Long Beach, California: Is "Vibe City" Worth the Hype?

A TWB Guide to What We Did, What We Loved, and How Comfortable It Felt as Black Travelers.

When most people think about Southern California, they think about Los Angeles. And honestly, so did we.

Before this trip, most of what we knew about Long Beach came from its most famous son, Snoop Dogg. But when we started hearing more about the city from another source, Visit Long Beach, we realized there might be a lot more to Long Beach than palm trees, beaches, and hip-hop history.

With direct flights from Seattle becoming available and us desperately needing some sunshine, we packed our bags and headed south to see if Long Beach truly lived up to its nickname: Vibe City.

Spoiler alert: it did.

A City Built on Culture and History

Before Long Beach became the vibrant coastal city it is today, the area was home to the Tongva people for generations. The first version of the city was founded in 1881 as Willmore City and marketed as a seaside resort community. In 1888, it officially became Long Beach.

Several major events helped shape the city's future.

The Port of Long Beach was established in 1911 and would become one of the busiest ports in the nation. Then in 1921, the discovery of oil triggered one of the largest oil booms in American history, fueling rapid growth throughout the region.

Long Beach experienced another defining moment in 1933 when a devastating earthquake struck the city. The disaster ultimately helped lead to the passage of California's Field Act, which established stricter earthquake-resistant standards for public schools.

Today, Long Beach is the seventh-largest city in California, but what fascinated us most wasn't its size. It was its cultural diversity.

The city's Central Area became the heart of Long Beach's Black community during the era of redlining and remains home to important Black institutions and history. Long Beach is also home to the largest Cambodian population outside of Southeast Asia, deep Latino and Hispanic roots, and important Indigenous cultural sites connected to the Tongva people.

There are so many stories here that one trip simply isn't enough to tell them all.

Exploring Long Beach with the Vibe City Pass

One of the easiest ways to experience the city is through the Vibe City Pass.

The all-digital pass allows visitors to bundle some of Long Beach's most popular attractions into one affordable experience. Visitors can choose either a one-day pass that includes two attractions or a three-day pass that includes three attractions.

We chose the three-day pass and used it to experience several attractions that we thought would appeal to a wide variety of travelers.

Aquarium of the Pacific

Our first stop was the Aquarium of the Pacific.

As the largest aquarium in Southern California, it offers interactive exhibits, touch pools, educational programs, and incredible marine life from around the Pacific Ocean.

While families with children will absolutely love this attraction, we found plenty to enjoy as adults as well. It's one of those places where every age group can have a great experience.

The Queen Mary

One of the most iconic attractions in Long Beach is the RMS Queen Mary.

Originally launched in the 1930s as a luxury British ocean liner, the Queen Mary later served as a troop transport ship during World War II before returning to passenger service.

In 1967, the ship was permanently retired and brought to Long Beach, where it remains today as a floating museum and hotel.

As a history lover, Anthony couldn't get enough of the exhibits and stories throughout the ship.

Meanwhile, Marlie found her favorite spot aboard: the Observation Bar.

With its vintage decor, handcrafted cocktails, and live jazz music, the space feels like stepping directly into another era.

Long Beach Museum of Art

Our final Vibe City Pass attraction was the Long Beach Museum of Art.

Housed inside a historic mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the museum showcases California art, contemporary works, decorative arts, and emerging artists.

The museum also hosts workshops, artist talks, and community events throughout the year, making it much more than a traditional museum experience. But if we're being honest, there was another reason we loved this stop.

Claire's at the Museum

Attached to the museum is Claire's at the Museum, one of Long Beach's most popular brunch destinations. The combination of incredible food, great drinks, and ocean views made this one of our favorite meals of the trip. If you're planning a Long Beach itinerary, make room for brunch here. Trust us.

Long Beach's Food Scene Deserves More Attention

One thing that consistently impressed us throughout our visit was the city's food scene.

SteelCraft Long Beach

Located in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood, SteelCraft brings together local food vendors inside repurposed shipping containers. The result is a unique open-air food hall where visitors can enjoy everything from tacos and pizza to fresh juices and craft beer.

Olive & Rose

Located inside the historic City Center Hotel, Olive & Rose serves French-inspired cuisine using fresh farmers market ingredients. Every dish felt intentional, fresh, and incredibly well prepared.

