Browsing Tag

cheap things to do in long beach

The Pike Outlets

Posted on March 11, 2019

What Is it?:  The Pike is a shopping and entertainment district downtown.  There are plenty of restaurants and retail stores, but there are also a lot of activities even if you don’t want to shop or eat. The ferris wheel is $4/person and the carousel is $2/person.

Tips: 

  • – Ride the carousel ($2/person), walk around the shopping area, and then split a movie theater popcorn with the kids and eat it at the table outside (smalls are about $6) for a fun and inexpensive afternoon.
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and Shoreline Village, the Long Beach aquarium, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Queen Mary, and Rainbow Lagoon.
  • – There is a brand new pedestrian bridge above downtown Long Beach to check out!

Cost:  Free

Hours:  10 am – 9 pm Mon – Sat, and 10 am – 8 pm Sunday

Stroller Friendly:  Yes!  Although some of the stores might be hard to navigate with larger strollers if you plan on shopping

Inside/Outside: Outside with stores/restaurants having indoor space

Alcohol:  Only if you go in a bar/restaurant to eat

Parking: Yes, $1.50/every 30 min with a $24 max

                  Cinemark validation $8/day

                  Retail validation: 90 minutes free, $2 up to 3 hours, $3 up to 4 hours, $2.75 every additional half hour

                  There are meters off of Shoreline Dr with a 2 hour max

Active family:  No

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks and there is a grassy area you can sit down in to eat

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official The Pike Outlets.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at The Pike Outlets and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Queen Mary

Posted on March 11, 2019

What Is it?:  The Queen Mary was originally a cruise ship that was transformed into a War Ship during WWII.  She was the largest and fastest troopship at the time.  She was retired in 1965 and is currently docked in Long Beach.  You can tour her, stay on board, dine here, or attend one of the many events held here.  The focus of this post is day visits only, as I have not yet had the pleasure to stay overnight.

Tips: 

  • – Go during the week to avoid crowds.
  • – Play Lego at the Lego tables in the room with the Queen Mary Lego brick replica
  • – Check out the Sponge Bob kid’s movie in 4D for an additional fee
  • – Take the tour for an additional fee to learn about the ship, even if you only take it once
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and Shoreline Village, the aquarium, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Pike Outlets, and Rainbow Lagoon.

Cost:  Day tickets for adults are around $30, but they have recently launches a So Cal pass for locals that is $33 and available for people living in zip codes 90000 – 93599.  

This pass includes visiting most areas of the ship and 3 hours of free parking per visit, 1 visit per day.

Both the tickets and parking are void for special events, which you can find on their calendar, usually months in advance.

At press time, these passes are not available online and you need to purchase them in person.

Hours: Daily 10 am – 6 pm, check their events calendar to see if there is anything special going on before you visit.

Stroller Friendly: You can fit a stroller, but it limits you to taking the elevator everywhere which can be a pain sometimes.  Bring it if you absolutely need it, leave it in the car if you think you can get away with not bringing it.

Inside/Outside: Inside and outside

Alcohol: Yes – at a couple of the restaurants

Parking: Yes, there is a parking lot.  Parking is $18/day or $8 with restaurant validation.  If you purchase the So Cal pass, parking is free for 3 hours per visit, 1 visit per day.

Active family:  No

Food:  There are a few restaurants on the ship but you can also bring food.  We usually pack a lunch for the kids and then sit outside at the Observation Bar.  I have a beer and the kids eat their sandwiches while we enjoy the view.  Make sure you pick up all your trash.

Read More: There is so much to do on this ship that we find ourselves going several times a month.  I almost don’t know where to start because I don’t feel my words will do it justice, but I’ll try.

         If you visit the D-Deck, you can check out the engine room and the propeller which are really cool (it’s a little dark in here though so maybe scary for little kids.)

         On the M Deck there is a travel bureau exhibit and a silver and China display.

         The Promenade, which is our favorite deck, has the Lego replica, the Observation Bar, the children’s playroom display, and the model gallery.

