Long Beach and Catalina Island

JudyC · 3 Jul 18, 08:39 PM

Besides travelling to Catalina island by boat , and the Queen Mary what else is there to do.
Any recommendations?

dexdis · 8 Jul 18, 11:36 AM

There is the Long beach aquarium near the Queen Mary and is well worth a visit
It is within walking distance but there are buggies which take you round the area for a small charge. There is also shopping area and various cafes, worth a look 😊

landandword17 · 8 Jul 18, 12:37 PM

If you have a car the beach towns south of Long Beach are beatutiful. Laguna Beach and Newport Beach in particular.

georgemac · 8 Jul 18, 06:38 PM

I did the harbour tour which I found very interesting, while my wife just wondered around the Marina area.
There were also whale watching tours leaving from the harbour.

JudyC · 9 Jul 18, 10:23 AM

Thanks everyone, I'm only just come back to this and found replies 😀 We've now booked our Airbnb in Long Beach for four nights. Looks like plenty to do for us there, I'll look into the Whale watching trip, although I'm.not beginning of October is the best time for seeing them

Olympiad · 9 Jul 18, 05:48 PM

Hi - I think technically airbnb rentals are illegal in Long Beach (unless this has very recently changed). I know that there are still loads advertised and the risk of anything going wrong is low as it seems there's limited enforcement action, but worth being aware just in case you didn't know.

JudyC · 9 Jul 18, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Olympiad

Hi - I think technically airbnb rentals are illegal in Long Beach (unless this has very recently changed). I know that there are still loads advertised and the risk of anything going wrong is low as it seems there's limited enforcement action, but worth being aware just in case you didn't know.

My brother who lives in San Diego is joining us for part of the trip. He's booked the Airbnb. I'm sure he would know if there were any issues, like you say there are loads on Airbnb and VRBO
As it's Mum and I and my brother we all need our own rooms, so a hotel just wasn't for us. .

CarsonMac · 9 Jul 18, 08:21 PM

Defo try visit laguna beach and Newport beach, we stayed in laguna Beach year or so ago and it's great, nice beach and streets with ltttle shops and restaurants. Newport beach has a little island in the middle - balboa island which is accessible via a little ferry. There's big marina there with lots of massive yachts. Newport also has nice Piers and boardwalk.
Catalina is a definite must, we treated ourselves last time abd got the helicopter across and the Catalina express back (up graded to commodore class, worth the little bit extra!). Helicopter was a great experience seeing the californian coast line and the island approaching, only thing was it was too quick!

mrblack · 15 Jul 18, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by CarsonMac

Defo try visit laguna beach and Newport beach, we stayed in laguna Beach year or so ago and it's great, nice beach and streets with ltttle shops and restaurants. Newport beach has a little island in the middle - balboa island which is accessible via a little ferry. There's big marina there with lots of massive yachts. Newport also has nice Piers and boardwalk.
Catalina is a definite must, we treated ourselves last time abd got the helicopter across and the Catalina express back (up graded to commodore class, worth the little bit extra!). Helicopter was a great experience seeing the californian coast line and the island approaching, only thing was it was too quick!

Where did you get the helicopter from?

CarsonMac · 15 Jul 18, 10:29 PM

Helicopter was from Long Beach. Near where the Queen Mary is... We flew and got the catalina express back, it was a bit of a walk back to the car at the helicopter pad on the way back tho!

3 Jul 18, 08:39 PM	#1
	3 Jul 18, 08:39 PM JudyC Imagineer
JudyC Imagineer Join Date: May 05	Long Beach and Catalina Island Besides travelling to Catalina island by boat , and the Queen Mary what else is there to do. Any recommendations? __________________ 2018 Vegas & San Diego 2017 Vegas/Arizona/Utah 2013 New York/Vegas/California 2010 California 2000 2004 2006 2008 2011 2015 Nov 24 in planning mode Florida 93 94 03 2023 DLP

8 Jul 18, 11:36 AM	#2
	8 Jul 18, 11:36 AM dexdis Trying for More Ears
dexdis Trying for More Ears Join Date: Jul 15 dexdis's Reviews Hotel Reviews: 1	There is the Long beach aquarium near the Queen Mary and is well worth a visit It is within walking distance but there are buggies which take you round the area for a small charge. There is also shopping area and various cafes, worth a look 😊

9 Jul 18, 10:23 AM	#5
	9 Jul 18, 10:23 AM JudyC Imagineer Thread Starter
JudyC Thread Starter Imagineer Join Date: May 05	Thanks everyone, I'm only just come back to this and found replies 😀 We've now booked our Airbnb in Long Beach for four nights. Looks like plenty to do for us there, I'll look into the Whale watching trip, although I'm.not beginning of October is the best time for seeing them __________________ 2018 Vegas & San Diego 2017 Vegas/Arizona/Utah 2013 New York/Vegas/California 2010 California 2000 2004 2006 2008 2011 2015 Nov 24 in planning mode Florida 93 94 03 2023 DLP

9 Jul 18, 05:48 PM	#6
	9 Jul 18, 05:48 PM Olympiad slightly serious Dibber
Olympiad slightly serious Dibber Join Date: Jan 14	Hi - I think technically airbnb rentals are illegal in Long Beach (unless this has very recently changed). I know that there are still loads advertised and the risk of anything going wrong is low as it seems there's limited enforcement action, but worth being aware just in case you didn't know.

9 Jul 18, 08:21 PM	#8
	9 Jul 18, 08:21 PM CarsonMac Very Serious Dibber
CarsonMac Very Serious Dibber Join Date: Jul 17	Defo try visit laguna beach and Newport beach, we stayed in laguna Beach year or so ago and it's great, nice beach and streets with ltttle shops and restaurants. Newport beach has a little island in the middle - balboa island which is accessible via a little ferry. There's big marina there with lots of massive yachts. Newport also has nice Piers and boardwalk. Catalina is a definite must, we treated ourselves last time abd got the helicopter across and the Catalina express back (up graded to commodore class, worth the little bit extra!). Helicopter was a great experience seeing the californian coast line and the island approaching, only thing was it was too quick! __________________ Quality Inn Plaza , I drive (2009) / Los Angeles, CA (2010) /New york + Villa at Chatham park (2014/15) / Quality Inn on 192 (2015) / Laguna beach (2016) / Flamingo inn ,Daytona beach (2016/17) Houston , Atlanta + Coco key water resort, I drive (2017), Boston (2018), New York City (2018) Washington DC + Clarion Suites Maingate, (2018)Red Lion/ New orleans (Sept 2019) Cabbibean Resort/ Red lion (Jan 2020), Baymont Inn and Suites (Aug 2020)

15 Jul 18, 10:29 PM	#10
	15 Jul 18, 10:29 PM CarsonMac Very Serious Dibber
CarsonMac Very Serious Dibber Join Date: Jul 17	Helicopter was from Long Beach. Near where the Queen Mary is... We flew and got the catalina express back, it was a bit of a walk back to the car at the helicopter pad on the way back tho! __________________ Quality Inn Plaza , I drive (2009) / Los Angeles, CA (2010) /New york + Villa at Chatham park (2014/15) / Quality Inn on 192 (2015) / Laguna beach (2016) / Flamingo inn ,Daytona beach (2016/17) Houston , Atlanta + Coco key water resort, I drive (2017), Boston (2018), New York City (2018) Washington DC + Clarion Suites Maingate, (2018)Red Lion/ New orleans (Sept 2019) Cabbibean Resort/ Red lion (Jan 2020), Baymont Inn and Suites (Aug 2020)