Salt & Grove

Inside the Courtyard Marriott Downtown Long Beach, Salt & Grove delivered one of our favorite brunch experiences anywhere. Chef Giuseppe Musso's Italian influence shines throughout the menu, and every dish we tried was outstanding.

The Second Owl Thai Kitchen

This family-owned restaurant specializes in authentic Thai and Lao cuisine. Everything we ordered The Second Owl was excellent, but the surprise star of the meal was the tiramisu, which completely exceeded our expectations.

Broken Spirits Distillery

Broken Spirits combines craft cocktails with a barbecue and Mexican-inspired menu. The drinks were fantastic, but the food was every bit as memorable. We absolutely recommend the brisket tacos.

Together, these restaurants helped us understand why Long Beach continues to gain recognition as one of Southern California's emerging food destinations.

What Makes Long Beach Different?

What stood out to us most was the balance. Long Beach offers many of the same things travelers love about Southern California: sunshine, beaches, waterfront attractions, arts, culture, and incredible food. And we understand why Long Beach proudly calls itself Vibe City.

TWB's Travel Grade for Long Beach

As always, our Travel Grade is based on traveling from Seattle.

Quality of Home Airport Amenities: 2/2
For this trip, we flew out of Paine Field. The relaxed atmosphere, streamlined experience, and comfortable amenities make it one of our favorite airports in the Pacific Northwest.

Quality of Destination Airport Amenities: 2/2
Although we flew into LAX, locals consistently recommended Long Beach Airport for future visits. Between its convenience, reputation, and historic significance as California's oldest municipal airport, we're comfortable awarding full points.

Duration of Flight to Destination: 2/2
The flight from Seattle takes approximately two and a half hours, making Long Beach an easy weekend getaway.

Difficulty of Flight to Destination: 2/2
With direct flights becoming available between Seattle and Long Beach, reaching the destination is easier than ever.

Affordability of Flight Options: 2/2
Airfare isn't cheap these days, but compared to many other warm-weather destinations, Long Beach remains relatively affordable.

Final Travel Grade: 10/10

TWB's Level of Fun Score for Long Beach

Quality of Activities: 2/2
We barely scratched the surface of what Long Beach offers. Even after museums, attractions, restaurants, and waterfront experiences, there was still so much left for us to do.

Demographic Applicability: 2/2
Families, couples, solo travelers, friend groups, and retirees can all find experiences tailored to their interests.

Special Events: 2/2
Long Beach always seems to have something happening. From festivals and cultural celebrations to concerts and the opening of the city's new amphitheater, the events calendar is packed.

Quality of Restaurant Options: 2/2
This was one of the strongest food scenes we've experienced in a destination recently. There wasn't a single miss.

Affordability: 1/2
Long Beach isn't inexpensive. However, the Vibe City Pass creates significant value by making multiple attractions more affordable.

Final Level of Fun Score: 9/10

TWB's Comfortability for Black Travelers Score

Long Beach has a significant Black population and a rich Black history, making it an important destination for us to evaluate.

Personal Feelings During Our Visit: 2/2
We felt welcomed and comfortable throughout our entire visit.

Black Population Numbers: 2/2
With a Black population approaching 12%, Long Beach has one of the larger Black communities of destinations we've reviewed.

Amount of Black People Seen: 2/2
We consistently encountered Black residents and visitors throughout the city.

Visibility of Signs and Artifacts of Inclusion: 2/2
Inclusive messaging, public art, and representation were visible throughout Long Beach.

Prevalence of Black History: 1/2
Long Beach has a significant Black history, including the Historic Black Cultural District in the Central Area. However, we'd love to see even more public recognition and storytelling connected to that history throughout the city.

Final Comfortability for Black Travelers Score: 9/10

Final Thoughts

Our trip confirmed it, Long Beach is absolutely a vibe!

The city offers incredible food, meaningful cultural experiences, beautiful waterfront scenery, fascinating history, and enough attractions to keep visitors busy for days.

For Pacific Northwest travelers looking for sunshine, couples planning a getaway, families seeking fun attractions, or anyone wanting to experience Southern California from a different perspective, Long Beach deserves a spot on your list.