The Best Day Trip to Long Beach Itinerary (2024)

Want to know how to enjoy the best day trip to Long Beach? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!

Back when I was working for Hilton, we would occasionally receive free tickets for area attractions to familiarize ourselves with them and one day we were gifted a day trip to Long Beach.

In the industry these are known as “familiarization” or “fam” events or trips.

For this particular day trip, I had received 2 free tickets to Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

I had never been before and I was able to take my husband with me, so we made a day trip out of it.

We only live about 15 or 20 minutes away, so it was an easy getaway for us.

You can see our full day trip experience in this video on our YouTube Channel.

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Day Trip To Long Beach Itinerary

Since the main purpose of our trip to Long Beach was to visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, this itinerary is centered around attractions and restaurants that are in this area.

This part of Long Beach is known as Shoreline Village and is made up of a variety of shops, restaurants, entertainment, and more.

If you’re coming here on a date or to celebrate a special occasion, be sure to check out our post on Romantic Things To Do In Long Beach.

✅ Aquarium of the Pacific

Since this was the purpose of our trip, we started off here and stayed for a couple hours.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is a public aquarium on a 5-acre site on Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach.

It is situated across the water from the Long Beach Convention Center, Shoreline Village, and the Queen Mary.

It’s one of the largest aquariums in the US.

We were able to touch jellyfish, sharks, and stingrays, plus we got close up looks of several other animals like birds, penguins and seahorses.

We went during a weekday so it was not too busy, which we liked.

What I liked about this aquarium is that they had a lot of outdoor exhibits where they did interactive things and the indoor exhibits were lit just right to get color popping photos.

All of these photos are unedited and were taken on an iPhone SE!

👉🏼 Skip the line and book your Aquarium of the Pacific tickets today!

✅ Where To Eat Lunch: Bubba Gump Shrimp Company

At this point, we were ready for lunch.

This area of Long Beach has dozens of restaurants to choose from that are within walking distance.

We chose Bubba Gump Shrimp Company because we wanted to make it feel like a true getaway day.

Every touristy spot has a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, so that’s where we had to go!

If you’ve never been, Bubba Gump is a seafood restaurant chain inspired by the 1994 Best Picture film, Forrest Gump.

Bubba Gump is part of the Landry’s Restaurant group, so we like to come here and cash in our free $25 birthday rewards as part of the Landry’s Select Club rewards program.

We personally enjoy getting the shrimp sampler so we can try a little bit of everything.

When we were there last, they had a shrimp walking around outside so it was fun watching everyone’s reactions.

✅ Shoreline Village

Shoreline Village is the waterfront pier/shopping/dining/entertainment district in Long Beach.

It’s located on Rainbow Harbor just across the water from the Queen Mary.

While strolling through this area we stopped at the arcade for a couple rounds of air hockey.

Then we moved on to get some snacks from Sugar Daddies Sweet Shoppe.

They had all of the old candies there, so we got quite a bit to take home with us.

We also found a few restaurants that we hope to go back and try sometime.

✅ USS Battleship IOWA

We got to do something very cool here that I highly recommend booking if you have the chance.

The USS Battleship IOWA hosts its own escape room scavenger hunt!

You get 2 hours to complete a checklist, re-creating the escape from the Mothball Fleet, which was a real mission.

This mission takes you all over the ship, even through areas that are closed to the public and it’s so fun to explore.

You do have to be fairly able-bodied to do this though because it requires climbing up and down stairs.

You can have a group of up to 6 people and you’ll have someone from the ship escort you around to make sure you don’t get lost or break something essential.

✅ Swan Boat Night Ride at Rainbow Lagoon

End your night with a fun and romantic night time swan boat ride in Rainbow Lagoon.

The swan boats are lit up at night, which I think makes for a cooler experience than a day time swan boat if you can time it in your schedule this way.

👉 Click Here To Book Your Swan Boat Night Ride At Rainbow Lagoon Today!

Where To Stay In Long Beach

There are many great places to stay in Long Beach, depending on your budget and interests.

If you want to be close to the beach, consider staying in the Belmont Shore or Alamitos Bay areas.

For a more urban experience, downtown Long Beach has a variety of hotels and restaurants.

And if you’re looking for something in between, there are also several hotels in the Naples Island area.

➡ The Historic Broadlind Hotel at Long Beach Convention Center

The Historic Broadlind Hotel at Long Beach Convention Center is an elegant apartment hotel with a terrace, a laid-back lounge, and free Wi-Fi.

It is a great place to stay if you are looking for a convenient place to stay in Long Beach.

👉 Click Here To Book Your Stay At The Historic Broadlind Hotel Today!

➡ Hyatt Regency Long Beach

Hyatt Regency Long Beach is the best overall hotel in Long Beach.

It’s a 4-star hotel located on a premiere waterfront spot in the heart of Downtown Long Beach.

It’s the only 4 Diamond Award-Winning Long Beach hotel with all 531 guest rooms and suites offering ocean or harbor views.

With a combination of style, sophistication, comfort, and the ideal site, it is a great place to stay for leisure travelers.

👉 Click Here To Book Your Stay At Hyatt Regency Long Beach Today!

What Is Long Beach Known For?

Long Beach is known for its beautiful beaches, its vibrant arts and culture scene, and its diverse population.

Check out our post on the Best Beaches In Long Beach to find even more areas to enjoy a beach day here.

Long Beach is also home to a number of popular attractions, including the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary, and the Long Beach Grand Prix.

If you’re visiting in the Fall, be sure to check out our post on The Best Things To Do In Southern California This Fall, which has several special events in and around Long Beach.

Additionally, if you’re visiting in the Winter, be sure to check out our post on The Best Things To Do In California In December, which also features several events in and around Long Beach.

What Is The Weather Like In Long Beach?

The weather in Long Beach is typically warm and sunny, with an average temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Being right on the water, it doesn’t get nearly as hot as cities that are even 10 miles inland like Anaheim.

Long Beach experiences a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Conclusion: Day Trip To Long Beach Itinerary

And that sums up our day trip to Long Beach!

There are many other things to see and do in this area, so I recommend including it in your next Southern California vacation.

If you’re looking for even more ideas on how to enjoy just one day in Long Beach, use our Tips For Planning A Trip To Anywhere (A Step-By-Step Guide).

To plan a day trip within your ideal budget, use our Best Tips For Traveling On A Budget Guide.