Long Beach, California

Stretching along eight miles of shoreline south of Los Angeles – no, it's not a suburb! – Long Beach is wed to the sea. One of the largest ports in the nation, it recently emerged revitalized after a period in the doldrums. Tucked beneath the magnificent coastline of the Palos Verdes peninsula, the vibrant city boasts restored historic "Midwest-style" buildings and glittering glass high-rises alongside world-class museums and a new aquarium – the Aquarium of the Pacific – to rival those of San Diego and Monterey. The aquarium's highlight is a vast Shark Lagoon. An "aquabus" links the aquarium to the city's other star attraction: the Queen ...

Stretching along eight miles of shoreline south of Los Angeles – no, it's not a suburb! – Long Beach is wed to the sea. One of the largest ports in the nation, it recently emerged revitalized after a period in the doldrums. Tucked beneath the magnificent coastline of the Palos Verdes peninsula, the vibrant city boasts restored historic "Midwest-style" buildings and glittering glass high-rises alongside world-class museums and a new aquarium – the Aquarium of the Pacific – to rival those of San Diego and Monterey. The aquarium's highlight is a vast Shark Lagoon. An "aquabus" links the aquarium to the city's other star attraction: the Queen Mary. You can explore this luxurious ocean liner launched in 1936 and today anchored in Long Beach. Still on a fish theme, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, around the bay at San Pedro, also astounds with world-class exhibits. Culture vultures should be sure to explore the Long Beach Museum of Art and the Museum of Latin American Art. In spring, millions of tiny fish called grunion burrow into the local sands to mate, drawing sightseers. A free shuttle bus makes exploring downtown easy, and freeways and the Metro Blue Line link Long Beach to downtown LA.

About the Expert

Christopher P. Baker has authored guidebooks to Costa Rica, California, and various Caribbean islands for Frommer's, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic, among others.