        The ship is huge, and there are a few other decks, but this is really a ship you need to see for yourself.

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Queen Mary.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at Queen Mary and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Shoreline Village

Posted on March 11, 2019

What Is it?:  Shoreline Village is a collection of shops and restaurants with an old-timey vibe that overlooks Rainbow Harbor.  You can stroll along the water and enjoy the marina or check out the various shops like the chocolate shop, comic book shop, or jerky shop.  There are a couple cute quarter rides for kids, as well as a full-size carousel at Pelican Pier Pavillon that only costs $2.  This arcade features skee-ball, claw machines, and other fun arcade games too.

Fun Tips: 

  • – Avoid parking fees by walking, biking or taking the bus.  If you can find a meter somewhere along Shoreline drive, you can park for 2 hours for less than the parking lot fee.
  • – For a cheap family friendly afternoon, we like to do the carousel ($2/kid), get $5 in tokens to play a few games, go for a walk and check out the view and the shops (free), eat a packed lunch at one of the picnic tables (free), and get a little bit of candy from the candy store ($2).  This could be less than a $10 afternoon if you use public transportation.
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and the Long Beach Aquarium, The Queen Mary, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Pike Outlets, and Rainbow Lagoon.

Cost:  Free

            *Purchases at shops and restaurants have costs

Hours: June – August: 10 am – 10 pm

              September – May: 10 am – 9 pm

              *Restaurant hours may vary

Stroller Friendly:  Yes, it was easy to navigate with the stroller or wagon, even double stroller, and not to crowded to navigate with a stroller.  Some of the shops and restaurants are difficult to get around with a larger stroller though.  If you are only going to shop or eat, perhaps leave the stroller in the car or bring an umbrella stroller.

Inside/Outside: Mostly outside.  Many of the shops and restaurants have inside and outside.

Alcohol:  Inside the restaurants that serve it only.

Parking: Yes. $2 every 20 minutes without validation, or $1/hour for up to 2 hours with validation (after making a $10 purchase.)

                  After 2 hours, with validation, rate is $2 every 20 minutes with a $16 maximum.

                  Lost ticket fee is $24.

Active family:  Not really unless you plan on renting bikes.

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks anywhere besides the shops and restaurants.  There are picnic tables in a common area with some shade.  There are plenty of stands to buy food and drinks from, in addition to sit-down restaurants.

Read More: Even when they aren’t holding an event (of which they hold several), there is always a lot to do here.  There are several sit down restaurants of all types from Mexican at Tequila Jacks, Irish at Shenanigan’s, and Mediterranean at Cafe Dia.

In addition to the sit down restaurants, there are multiple stands that offer fair-type treats like funnel cakes and ice cream.

At Wheel Fun Rentals, you can rent segways, bikes, and surreys for a day of fun.  Most bikes are around $12/hour and kid’s bikes are $8/hour.

There are various day cruises that depart out of Shoreline Village as well.  Whether you just want a quick lunch cruise or to go whale watching, there is surely a cruise for you.

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Shoreline Village.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at Shoreline Village and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Colorado Lagoon

Posted on March 11, 2019

What Is it?:  The Colorado Lagoon is a 13 acre urban wetland located in the Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach. You can see all types of aquatic life here including jellyfish, birds, turtles, and fish.  There is a walking path around the edge of most of the lagoon, and a pedestrian bridge that goes across it. The beach area is great for kids because the water is shallow and has no real waves.  There is a playground here with a jungle gym and plenty of sand to dig in.  There are picnic tables to eat at, and plenty of shade.

Tips: 

  • – Don’t forget the sand toys!
  • – Check water quality if you want to swim.
  • – No barbecues
  • – Don’t feed the wildlife
  • – Pick up all trash
  • – The on-site bathroom were under construction at press time so there was a Porta-potty.  I would suggest bringing a few napkins in case it runs out of toilet paper.

Cost: Free

Hours: Daily 8 am – 10 pm.

