kite board. There is a wide paved path which follows the beach and is very popular with walkers, runners, cyclists and skateboarders.
Address: Long Beach City Beach, 1 Junipero Ave, Long Beach, CA 90803
