Fun Things To Do in Long Beach and the Surrounding Area

Many factors go into deciding where to hold our annual Conference. One of them is the availability of fun and interesting things for you to do when you take a break from the Conference sessions. On that count, our newest Conference location in Long Beach—the Hyatt Regency—is a real winner!

If you'd just like to hang out in and around the Conference hotel, you'll find it has a beautiful outdoor area for relaxing. There is a great view of the ocean, an outdoor pool, and hot tub. For general information about the hotel, call them at (562) 491-1234.

If you're the type who likes to do some exploring, you'll find a wealth of interesting activities within a short walk or ride from the Conference hotel. The Hyatt Regency Concierge can provide you with detailed information about just about everything there is to do in the Long Beach/LAs area. They can also help with ticket purchases and dinner reservations. The Concierge is located in the main lobby of the hotel.

• The Long Beach Visitor Guide •

The Conference hotel offers a wonderful location for visitors. The Long Beach Shoreline Village is a great place to take a walk by the harbor, shop and eat. Walk, run or cycle for miles along the shoreline. The bike path begins at the Shoreline Village and continues along the beach. Rent bicycles at Wheel Fun Rentals in the Shoreline Village next to The Funnel House.

Dining and Nightlife

There are two great areas within walking distance for food and drink. The Shoreline Village Boardwalk features a variety of restaurants and pubs. Downtown Long Beach along Pine Street offers an array of interesting, independent places to dine. And just across the street from the Hyatt is the Pike plaza with restaurants, shopping, and a cinema.

The Aquarium of the Pacific

Just a short walk down the boardwalk from the Hyatt is one of the finest aquariums in the world. The Aquarium of the Pacific features thousands of ocean animals in artfully and thoughtfully prepared large-scale habitats.

The Queen Mary

From the windows of the Hyatt you can't miss seeing the historic Queen Mary cruise liner moored just off the Long Beach shore. You get a great feel for what it must have been like on a luxury ship in the days before air travel. Much of the original interior is intact. You can stroll along the promenade and sun deck and get a nice view of Long Beach and LA. You can tour the ship on your own or take a guided tour. Adjacent to the Queen Mary is a Russian Attack Submarine open for viewing. The Queen Mary is just minutes away by free shuttle bus (catch the Passport C across from Islands restaurant at Seaside Ave.)

Long Beach Museum of Art

The Long Beach Museum of Art offers rotating exhibits in a beautiful setting. The museum is perched on a hill above the beach where you can relax and enjoy the view of the ocean and Catalina Island. Lunch is available on the terrace of the adjacent O'Donnell Mansion. Steps descend to the beach. You can reach the museum from the Hyatt via a twenty minute walk along the beach or take the Passport Bus A/D down Ocean Boulevard to Kennebec Ave.

Belmont Shore

The neighboring community of Belmont Shore offers a wealth of great independent restaurants, pubs, and unique shops. Second Street offers blocks of interesting evening exploration. Belmont Shore is easily reached in fifteen minutes by taxi or on the free PassPort shuttle bus. Catch the bus on Pine just past Ocean. Jump on either the A or D. Get off at Nieto and stroll in the direction of Corona. During the day you might want to wander down one of the sidestreets to the beach. You'll pass an eclectic collection of unique beach bungalows.

Whale-watching and Harbor Tours

The Pike Pier across from the Hyatt is home base for numerous boat charter services. A 2-3 hour tour will take you into the middle of the gray whale Northern migration. Shorter tours cruise the Bay.

Catalina Island

The Long Beach marina is one of the main departure points for beautiful Catalina Island. Several tour operators make daily trips to this fascinating place just off the California Coast. The boats depart from the marina adjacent to the conference hotel.

Farther Afield

For those of you staying an extra day or two, numerous entertainment possibilities await you outside of the Long Beach area:

Disneyland
The main park speaks for itself—the Mouse, et al. But you may not have heard about the new adjacent park called California Adventure. The California theme is a bit forced, but the rides are pretty exciting. It's well worth the price of admission and the drive to Anaheim to visit one of Southern California's most famous destinations, Disneyland.

Take in a Game
The L.A. area has been known for many years as a sport mecca. Sports fans might be interested in checking out the Los Angeles professional sports teams: Lakers basketball, Clippers basketball, Galaxy soccer, and Kings hockey.