Stroller Friendly: You can push a stroller on the path around the lagoon and across the bridge, but when the path ends, it’s sand.  Unless you plan on a short walk, I would leave the stroller in the car.

Inside/Outside: Outside

Alcohol: No

Parking: Yes, there is street parking but not a parking lot.  During busy times, you may have difficulty finding a close spot and may need to take a couple trips from the car if you brought a picnic or beach stuff, so pack things into easy-to-carry bags

Active family:  Yes

Food:  You can bring food and there are shaded picnic tables to eat at. 

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Colorado Lagoon. The information I provided is based upon my own experience at the Colorado Lagoon and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens

Posted on March 10, 2019

What Is it?:  The Japanese gardens is a 1.3 acre secluded Japanese-style garden with a koi pond.  It is an amazing place to go alone to unwind, to go with a significant other for a romantic walk, or to go with your family to enjoy the scenery and feed the koi fish and ducks.

Fun Tips: 

  • – You can buy food to feed the fish and ducks but they only take quarters.  Also please do not feed them anything other than the food provided.
  • – Wander around the CSULB campus to stretch out the afternoon (just don’t forget to pay your meter!)
  • – There is little shade so pack the sunscreen
  • – Donations are welcome

Cost:  Free

Hours:  Monday – Closed, Tues – Fri 8 am – 3:30 pm, Saturday – Closed, Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm

Stroller Friendly:  Yes but the gardens are small enough that if your kid can walk, there might not be a need for it

Inside/Outside: Outside

Alcohol:  No

Parking: Yes, there is a parking lot across the street. You can pay with a card at one of the machines and it costs $4/an hour for short term parking (must be in a short term parking spot – directly across from gardens) or $8 for the day.  Parking can be impacted during the school year because it’s on a college campus so walk, bike, or use public transportation if possible.

Active family:  No

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks and this is a lovely place to have a picnic.   This is a great way to stretch out the afternoon!  Just be sure to throw away all trash!

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Earl Burns Miller Japanese garden.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience atEarl Burns Miller Japanese garden and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

The Pike Outlets

Posted on March 10, 2019

What Is it?:  The Pike is a shopping and entertainment district downtown.  There are plenty of restaurants and retail stores, but there are also a lot of activities even if you don’t want to shop or eat. The ferris wheel is $4/person and the carousel is $2/person.

Tips: 

  • – Ride the carousel ($2/person), walk around the shopping area, and then split a movie theater popcorn with the kids and eat it at the table outside (smalls are about $6) for a fun and inexpensive afternoon.
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and Shoreline Village, the Long Beach aquarium, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Queen Mary, and Rainbow Lagoon.
  • – There is a brand new pedestrian bridge above downtown Long Beach to check out!

Cost:  Free

Hours:  10 am – 9 pm Mon – Sat, and 10 am – 8 pm Sunday

Stroller Friendly:  Yes!  Although some of the stores might be hard to navigate with larger strollers if you plan on shopping

Inside/Outside: Outside with stores/restaurants having indoor space

Alcohol:  Only if you go in a bar/restaurant to eat

Parking: Yes, $1.50/every 30 min with a $24 max

                  Cinemark validation $8/day

                  Retail validation: 90 minutes free, $2 up to 3 hours, $3 up to 4 hours, $2.75 every additional half hour

                  There are meters off of Shoreline Dr with a 2 hour max

Active family:  No

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks and there is a grassy area you can sit down in to eat

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official The Pike Outlets.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at The Pike Outlets and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Queen Mary

Posted on March 10, 2019

What Is it?:  The Queen Mary was originally a cruise ship that was transformed into a War Ship during WWII.  She was the largest and fastest troopship at the time.  She was retired in 1965 and is currently docked in Long Beach.  You can tour her, stay on board, dine here, or attend one of the many events held here.  The focus of this post is day visits only, as I have not yet had the pleasure to stay overnight.

