Day Out with Dad: Father's Day Fun in Long Beach
Long Beach has so much to offer for Father’s Day, how about we make it a twofer?! Pair hitting the greens with grabbing a bite or cruising calm waters with a waterfront feast—we’ve got some two-part itineraries for the day that’ll make him feel like the legend he is. Go big! Go, Dad!
GOLF AND GRUB
Golf is great choice for Father’s Day, given the sheer breadth of Long Beach golf courses. How about hitting Skylinks (4800 E Wardlow Rd), a championship 18-hole course that has garnered awards and recognition from local players. Afterward, cross the street to The Hangar at Long Beach Exchange (4069 N Lakewood Blvd). The 17,000-square-foot food hall is home to 14 artisanal vendors serving delicious food and drinks, from a Nashville hot chicken sandwich from Jaybird's and a cold beer at Bottlecraft to tikka masala poutine at The Kroft or healthy Superfood Bowl at Blue Bowl.
COMFORTING
Treat Dad to a relaxing, rejuvenating experience at Firm Hands (3300 E Broadway). Specializing in therapeutic sports as well as comforting massages, their licensed therapists customize each session to address individual needs. With services like deep tissue, trigger point therapy, and stretching, Dad will leave feeling appreciated. Continue that feeling with a short stroll on Broadway to beloved The Attic (3441 Broadway), the charming Southern-style restaurant housed in a 1920s Craftsman bungalow. Known for its inventive twists on classic comfort dishes, The Attic offers favorites like fried chicken and biscuits, gumbo, and their signature "Mac N' Cheetos," surrounded by cozy ambience.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Begin the day with your favorite skipper on a relaxing self-guided cruise aboard an electric Duffy boat from London Boat Rentals (186 N Marina Dr). These cozy, enclosed boats accommodate up to 12 passengers and are perfect for exploring Alamitos Bay and the Naples Canals. Feel free to bring your own cooler, or purchase snacks, drinks, and ice cream on site. After docking, head to Boathouse on the Bay (190 N Marina Dr), located just a short walk away. This upscale yet relaxed waterfront restaurant offers stunning views of Alamitos Bay and a popular Father’s Day buffet. Be sure to make your reservation in advance.
DINNER & A SHOW
How about giving Dad a night out with both dinner and theater? Even better–and Dad will love this–it’s one of the best deals in the city. International City Theatre is presenting the romantic comedy “The Angel Next Door” at the Beverly O’Neill (300 E Ocean Blvd) Theater on Father’s Day weekend. The play, by author Paul Slade Smith, has been lauded for capturing the joy, sophistication and wit of early screwball comedies. Enhance the experience with ICT's incredible Dinner Package: for $99 per person, you get a ticket to the theater and will enjoy a three-course prix fixe dinner at local landmark L'Opera Ristorante (101 Pine Ave). This fun and economical gift will let Dad know you really have your act together.
Diva Dad
Of course, there’s a lot of brunch options in Long Beach. If you’re looking for jaw-dropping views with your meal and mimosa, you should think about heading to Fuego at the Hotel Maya, Claire’s at the Museum at the Long Beach Museum of Art, or Plunge in the 1900 Ocean Beach Club apartment building. All have great food, great drinks and great seaside sights. But, we’d also suggest you consider Hamburger Mary’s (330 Pine Ave.) for jaw dropping entertainment with your brunch and (bottomless) mimosas. This downtown staple puts on a Sunday brunch show at 10 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 3 p.m. that mixes comedy, music, dancing and general fun/madness … did we mention the bottomless mimosas?
Vintage Dad
Your Dad is a classic. Or maybe he’s retro? Throwback? Whatever, if you’re looking to take your Dad back in time, you can always head to Retro Row on Fourth Street. So many stores, from vintage icon Meow to numerous mid century modern boutiques make for great shopping, strolling or people watching, with plenty of places to stop in for a drink or a bite. We’d also suggest taking advantage of the fact that Father’s Day falls on the third Sunday of the month, as does the Long Beach Antique Market at Veterans Stadium (5000 E. Lew Davis St.) One of the best flea markets in the nation, it has more than 800 dealers, displaying about half a million items spread out over 20 acres. Maybe Pop can finally find a replacement for that Cub Scout pocket knife he lost doing cartwheels while camping. Classic Dad.
Straight Edge Dad
Looking to pamper Dad but know he’d probably not feel comfortable with you using the term “pampered?” The B Room (209 Long Beach Blvd.) offers a Dad-friendly option. As a self-described “vintage barber salon” it very much looks the part of a classic barbershop, while offering a lot of spa-like options. Haircuts? Sure. But how about treating him to a straight razor facial shave, complete with a hot towel. He can have his beard trimmed, he can mix in a massage – Swedish, Thai, deep tissue, hot stone – or some aromatherapy. And he can have any of it with a complimentary Stella Artois. Just be aware that The B Room is closed on Sundays, but hey, this is Dad’s weekend. Get him there on Saturday to gussie him up for Sunday Brunch!
Keeping it Wheel Dad
If your Dad likes to keep it moving outdoors, consider heading to Wheel Fun Rentals at Shoreline Village (429 Shoreline Village Dr., Suite G) and rent any number of wheeled vehicles – bikes, pedal and/or electric, surreys, specialty cycles, etc. – and take them for a ride on the long and winding beach bicycle path. You’ll ride with the sun on your shoulder and the ocean on the horizon, past sunbathers, volleyball players, kite surfers and dog beachers. And stop to have a picnic or grab something to eat at the Saltwater Deck food hut on the sand. If Pop is a little more of the old salt, consider heading to Wheel Fun Rentals at Rainbow Lagoon and take a ride on the unique and Swan Pedal Boats. Which, as you may have guessed, are sublime looking pedal boats in the shape of swans. You can actually do both, since the locations are across the street from each other and the swan boats are very cool looking at night as they are laced with led lights.
Fore! Dad
Golf. Yeah, it’s been done, but a lot of dads love doing it. Fortunately, there are a whole lot of places to play golf in the city, in a whole lot of different ways. If you want an 18-hole championship golf course, you have excellent options with El Dorado Golf Course (2400 N. Studebaker Rd), Skylinks (4800 E. Wardlow Rd.) and, the grandaddy, Recreation Park Golf Course 18 (5001 Deukmejian Dr.), i.e. “Big Rec” a gem constructed in 1910 that doesn’t show its age in the least. If Dad wants something a little shorter, there’s an 18-hole, 3-par Heartwell Golf Course (6700 E. Carson St.). Even shorter and less time consuming, take him to the nine hole Bixby Village Golf Course (6180 Bixby Village Dr.) or Recreation Park 9 (5000 E. Seventh St.), i.e. “Little Rec.” If he doesn’t want to walk at all, and maybe wants to play with some of his non-playing relatives, we suggest Birdies and Brews (90 E. Fourth St.). The downtown location has two golf simulators that allows you to play nine or 18 holes on some of the most famous courses in the world such as Pebble Beach and St. Andrews, and never take more than a few steps.
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