Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Long Beach with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Long Beach on the map
📍 Where Long Beach is
Long Beach sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Long Beach (~3 mi / 6 km). It's roughly 20 mi (31 km) from Downtown LA and 94 mi (151 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
Things to do in Long Beach
Aquarium of the Pacific
Sea otters play in the Northern Pacific Gallery, sand tiger and hammerhead sharks patrol the 350,000-gallon outdoor Shark Lagoon (with a touch pool for rays and small sharks), and the 5,400-square-foot Lorikeet Forest lets kids hand-feed nectar to more than 100 colorful lorikeets. With over 11,000 animals across 500 species, it's one of SoCal's best rainy-day-proof outings for animal-loving kids.
~$44.95 adult / $29.95 kid
Queen Mary
Historic 1936 ocean liner turned floating hotel and museum, permanently docked in Long Beach since the 1960s. Self-guided tours and paranormal-themed experiences let you explore the ship's Art Deco decks, and the Queen Mary continues to host seasonal events like its long-running Dark Harbor Halloween happening each fall.
~$40 self-guided tour
Museum of Latin American Art
The only US museum devoted to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art, with an outdoor sculpture garden. Free on Sundays, which is the way in with a family.
$15 adults, $10 students and seniors, under 12 free; free Sundays
Long Beach Museum of Art
An ocean-front art museum showing American decorative arts, California Modernism and contemporary video, with a garden restaurant looking out to sea. Open Thursday to Sunday only.
$12 adults, $10 students and seniors, under 12 free; half price Fridays
Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum
A small downtown museum dedicated to Pacific Islands art and culture — Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian work. Cheap, quick and genuinely unusual.
$5 general, $3 seniors and students, under 12 freeKleefeld Contemporary Art Museum
A free contemporary art museum on the Cal State Long Beach campus. Its Second Saturday Family Days with hands-on projects are the family draw — most other weekends it is closed.
Free; campus parking $10–$15Historical Society of Long Beach
A Bixby Knolls gallery and archive telling Long Beach's story through photographs and artifacts, with rotating local-history exhibits.
Admission not published — donations welcome
Billie Jean King Main Library
Long Beach's main library beside the Civic Center, with a Family Learning Center, children's storytimes and a youth Creativity Lab. Closed Sundays and Mondays; garage parking is paid.
Free
Coastal Kids Playspace
An indoor play space in Los Altos built for younger children, with imaginative-play areas. One adult is included per paying child. Pricing sits behind their booking system.
Price not published; $10 per additional adult
Rancho Los Alamitos
A free historic ranch with an adobe ranch house, four acres of early-twentieth-century gardens and a barnyard of horses, sheep, goats and chickens. Free, and the animals do the work with young children.
Free
Rancho Los Cerritos
A free adobe ranch house museum and historic garden interpreting Tongva, Spanish and American-era California, with family craft sessions and seasonal celebrations.
Free; free parking
El Dorado Nature Center
A city nature preserve inside El Dorado Park with lakeside trails, a visitor centre and native wildlife. Walking or cycling in is free — only cars pay.
$6–$9 per vehicle; free on foot or bike
El Dorado East Regional Park
A large regional park with playgrounds, a lake with boat and bike rentals, picnic areas and a dog park, wrapped around the Nature Center. Entry is card-only.
$6 weekday, $7 Friday, $8 weekend, $9 holiday per vehicle
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
A free Japanese garden on the CSULB campus with a koi pond children can feed and a tea house. Hours genuinely vary and it closes for private events, so reserve or ring before going.
Free; reservation required
Shoreline Village
A waterfront boardwalk of shops, casual restaurants and an antique carousel on Rainbow Harbour, with bike rentals and harbour cruises leaving from the dock.
Free; parking $2 for 2 hours with validation
Marine Park (Mother's Beach)
A calm bayside beach in Alamitos Bay with shallow water and almost no waves — the reason locals bring toddlers here rather than to the open coast. Play equipment and grass behind the sand.