Tips: 

  • – Go during the week to avoid crowds.
  • – Play Lego at the Lego tables in the room with the Queen Mary Lego brick replica
  • – Check out the Sponge Bob kid’s movie in 4D for an additional fee
  • – Take the tour for an additional fee to learn about the ship, even if you only take it once
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and Shoreline Village, the aquarium, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Pike Outlets, and Rainbow Lagoon.

Cost:  Day tickets for adults are around $30, but they have recently launches a So Cal pass for locals that is $33 and available for people living in zip codes 90000 – 93599.  

This pass includes visiting most areas of the ship and 3 hours of free parking per visit, 1 visit per day.

Both the tickets and parking are void for special events, which you can find on their calendar, usually months in advance.

At press time, these passes are not available online and you need to purchase them in person.

Hours: Daily 10 am – 6 pm, check their events calendar to see if there is anything special going on before you visit.

Stroller Friendly: You can fit a stroller, but it limits you to taking the elevator everywhere which can be a pain sometimes.  Bring it if you absolutely need it, leave it in the car if you think you can get away with not bringing it.

Inside/Outside: Inside and outside

Alcohol: Yes – at a couple of the restaurants

Parking: Yes, there is a parking lot.  Parking is $18/day or $8 with restaurant validation.  If you purchase the So Cal pass, parking is free for 3 hours per visit, 1 visit per day.

Active family:  No

Food:  There are a few restaurants on the ship but you can also bring food.  We usually pack a lunch for the kids and then sit outside at the Observation Bar.  I have a beer and the kids eat their sandwiches while we enjoy the view.  Make sure you pick up all your trash.

Read More: There is so much to do on this ship that we find ourselves going several times a month.  I almost don’t know where to start because I don’t feel my words will do it justice, but I’ll try.

         If you visit the D-Deck, you can check out the engine room and the propeller which are really cool (it’s a little dark in here though so maybe scary for little kids.)

         On the M Deck there is a travel bureau exhibit and a silver and China display.

         The Promenade, which is our favorite deck, has the Lego replica, the Observation Bar, the children’s playroom display, and the model gallery.

        The ship is huge, and there are a few other decks, but this is really a ship you need to see for yourself.

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Queen Mary.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at Queen Mary and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Shoreline Village

Posted on March 10, 2019

What Is it?:  Shoreline Village is a collection of shops and restaurants with an old-timey vibe that overlooks Rainbow Harbor.  You can stroll along the water and enjoy the marina or check out the various shops like the chocolate shop, comic book shop, or jerky shop.  There are a couple cute quarter rides for kids, as well as a full-size carousel at Pelican Pier Pavillon that only costs $2.  This arcade features skee-ball, claw machines, and other fun arcade games too.

Fun Tips: 

  • – Avoid parking fees by walking, biking or taking the bus.  If you can find a meter somewhere along Shoreline drive, you can park for 2 hours for less than the parking lot fee.
  • – For a cheap family friendly afternoon, we like to do the carousel ($2/kid), get $5 in tokens to play a few games, go for a walk and check out the view and the shops (free), eat a packed lunch at one of the picnic tables (free), and get a little bit of candy from the candy store ($2).  This could be less than a $10 afternoon if you use public transportation.
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and the Long Beach Aquarium, The Queen Mary, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Pike Outlets, and Rainbow Lagoon.

Cost:  Free

            *Purchases at shops and restaurants have costs

Hours: June – August: 10 am – 10 pm

              September – May: 10 am – 9 pm

              *Restaurant hours may vary

Stroller Friendly:  Yes, it was easy to navigate with the stroller or wagon, even double stroller, and not to crowded to navigate with a stroller.  Some of the shops and restaurants are difficult to get around with a larger stroller though.  If you are only going to shop or eat, perhaps leave the stroller in the car or bring an umbrella stroller.

Inside/Outside: Mostly outside.  Many of the shops and restaurants have inside and outside.

Alcohol:  Inside the restaurants that serve it only.

Parking: Yes. $2 every 20 minutes without validation, or $1/hour for up to 2 hours with validation (after making a $10 purchase.)

                  After 2 hours, with validation, rate is $2 every 20 minutes with a $16 maximum.

