Long Beach: Queen Mary, Aquarium & Arts District

The 1936 Cunard ocean liner that transported Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, and over 800,000 troops during World War II is moored permanently at Long Beach's Pier J. The ship's Art Deco interiors — the Main Salon, the First Class Dining Room, and the Observation Bar — are original and largely unaltered from the liner's operational years. Self-guided tours cover the engine room, the bridge, and the Sun Deck with views of the LA harbor.

One of the largest aquariums in the US, with more than 12,000 animals representing 500 species in 50 exhibits — the Great Hall of the Pacific houses a three-story shark lagoon; the Tropical Pacific Gallery re-creates a coral reef at 1,000 species density. The shark and ray touch tank is a consistent highlight; the harbor seal exhibit on the exterior deck offers direct bay views.

A Mexican restaurant at the Hotel Maya on the Long Beach waterfront with a terrace directly above the harbor, serving upscale Mexican cuisine — the lamb birria tacos, the enchiladas suizas, and the house-made mole negro that takes three days to prepare are the kitchen's anchors. The harbor view at midday is the restaurant's other attraction.

A 1912 Craftsman house on the ocean bluff at 2300 East Ocean Boulevard, with a permanent collection focused on California art and a sculpture garden facing the Pacific. The cliff-edge location delivers the most dramatic museum setting in Southern California; the bluff walk below the building is a separate attraction accessible from the street.

The walkable arts quarter in downtown Long Beach — 15 blocks of galleries, independent shops, and murals centered on East Broadway and Linden Avenue. The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) anchors the district's serious cultural programming; the surrounding galleries show both local and international work. The district's restaurant scene has expanded significantly since 2015.

A Long Beach institution on 4th Street serving Michoacán-style Mexican food — the enchiladas with house-made mole, the carnitas cooked overnight in copper pots, and the house margaritas with fresh lime have made this the most beloved Mexican restaurant in Long Beach for 20 years.

A half-mile commercial strip on the narrow peninsula between Alamitos Bay and the Pacific, with independent restaurants and boutiques in buildings dating to the 1920s. The Sunday farmers market runs on the bay side; the morning coffee culture is serious. The beach at the east end of 2nd Street is one of the few genuinely local-feeling beaches in Orange County/Long Beach.

A 40-minute gondola ride through the canals of Naples Island — a 1903 planned community of 150 homes on three man-made islands in Alamitos Bay, modeled on Venice with working canals and Italian-style bridges. Gondola Getaway operates the boats; the canals are maintained and the neighborhood's original 1920s character is largely intact.

A Belmont Shore institution since 1986 serving slow-smoked ribs, brisket, and pulled pork to the beach community's post-water crowds. The tri-tip sandwich and the house-made cornbread are the underrated items; the outdoor patio on 2nd Street is the correct setting for a Long Beach afternoon.

A 4.7-acre Monterey Colonial adobe dating to 1844, when it was the headquarters of a 27,000-acre cattle rancho that covered modern Long Beach, Compton, and Lynwood. The adobe was built by the Stearns family using Tongva adobe-making techniques and is one of the finest surviving examples of the California rancho era. The surrounding gardens are restored to the 1860s period.

A refined Long Beach neighborhood restaurant on Redondo Avenue with a wood-burning hearth and a menu of California comfort food elevated by serious technique — the wood-roasted beet salad, the house-ground burger, and the seasonal fish are the anchors. One of the best dinner restaurants in the greater Long Beach area.