Free
Colorado Lagoon
A tidal saltwater lagoon with a sandy swimming beach, a playground for two to twelve and a marine science education centre. Check before promising a swim — the season is not published and there has been channel construction on site.
FreeLong Beach Playhouse
A community theatre founded in 1929 with a 200-seat mainstage and a 98-seat studio, plus summer youth workshops. Children under five are not admitted.
$27–$33 general, $20–$22 student and childThe Pike
A waterfront shopping and entertainment district beside Rainbow Harbor with shops, restaurants, a Ferris wheel and carousel, a Cinemark movie theater and the Laugh Factory, within walking distance of the Aquarium of the Pacific.
FreeFarmers markets in Long Beach
Long Beach Marina Farmers' Market
A waterfront Sunday market near the marina with produce, prepared foods, and ocean breezes.
Bixby Park Farmers' Market
A Saturday market a block from the beach with local farms, food vendors, and a nearby playground.
Festivals & annual events in Long Beach
What Long Beach is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Formula Drift Pro Championship Round 8 (Long Beach)
The season-ending pro drifting round takes over the streets around Marina Green, Rainbow Lagoon and Shoreline Dr. Kids who like cars will love the noise and smoke, but it is loud. Tip: bring ear protection for little ones and check the Formula Drift site for ticket details and gate times, since the city calendar only lists the permit.
Ticketed; see Formula Drift for prices
Belmont Shore Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest
About 50 artists draw large chalk works on the 2nd Street sidewalks, hosted by the Community Action Team nonprofit. Kids can watch the pictures take shape all day. Tip: the event listing still carries older-year description text, so confirm the date with the Belmont Shore Business Association if you are traveling in.
Free to watch
Autism Families Night at the Aquarium of the Pacific
A quieter evening at the Aquarium for families with adults or children on the autism spectrum. Tickets go on sale Oct 5, 2026 at 9am PT. Tip: buy the moment they open, because this evening sells out.
$12 per person; members and under 3 free
Trick-or-Treat on 2nd Street (Belmont Shore)
Kids trick-or-treat storefront to storefront along 2nd Street at shops displaying a jack-o'-lantern sign. There is a photo booth in front of Chase Bank. Tip: candy runs out as businesses close, so go right at 4pm.
Free
STEAM Fest at the Aquarium of the Pacific
A morning of science, technology, engineering, art and math displays from partner organizations, plus a jumbo coloring project. Tip: it ends at 1pm, so arrive at opening and do the STEAM booths first.
Included with admission ($49.95 adult, $34.95 child 3-11)
Autumn Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific
The 25th annual festival celebrates the cultures of China, Japan, Korea and the Philippines with craft demonstrations, music, dance and storytelling. Reservations are required. Tip: the presentations are short, so let kids do the craft stations between shows.
Included with admission ($49.95 adult, $34.95 child 3-11)
Patchwork Show Long Beach
An indie makers' market at the Marine Stadium parking lot with local artisans, junior artists, live music, food trucks and DIY craft activities. It is dog- and bike-friendly, with a bike valet. Tip: it falls on Small Business Saturday, so go early for parking and holiday shopping.
Free
Belmont Shore Christmas Parade
The 42nd annual evening holiday parade along East Second Street with floats, bands and school groups. Held the same night as the Naples boat parade.
Free; no tickets required
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
America's biggest street race takes over downtown Long Beach, with IndyCar, Formula Drift, a Lifestyle Expo, a Family Fun Zone and a car show. Tip: use rideshare or transit and get kids ear protection, because the cars are very loud.
Ticketed; see gplb.com
All Toyotafest (31st Annual)
The country's biggest Toyota car show, with hundreds of vintage and modern cars at Marina Green. Tip: kids 12 and under were free in 2026; arrive early, since the lawn gets crowded by late morning.
2026 edition: $15 (13+), 12 & under free; confirm for 2027
Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival
A one-day dragon boat racing festival at Marine Stadium with community team races, cultural performances and food vendors along the shoreline.
See site for admission
Sultans Shoreline Classic Car Show (34th Annual)
A classic-car show at Shoreline Park next to Rainbow Harbor, listed on the City of Long Beach special events calendar. Tip: pair it with a walk to Shoreline Village and the harbor carousel for kids.
