Long Beach
Bellflower California CA
- Country Code
- USA
- State Code
- CA
- Day Trips
- Catalina Island
- You've seen it as a backdrop in such wonderfully campy films as *The Glass Bottom Boat* with Doris Day or *Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss* with *Will & Grace*'s Sean Hayes. So when you've had enough of the southern California freeways, why not put yourself center stage and escape to Catalina Island for the day. All manner of aquatic adventure awaits you... boating, fishing, parasailing, and kayaking, not to mention more grounded pursuits such as golf, hiking, biking and tennis. Scheduled tours for all levels of activity cover every inch of the island. You can get there easily by ferry, or if you're feeling decadent, by helicopter. Catalina Express, 800/481-3470 (www.catalinaexpress.com), for ferry from Long Beach. For more info, please visit www.catalina.com or www.catalinachamber.com.
- Gay Info
- Gay & Lesbian Community Center & Switchboard 562/434-4455, www.centerlb.org. 2017 E 4th St (at Cherry), 9am-9pm, by appt Sat.
- South Bay Center 310/328-6550, www.southbaycenter.org. 16610 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, drop-in 7:30pm-10pm Wed.
- Aids Group
- Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services 562/570-4317.
- Gay Aa
- AA Gay/Lesbian (Atlantic Alano Club) 562/432-7476. At 1403 E 4th St, call for mtg times.
- Gay Pride
- 3rd wknd in May. 562/987-9191, www.longbeachpride.com.
- Annual Events
- June - AIDS Walk, www.aidswalklb.org.
- Aug - Long Beach Jazz Festival, www.longbeachjazzfestival.com.
- October - Out Loud LGBT art & film festival, www.centerlb.org.
- Airport
- Long Beach Airport. From airport exit: turn right on Lakewood, then right on Spring St. Take a left on Redondo Ave. Some bars are on Redondo, while Broadway is a gay mecca. Bus 111 goes from the airport to Redondo and Broadway.
- Taxi
- Long Beach Taxi Co-op 562/435-6111.
- Public Transport
- Long Beach Transit & Runabout (free downtown shuttle) 562/591-2301. www.lbtransit.com.
- Tourist Attraction
- Belmont Shores area on 2nd St, south of Pacific Coast Highway-lots of restaurants & shopping, only blocks from the beach.
- Long Beach Downtown Marketplace, 10am-4pm Fri.
- The Queen Mary 562/435-3511, www.queenmary.com.
- “Planet Ocean” mural at 300 E Ocean Blvd.
- Visitors Bureau
- 800/452-7829, www.visitlongbeach.com.
- Weather
- Quite temperate: highs in the mid-80°s July through September, and cooling down at night. In the winter, January to March, highs are in the upper 60°s, and lows in the upper 40°s.
- Best Views
- On the deck of the Queen Mary, docked overlooking most of Long Beach. Or Signal Hill, off 405. Take the Cherry exit.
- Where The Girls Are
- Schmoozing with the boys on Broadway between Atlantic and Cherry Avenues, or elsewhere between Pacific Coast Hwy and the beach. Or at home snuggling.