Long Beach On Your Own

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Board your motorcoach at the pier and cross the Vincent Thomas Bridge as you journey towards your destination of Long Beach. Your drop off point is nearby to shopping, restaurants as well as one of the top attractions of Long Beach - the Aquarium of the Pacific.

The area that is now Long Beach was first settled as part of a massive Spanish land grant to soldier Manuel Nieto by King Carlos III, and encompassed the historic 28,000-acre Ranch Los Alamitos and its sister rancho, 27,000-acre Rancho Los Cerritos.

Originally planned as Willmore City by developer William Willmore the city began forming along the coast in 1882. Competition between the new Santa Fe Railroad and older southern Pacific Railroad attracted hordes of visitors to the area and created a real estate boom. In 1888 the original residents of the foiled Willmore City renamed their town Long Beach after its long, wide beaches and the city became incorporated.

A 6.3 magnitude Long Beach in 1933 caused significant damage to the city and surrounding areas and killed a total of 120 people. Most of the damage occurred in unreinforced masonry buildings, especially schools. Pacific Bible Seminary (now known as Hope International University) was forced to move classes out of First Christian Church of Long Beach and into a small local home due to damage from the earthquake. The downtown area of Long Beach was rebuilt in Art Deco style after the earthquake.

In 1967 the city of Long Beach purchased one of the city's landmarks - the legendary Queen Mary - from Cunard. The ship remains permanently docked in Long Beach Harbor as a major tourism attraction and hotel. The long history of this famous ocean liner began on May 27, 1937 when she departed from Southampton, England on her maiden voyage. One of the most elegant ships of her time, she boasted five dining areas and lounges, two cocktail bars and swimming pools, a grand ballroom, a squash court and even a small hospital. The Queen Mary set a new benchmark in transatlantic travel, which the rich and famous considered as the only civilized way to travel. She quickly seized the hearts and imaginations of the public on both sides of the Atlantic, representing the spirit of an era known for its elegance, class and style.

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific, located in downtown Long Beach, opened to the public in 1998. It has become a major attraction visited by more than 13 million people since its opening. The Aquarium's architecture is inspired by the breaking waves of the Pacific. The Aquarium of the Pacific recently made history as the first in the museum, zoo, or aquarium industry to become a Climate Action Leader for voluntarily measuring, certifying, and reporting its greenhouse gas emissions to the Climate Action Registry and the public.

As you can see, the city offers so much to see and do. The day is yours to design as you wish. You will have approximately four hours to wander the streets and absorb the culture or dine in one of the cities restaurants. Of course there is time to shop for the perfect remembrances of your truly remarkable day, before returning to your pick-up point and your ride back to your ship.