See organizer
Cambodia Town Parade & Culture Festival
A Khmer New Year parade along Anaheim Street through the Cambodia Town district, followed by an afternoon culture festival with dance, music, food and community booths. 2026 was the 18th year.
2026 edition (Apr 4) has passed; no 2027 date posted
Long Beach Greek Festival
Authentic Greek food, live music, dancing, and cooking demos with free parking shuttles.
2XU Long Beach Marathon Weekend & Aquarium of the Pacific 5K
Race weekend along the Long Beach waterfront: the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K starts Sat Oct 10 at 6:50am (no minimum age), and the marathon and half marathon run Sun Oct 11 from Shoreline Dr. The free public expo is in Convention Center Hall C, and the finish-line festival is at Marina Green. Tip: expect road closures downtown and along Ocean Blvd on race mornings, and cheer from Marina Green rather than driving.
Japanese Classic Car Show (Long Beach)
The 21st annual show of vintage Japanese cars on the grass at Marina Green, put on by the Toyota Owner's and Restorer's Club. Good for car-loving kids who like poking around hundreds of classic vehicles. Tip: arrive by 9am for shade and easy parking, since the lawn fills up by midday.
Filipino American History Month Celebration (Long Beach)
The 5th annual community celebration at the Civic Center lobby and plaza, listed by the City of Long Beach as an all-ages event. Programming details were not posted on the city calendar. Tip: park in the Civic Center garage and combine it with a visit to nearby Lincoln Park.
Southeast Asia Day at the Aquarium of the Pacific
The 22nd annual festival brings music, dance and craft demos from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, with short live presentations all day. Reservations are required. Tip: check the daily schedule at the entrance and catch the 15-20 minute dance shows early, before the crowds.
Scarium Family Night at the Aquarium of the Pacific
A kid-friendly Halloween night with a spooky scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating through the exhibits with goodie bags, a DJ and vampire magician shows. Costumes are encouraged, but full-face masks, toy weapons and flashlights are not allowed. Tip: an adult 18+ must supervise, and tickets are separate from daytime admission.
Local restaurants in Long Beach
Domenico's Italian Restaurant
Long Beach's oldest restaurant (1954) and one of California's first pizza spots.
Michael's Pizzeria
Naples-style wood-fired pizzeria, a Belmont Shore favorite for family pizza nights.
La Strada
Intimate family-run Italian on 2nd Street with homemade pasta and a pet-friendly patio.
Rivera's Mexican Food
Beloved family-owned institution known for pozole and albondigas.
Enrique's Mexican Restaurant
Family-owned Jalisco-style restaurant on PCH (2001), recognized by LA Magazine.
Jim's Burgers
Old-fashioned char-broiled burger stand with beef-tallow fries and a drive-through.
Dave's Burgers
Tiny 'blink and you'll miss it' burger stand in a 1940s building.
Phnom Penh Noodle Shack
Cambodia Town noodle house whose House Special num pang and Phnom Penh noodle bowl come loaded with pork and shrimp.
George's Greek Cafe
Family-owned Belmont Shore Greek cafe serving Mama Rodou's recipes since 1999.
The Potholder Cafe
Long Beach breakfast staple since 1970 with 30+ egg dishes and a kid-welcoming vibe.
Joe Jost's
100-year-old Long Beach tavern (1924) famous for 'Joe's Special' sausage sandwiches.
Panxa Cocina
Chef-owned New Mexican spot with green-chile dishes, a flavorful neighborhood favorite.
La Taqueria Brand
Neighborhood street-taco shop loved for birria and breakfast burritos since 2020.
Mooney's Pizza Tavern
Family- and pet-friendly East Long Beach pizzeria pairing pies with frozen custard.
Sophy's
A 20-plus-year family-run Cambodia Town spot known for Khmer noodles, hot-and-sour soup, and famous Cambodian beef jerky. Big leather booths, casual, and family-oriented, with weekend waits.