                  Lost ticket fee is $24.

Active family:  Not really unless you plan on renting bikes.

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks anywhere besides the shops and restaurants.  There are picnic tables in a common area with some shade.  There are plenty of stands to buy food and drinks from, in addition to sit-down restaurants.

Read More: Even when they aren’t holding an event (of which they hold several), there is always a lot to do here.  There are several sit down restaurants of all types from Mexican at Tequila Jacks, Irish at Shenanigan’s, and Mediterranean at Cafe Dia.

In addition to the sit down restaurants, there are multiple stands that offer fair-type treats like funnel cakes and ice cream.

At Wheel Fun Rentals, you can rent segways, bikes, and surreys for a day of fun.  Most bikes are around $12/hour and kid’s bikes are $8/hour.

There are various day cruises that depart out of Shoreline Village as well.  Whether you just want a quick lunch cruise or to go whale watching, there is surely a cruise for you.

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Shoreline Village.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at Shoreline Village and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Long Beach Southeast Farmer’s Market

Posted on March 10, 2019

What Is it?:  This is one of Long Beach’s largest Farmer’s Markets.  It’s less of a place to play than some of the others, but it has the largest variety of foods (seriously, you can find almost anything here) and also gives out the most free samples.  There are many prepared foods that are sold here too so you can grab lunch if you don’t want to pack one, or you could eat at one of the various nearby restaurants as well.

Tips: 

  • – Many of the shops start closing around 1 so don’t arrive too late.
  • – There is little shade so pack the sunscreen.
  • – There is a bike valet.
  • – This farmer’s market is situated on the Alamitos Bay Marina so there is a great view and it’s a nice place to walk after you have finished your shopping.

Cost:  Free

Hours:  Sundays 9 am – 2 pm

Stroller Friendly:  While strollers are allowed and technically fit, most of the time I go to this Farmer’s Market, it is too crowded to easily navigate with a stroller or wagon.

Inside/Outside: Outside

Alcohol:  No

Parking: Yes, free but the lot can get busy so consider biking, walking, or public transportation if you can.

Active family:  No

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks but there is plenty to purchase here as well and many places give out free samples!

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Long Beach Southeast Farmer’s Market.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at Long Beach Southeast Farmer’s Market and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Panama Joe’s Weekend Brunch

Posted on March 10, 2019

What Is it?:  Okay, don’t stop reading yet.  I know you’re probably like “This is neither free nor an actual ‘event'”, but hear me out.  Every weekend, Panama Joe’s has this amazing brunch deal! It’s called the Rise and Shine breakfast and for $5-6/person, you can get 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, hashbrowns, and either 2 pancakes or pieces of french toast, PLUS bottomless mimosas for an hour.  AN HOUR.  Check out a copy of one of our receipts in the photos.

PLUS bottomless mimosas for an hour.

We go almost every weekend and us adults get one breakfast for each of us with mimosas, and one breakfast for the kids to share.  We even end up taking food home.They had kids’ menus that come with crayons and also wikki stix (which our toddler loves and we should just buy some for her…) . We bring our busy bags as well..

Tips: 

  • – Leave a good tip!
  • – Go early on Sundays during football season as it tends to fill up quickly.
  • – If you plan on staying for the hour, make sure you bring enough stuff for the kiddos to do 🙂

Cost:  $5-6 per person, plus the cost of any drinks other than mimosas.  Be sure to factor in a good tip as well.  If you spend an hour at a table getting waited on, including frequent mimosa refills and your bill is only $15-20, I suggest leaving at least $5.

Hours: Saturday and Sunday 9 am – 11:30 am.

Stroller Friendly: You can fit a stroller, but if you drive it would be easier to leave it in the car.

Inside/Outside: Inside but there is patio seating as well.

Alcohol: Yes

Parking: Yes, there is metered parking behind the restaurant or along 2nd street, as well as free parking on the side streets.

Active family:  No

Food:  There is tons of food!

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Panama Joe’s.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at Panama Joe’s and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.