Spending a quick, but perfect day in Long Beach, California based on our adventures.

Kelsey signed up for a marathon set up by a local running group in Long Beach, California so we decided to make a weekend trip of it. It was our first time visiting and we loved the summer vibe.

We loved how easy it was to get to a beach and watch the sunrise. The weather was also perfect for exploring the city.

Disclosure: Links throughout the Mindful Nomadics site may make us a small commission at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for more information.

Where to Stay

Hyatt Regency

The Hyatt has a great location for visiting Long Beach. It is right by the convention center but more importantly, it's across the street from a mall with tons of stores. There are also a lot of restaurants within walking distance.

The main lobby is huge and even has a kid's corner equipped with toys and beans bags. There is a place for breakfast but it is for an additional cost.

The views are amazing as there is a big pond with a fountain located on the one side. Our favorite thing about the hotel was their pool and hot tub. The lounge area had these circular couch-like things and there was even a bin for pool toys.

We got a small room with a king-sized bed. The room also had a chair and a couch which was perfect since we spent most of the time in the room.

The only downside was that there was a door connecting to the next room and someone tried to open it at one point. The wall also seems to be very thin as we could hear even something as simple as the next room opening its blinds.

Where to eat

Potholder Cafe

We went to Potholders for brunch but they are open for most meals. They have a small vegan menu but it is all delicious.

They have four vegan meals, three of which come with tofu and two of which are more breakfast foods. If you happen to be gluten-free, there are also a few options for you as well.

There is outside seating or indoor and since you're in Long Beach you may as well eat outside and enjoy the great weather. There is a bar there so we were able to order our favorite brunch adult beverages. The Bloody Mary was exceptionally good and had some great chili seasoning.

George's Greek Cafe

One of the great things about a greek restaurant is that they typically serve some type of falafel option which is great for those who don't eat meat. They also have hummus which is a common vegan staple. George's Greek Cafe had this plus some of the best pita bread and rice we have ever eaten.

As with most Long beach restaurants, George's has outdoor seating and a full bar. They also have a section on the side for party reservations which looked nice.

The service was amazing and the food was great. They also do to-go orders if you are in a hurry or don't want to be social. If we lived in Long Beach this would probably be a weekly meal.

What to Do

The Beach

It's in the name of the city so they have to have a good beach or two. The main beach we saw was Long Beach City Beach but there are plenty of others (about 10 from what we saw).

If you're in Long Beach then somewhere pretty close by is a beautiful beach to visit. There are scattered parking lots but there seems to be a decent amount of street parking as well. There is also the Shoreline Pedestrian/Bicycle trail which is a great option for getting in some exercise while sightseeing.

Shopping

As with any big city, there are always plenty of places to choose from to get some good shopping in. We went to the Pike Outlets and loved it. They have a good mix of stores plus some yummy chain restaurants.

We loved being able to walk around outside while window shopping. There is also a middle common area where they have events.

We went closer to the holiday season so there were a lot of festive decorations. Not only was there a giant Christmas tree but several other trees were located throughout. There was even a small ice rink set up with skate rentals. A local band played one night for free which was a fun surprise.

We hope our travel guide for Long Beach, California will inspire you and help you plan your next trip. Enjoy the sunshine and all the beach activities. Happy Adventuring!