Belmont Shore is a picturesque seaside town chock full of things to see and experience. Part of the Long Beach area, Belmont Shore offers endless options for learning and playing, and an array of recreation and entertainment. You’ll find a wide selection of restaurants with indoor and outdoor dining and diverse cuisines.
Here are just a few of the things you can do in and around Belmont Shore.
Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier
When you’re in the mood to go fishing, or just for an oceanside walk, visit Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. The pier, which is 1,800 feet long and 24 feet wide, is an excellent place for strolling or fishing. On-site, there’s a snack bar and a restaurant on the second floor. There’s also an on-site bait shop to get you situated for your fishing expedition.
Shopping and Dining on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore
There are plenty of places in Long Beach to entertain yourself, but 2nd Street in Belmont Shore is among the area’s favorite hot spots. The seaside neighborhood’s 2nd Street, 15 blocks long, is enhanced by coffee shops, indoor and outdoor dining, gift shops, beauty supplies, furnishings, banks, businesses, and more.
Collectively, there are more than 250 businesses over 50 restaurants that, together, create the charming ambiance of 2nd Street.
The 2nd Street district is managed by the Belmont Shore Business Association, which also handles most of the area’s special events.
Belmont Shore’s 2nd Street experience stretches about a mile and a half, parallel to the Pacific Ocean, ultimately leading to Long Beach’s downtown area along Ocean Boulevard.
Several times each year, 2nd Street is closed off to traffic and repurposed as a pedestrian and bicycle pathway and to make way for special events.
The Leeway Sailing and Aquatics Center
A staple in the community since 1929, the Leeway Sailing and Aquatics Center on East Ocean Boulevard creates a platform for learning about and engaging in sailing, kayaking, and canoeing.
Regarded as one of the premier municipal instructional sailing programs in the country, the Leeway Sailing and Aquatics Center also offers group visits and private parties for activity days, which are available for youth and adults who want to celebrate on the water with canoeing, kayaking, and sailing.
The US Sailing Center
When you’re in Belmont Shore, sailing is a natural pastime, one of the more relaxing ways to enjoy California’s sun and shimmering waters. You don’t need to be a natural-born sailor to enjoy the sport with classes and special events offered via the US Sailing Center in Long Beach.
There are sailing programs available for people of all ages and skill levels and classes for high-risk people – and programs for disabled persons through the Disabled Sailing Association.
Whether you’re a participant or a spectator, the seasonal regattas hosted at the US Sailing Center are an inspiring sight to see.
The Queen Mary
The Queen Mary is a magnetic attraction in Long Beach, attracting people from all walks of life who are more than a little intrigued by the paranormal. During the ship’s prime, the Queen Mary hosted various celebrities, including Bob Hope, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable, and more. The magic of the boat back then was its shiny superstar status. But today, it’s more of a ghostly encounter.
Daytime attractions include tours and exhibits featuring The Cunard Story, The Steam and Steel Tour, Glory Days, Churchill, haunted encounters, a 4d theater, the Shipyard, and the Ship Model Gallery.
Nightly entertainment includes performances and dining tours, including Illusions of the Passed, Dining with the Spirits, paranormal ship walk, paranormal investigations, and more. And, for the full experience, you can check yourself in as an overnight guest in the Queen Mary Hotel.
Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific is an ideal venue for friends and family members of all ages. With education as the foundation, the aquarium emphasizes sustainability and saving species.
Exhibits to explore include the Shark Lagoon, June Keyes Penguin Habitat, Lorikeet Forest, Our Water Future, Harbor Terrace, and Molina Animal Care Center.
The facility also hosts a plethora of special events throughout the year, including academies, guest speakers, festivals, late nights, and holidays.
El Dorado Nature Center
When you want to step away from the chaos, hustle, bustle, and noise of daily life, take a calming walk through the El Dorado Nature Center. This oasis offers guests and visitors an opportunity to escape the urban vibe and surround themselves with the tranquil beauty of nature.
The Nature Center, a sanctuary for animals and plant life, spans 105 acres that encompass miles of dirt trails, paved trails, lakes, streams, and forested areas.
El Dorado Park Golf Course
Ranked in 2008 among GolfLink’s Top 100 Golf Courses and Wedding Wire’s Best of 2012, the El Dorado Park Golf Course has been providing fun and relaxation since 1962.
The 6,921-yard, par 72 courses designed by Ted Robinson, Sr., houses the Long Beach Open. In addition to the championship course, the venue offers immaculate practice facilities, PGA certified professional instructors, tournaments, and more.
Rosie’s Dog Beach
When you want to take your furry family member out for a day of water play in the California sun, head to Rosie’s Dog Beach. Although not officially designated as a dog beach, the area has become well-known as a favorite hangout for pooches and their humans. The dog park is open from 6 a.m to 8 p.m. daily, but dogs are not allowed outside of those areas.
Belmont Shore, and its surrounding areas, also host several highly anticipated special events each year, including the Annual Belmont Shore Car Show, the Long Beach Sea Festival, the Congressional Cup International Sailing Event, the Pirate Invasion of Belmont Pier, and more.
Conclusion
Belmont Shore is everything you’d expect from a small, quintessential beach town in California. There are plenty of things to do, indoors and out, for people of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles. From beachside boutiques to shark lagoons and car shows, Belmont Shore is a great place to visit or to live.
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