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- Pedal along the scenic waterfront of Long Beach and take in the vistas with a bike rental or bike share. Shoreline Village and the area surrounding area is a popular area for cyclists and visitors alike, thanks to its abundant dining and shopping opportunities, vibrant patchwork of buildings in candylike colors, and spectacular panoramas. Rather than simply taking a stroll, rent out a set of wheels to enjoy the views of Rainbow Harbor and beyond instead. Located in Shoreline Village, Wheel Fun Rentals offers a wide array of options, from traditional two-wheel bicycles like beach cruisers, tandems, and electric bikes to specialty cycles like the deuce coupe, quad sport, and chopper. Families and friends can even pedal it out together with four-wheel surrey bikes, which light up the night after sunset with sparkling strings of LED lights (available seasonally). Those eager to explore even further can also take advantage of complimentary self-guided tour maps, filled with fascinating tidbits and points of interest around neighboring areas like Naples and Seal Beach. Alternatively, beachy aqua-blue cycles, complete with a basket, are also available on an hourly or prepaid basis through Long Beach Bike Share and the Social Bicycles app. After the ride, be sure to stick around Shoreline Village for a meal or a ride on the Pelican Pier Pavilion carousel. on the Pelican Pier Pavilion carousel.
- Take advantage of the protective breakwater and learn how to kitesurf at Belmont Shore. In the early 20th century, Long Beach was renowned as one of the Golden State’s first surfing meccas, with its pristine coastline and long, gentle waves earning it the title of the “Waikiki of the West Coast.” Although the Hawaiian-imported sport first landed in the Golden State in July 1885, it wasn’t until the 1910s and 1920s that surfing really started to pick up steam, due in part to Long Beach’s surf scene. In fact, not only did legendary Duke Kahanamoku, a five-time Olympic medalist swimmer from Hawaii hailed as the “father of modern surfing” (and the flutter kick), give a surfing demonstration to thousands of people in Long Beach in 1913. The city also played host to the 1938 National Surfing and Paddleboard Championships, the first of its kind in Los Angeles County, which drew more than 50,000 spectators to Long Beach’s shores. Then, World War II happened. With the arrival of the U.S. Navy fleet in the city’s waters and the threat of enemy submarines, a breakwater was built in the 1940s as a barrier and a deterrent, effectively cutting off ocean swells and stifling the city’s thriving surf culture. Today, local surfers are championing the removal of the breakwater to hopefully return Long Beach to its former surfing glory. Until then, however, consistent winds and the lack of major waves and strong currents makes Long Beach, and specifically Belmont Shore, the perfect place to learn kitesurfing. Plus, as the only approved beach for kitesurfing lessons in Los Angeles and Orange counties, learning opportunities are plentiful, with sessions starting out at around $100.
- Float through the Venice-like canals of Long Beach’s Naples Island on a leisurely gondola ride. Just like Italy’s floating city, this Long Beach community features an extensive canal system, lending ample romantic charm and opening the area up to picturesque, on-the-water exploration. (In fact, Naples does not just take its design inspiration from Venice, but Long Beach and Venezia are actually official friendship cities.) And just like in Venice, there is no better way to do that than from a Venetian gondola. Naples Island’s current fleet of gondolas is the oldest and largest of its kind in the United States (and the second largest in the world), established in 1982. However, the boats were actually first introduced to the Long Beach neighborhood back in 1903 during Naples’ development. Since the fleet’s beginning, the gondoliers have sought to maintain an authentic experience, going so far as to train in the gondola’s birthplace each year and compete against the Venetians in rowing competitions, the only American team in the past 33 years to do so. The Long Beach gondoliers once even beat out the home team in a prestigious 20-mile race in 1985, much to the surprise of the Italians and the rowers themselves. Today, visitors wind their way through meandering canals, under bridges, and past beautiful waterfront homes, all while being serenaded and regaled with tales of Venezia by their dutiful gondolier.