Pho Hong Phat
Chinese-Cambodian family kitchen serving pho, Hainan chicken rice, and Phnom Penh noodle soup. A broad menu makes it easy with kids.
Local shops in Long Beach
MAKE Collectives
Curated collective of modern and vintage clothing, plants, and local handmade goods.
Page Against the Machine
Hyper-curated progressive bookshop of activism, social-justice, and zine titles on Retro Row.
Third Eye Records
New, used, and import vinyl plus turntables and memorabilia on Retro Row since 2002.
Old Gold Boutique
Woman-owned curated vintage womenswear shop with personal styling on Retro Row.
Moxi Roller Skate Shop
Full-service roller-skate boutique that put Retro Row on the global skate map.
The Game Chest Long Beach
Independent board-game, puzzle, and card store with a back playroom and tournaments.
Candified
Immersive candy emporium with 300+ bulk candies, sodas, and DIY Creation Stations.
ButterScotch LBC
Menswear, moto gear, and an in-store coffee bar built by the founder and his parents.
Fingerprints Music
5,000-sq-ft music-and-pop-culture shop selling vinyl, CDs, and books with live in-stores.
The Elemental Shop
East Village independent shop of candles, crystals, and tarot decks on Elm Street.
Pixie Toys
Family-run Bixby Knolls toy shop packed with plush, science kits, books, and baby gifts.
Bel Canto Books
Woman-of-color-owned indie bookstore on Retro Row with strong author-event programming.
Better Half Boutique
Bixby Knolls gift shop for engraved gifts, candles, and home decor.
Meow
Longstanding Retro Row vintage icon for mid-century clothing, housewares, and collectibles.
Pigeon's Roller Skate Shop
Indie Retro Row skate shop outfitting the local roller-skate scene.
LB Swag
Belmont Shore shop celebrating Long Beach pride via locally made hats, tees, and candles.
Sweet Threads for Kids
Children's boutique on 2nd St with curated well-made baby and toddler apparel.
Fair Trade Long Beach
Bellflower Blvd shop of one-of-a-kind fair-trade jewelry, clothing, and artwork.
Meow Vintage
A standout stop on Retro Row for curated vintage apparel.
Far Outfit
A one-stop vintage-clothing shop anchoring the Retro Row strip on 4th Street.
Assistance League Thrift & Vintage
Volunteer-run, well-curated clothing and housewares with a children's section; proceeds fund local charity.
Retro Row (4th Street)
A walkable stretch of 4th Street lined with independent vintage-clothing shops, thrift stores, and cafes; a spend-an-afternoon destination.
Seasonal & outdoors near Long Beach
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Long Beach.
More Los Angeles family guides
Long Beach family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Long Beach with kids?
Family favorites in and around Long Beach include Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, Museum of Latin American Art and Long Beach Museum of Art, and more. Our guide lists 19 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Long Beach?
Yes — free family spots near Long Beach include Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum, Historical Society of Long Beach, Billie Jean King Main Library and Rancho Los Alamitos. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Long Beach?
Local, family-friendly spots in Long Beach include Domenico's Italian Restaurant, Michael's Pizzeria, La Strada and Rivera's Mexican Food, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Long Beach guide cover?
Our Long Beach family guide includes 19 things to do, 16 local eats, 24 local shops and 2 farmers markets — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Book Long Beach tours & tickets
Bookable via Viator · we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)Bookable experiences, skip-the-line tickets, and tours in Long Beach — reserved through Viator.
Free cancellationGuided Whale Watching Tour from Long Beach
Free cancellationDowntown LA Lights: Your Private Sunset and Night Helicopter Tour
Free cancellationLong Beach Harbor 45-Minute Boat Tour
Free cancellationQueen Mary Glory Days Historical Tour
Free cancellationCity Tour of Los Angeles from Long Beach and San Pedro Cruise Terminals
Free cancellationSkip the Ticketing Line: Aquarium of the Pacific General Admission Ticket
More experiences via GetYourGuide · we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)
Where to stay in Long Beach
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Long Beach on one map — then book on your favorite site.