Long Beach, CA

A waterfront seafood restaurant and raw bar near the marina doing oysters, crudo and sustainable fresh fish with a view of the boats. The city's go-to for serious seafood.

An elegant Southern-Italian restaurant in a historic downtown bank building on Pine Avenue, with soaring ceilings and handmade pasta. The city's classic special-occasion Italian.

A festive, long-running Greek spot on Pine Avenue doing generous mezze, souvlaki and the occasional plate-smashing night. A reliably fun downtown meal.

A beloved Cambodia Town institution — Long Beach has the largest Cambodian community outside Asia — ladling fragrant kuy teav noodle soups and Cambodian classics. A genuine taste of a culture the city is built on.

A perpetually packed Lebanese restaurant on Belmont Shore's Second Street, famous for garlicky shawarma, mezze and house pita. A neighborhood favorite worth the inevitable wait.

A colorful Retro Row favorite doing regional Mexican plates, a deep tequila list and a famous mole, with a buzzy patio. The Fourth Street go-to for margaritas and a fun dinner.

A craft-comfort-food restaurant in a converted Craftsman house, famous for the 'Macnificent' mac-and-cheese-stuffed dishes and a lively brunch. A fun, indulgent neighborhood spot.

A long-running Naples-area barbecue institution doing slow-smoked ribs and an old-school rib-joint feel since 1981. A hearty, family-favorite mainstay.

A stylish Vietnamese restaurant on Retro Row doing pho, banh mi and modern Vietnamese plates in a cool, design-forward room. A contemporary take on the city's deep Southeast Asian roots.

A farm-to-table restaurant on Retro Row from a James Beard-nominated chef, doing a seasonal, locally sourced menu with a strong natural-wine list. The city's most ingredient-driven kitchen.

A small-batch ice cream maker churning inventive seasonal flavors and ice cream sandwiches from local ingredients. The city's standout scoop, with a cult following.

A sleek downtown coffee bar with a striking design and carefully pulled espresso, a favorite of the city's creative crowd. The go-to third-wave cup downtown.

A bright downtown spot doing creative breakfasts and brunch plates all day, with a coffee-and-cocktail bar. The city's reliable morning anchor.

A warm East Village trattoria doing wood-fired pizzas and house pastas to a loyal local crowd. The neighborhood's reliable, unpretentious Italian.

A pocket of restored woodland, lakes and meadow on the city's east side, with gentle dirt loops and abundant birdlife. A surprising bit of nature in a dense coastal city.

A flat, paved beach path running for miles along the sand from downtown past Belmont Shore, ideal for walking, running or cycling with constant ocean views. The city's coastal spine.

A short climb to a small hilltop park atop the old oil-derrick hill, with a 360-degree panorama from the mountains to the ocean and Catalina. The best big-picture view in the area for minimal effort.

An easy, flat wander along the Venetian-style canals and footbridges of Naples Island, past waterfront homes and moored boats. A charming stroll that doubles as the prettiest neighborhood walk in town.

A restored tidal lagoon with a walking loop, native plantings and a swimming beach, tucked between neighborhoods near Marine Stadium. A mellow, leafy waterside stroll.

California's largest aquarium, on the downtown waterfront, with sea otters, a shark lagoon, a lorikeet aviary and a focus on Pacific marine life. The city's top family attraction.

The only US museum devoted to modern and contemporary Latin American art, with a strong permanent collection, a sculpture garden and a lively events calendar. A distinctive cultural anchor.

A clifftop museum in a 1912 Craftsman mansion on Bluff Park, with California art, ocean views and a beloved garden café. A small, scenic art stop by the sea.

Authentic Venetian gondola rides through the Naples Island canals, with a striped-shirt gondolier and the option of bread, cheese and a bottle aboard. The city's signature romantic outing.

Whale- and dolphin-watching cruises from Rainbow Harbor, with blue whales in summer and gray whales in winter alongside year-round dolphin pods. A reliable wildlife day on the water.

A serene Japanese garden on the Cal State Long Beach campus, with a koi pond, arched bridges and raked gravel, free to visit on open days. A tranquil escape from the city.

A guided after-dark tour of the old ocean liner's reputedly haunted spaces — boiler rooms, first-class pool, sealed cabins — heavy on the ship's eerie lore. A theatrical evening with a side of history.

A well-regarded concert and theater venue on the Cal State Long Beach campus, hosting music, dance and touring acts across genres. The area's polished stage for a cultural night.

A lively downtown craft-beer hall with a big rotating tap list and a social, communal-table feel. The city center's go-to for a wide-ranging pint.

The grand 1936 ocean liner permanently docked as a hotel and museum, its art-deco interiors, riveted hull and ghost-tour lore intact. A genuine piece of transatlantic history you can walk through.

A trio of small islands threaded with Venetian-style canals and walkable bridges, lined with waterfront homes and reachable by gondola. The city's most charming and unexpected neighborhood.

The buzzing main drag of Belmont Shore, a long strip of boutiques, cafes and restaurants a block from the beach. The beachy social spine of the east side.

The stretch of Fourth Street packed with vintage-clothing shops, record stores, antique dealers and indie cafes. The city's coolest, most browsable district.

A walkable downtown quarter of galleries, murals, coffee shops and converted lofts, home to the monthly Art Walk. The creative heart of the city center.

A waterfront boardwalk of shops and restaurants on Rainbow Harbor, with marina views, the lighthouse and easy access to the beach path. A breezy, family-friendly harbor stroll.

A historic ranch and adobe on a low rise above the modern city, with 1930s gardens, a working barnyard and centuries of layered history from Tongva village to Spanish rancho. A quiet, free window into old California.

A grassy clifftop park running along the shoreline with wide ocean views, historic Craftsman homes across the street and stairs down to the beach. The city's prettiest stretch of coast to stroll.