Long Beach Summer Bucket List
Whether it's the fast approach of Labor Day or the growing frequency of Back to School ads on TV, it appears another awesome Long Beach summer is drawing to a close. While we trust you’ve had a great one, you may have gotten sidetracked and not experienced all of the iconic fun Long Beach has to offer. So, just in case, here’s a summer bucket list to help you finish the season strong.
SUNSET AT ROSIE’S DOG BEACH
Without a doubt one of the happiest spots in Long Beach, Rosie’s Dog Beach–located between Granada and Roycroft avenues–is where dogs, pups and the people who love them show up every day. Dogs are allowed to run free between 6 am and 8 pm daily, and we are allowed to bask in the joy of them running free in the sand, splashing in the water and generally frollicking with each other. It is absolutely glorious and absolutely gorgeous during sunset.
A RIDE/WALK ON THE MARK BIXBY MEMORIAL BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN PATH
Named for one of Long Beach’s leading cycling advocates–the late Mark Bixby–this bike and pedestrian path runs along the south edge of the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project. Its 1.5 miles rises 205 feet above the Port of Long Beach, offering spectacular views of the port, San Pedro Bay and much of the city’s coastline. The eastern end of the path is at Pico Avenue and Pier E Street, and the western most end is at the intersection of the 710 Freeway and State Route 47.
ENJOY SUMMER FRUIT–AND MORE–AT A FARMERS MARKET
One of the pleasures of the season is the delicious produce pretty much available exclusively during the summer months: watermelon, nectarines, cherries, apricots, peaches, etc. And Long Beach’s daily offering of Farmers Markets throughout the city–Bixby Knolls to Marine Stadium, Alamitos Bay to Downtown–not only offers a great, fresh variety of these fruits and veggies, but lots of other yummy options–pupusas, refreshing aguas frescas–as well as craft items and jewelry.
GLIDE IN A SWAN BOAT
Swan Pedal Boat rentals at Rainbow Lagoon (Shoreline Drive and Pine Avenue) allow you to soak up some California sunshine as you drift past the Long Beach Convention Center and around Rainbow Lagoon’s grassy islands. This makes not only for a healthy way to spend time with your family, but is also a terrific date option since, at night, the Swan Boats are illuminated by LED lights that make the whole scene–and you in it–nothing short of enchanting.
EXPLORE BIXBY KNOLLS NATIONAL PARK
Granted, this charming stamp of land’s national park status is decidedly unofficial. Still, what it lacks in formal designations, Bixby Knolls National Park (296 E Roosevelt Rd) makes up for with outdoorsy features like bears and deer–statuettes and carvings, that is–plus trees, fauna and fairy rings. There’s a stream–well, the representation of one–with a bridge over it, as well as a few massive footprints courtesy of–who else?--Bigfoot. As this video demonstrates, the park at the corner of Long Beach Blvd. and Roosevelt Road, offers a lot in a little space.
