After a great day of the beach and lunch, our friends wanted to show us their favorite spots to go…read morefor a walk to get their steps in. Naples Canals is a beautiful neighborhood. Beautiful homes nestled around water and gondolas rides coasting by. We actually drove around for a couple of loops just being that crazy looky loo's at the beautiful neighborhood. We found parking and went for a walk. There's a cool bridge overlooking the canal. We got to see the gondola ride! Our friends told us this was a great neighborhood for seeing Christmas lights displays. All the neighborhood decorates their homes. How cool is that?!?!

After a satisfying lunch at Parker's Lighthouse, we realized time had totally flown by! We…read moreoriginally planned to visit the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at Cal State Long Beach for a little flower stroll, but it was getting too late... so we decided to switch things up and take a relaxing walk around the Naples Canals instead. Naples Island is such a hidden gem in Long Beach! It used to be a swamp before developers transformed it into a charming Italian-style neighborhood -- all the streets even have Italian names. It kind of reminds me of Venice Beach, but quieter and much more upscale. The canals are lined with beautiful waterfront homes, and boats are literally parked right in front of them. During summer, you can hop on a gondola or go kayaking or paddleboarding on the canals. And in winter, this place turns magical, residents go all out with Christmas lights, and there are festive boat parades gliding through the water. (Though Newport Beach usually gets more attention, Naples definitely holds its own!) It's such a peaceful spot for a stroll, and not many tourists know about it. It's perfect if you're looking for something a little off the beaten path. Naples Island You can set your GPS to La Bella Fontana Park, then find parking along the nearby streets. 90 Corinthian Walk, Long Beach, CA 90803

It's a giant bunny in a front yard…read more.. With large, colorful, bulbesque lights for nighttime enjoyment. 'Nuff said

Local Flavor in Long Beach, California…read more.. Alana had this bookmark, so we were just helping her out... Hahaha! I don't know why she bookmarked this landmark? She doesn't especially like bunnies? Hee hee! Yes, she is a good friend - she knew I would like it! We had some difficulty getting Jeff to go with us. Eventually, he caved in... maybe because I told him he'd get more respect of he checked in here... because this is a cool art installation! Yes, The Giant (white) Bunny is on the front lawn of someone's home in Long Beach. We found free street parking right in front; snapped a few photos; and had a fun experience together! Go check it out!

A slender, slim and, dare I say, skinny house located on the famed Eastside of Long Beach...pretty…read moreawesome place to drive by and check out, if you're ever in the area. Skinny House is literally that- a very skinny house located on the corner of 7th and Gladys Ave in Long Beach. You'll almost always see people driving or walking by to take a few snapshots of it. I couldn't believe how skinny it was the first time I drove by it. It is in a residential area, so it's best to either drive by or walk by it. Good luck finding parking here...as anyone will tell you, we'll, those who are from Long Beach...as it is impossible to find a parking spot anywhere in this city! So yeah, check this place out whenever you want. Pretty cool landmark...one of many in Long Beach. Beats the heck out of me if anyone lives in it! I can only imagine the possibilities...

I'm giving it 5 stars for the uniqueness and the cool story behind its birth (so to speak)…read more Do not travel here from far to see it bec it is a residents and you cannot look inside or walk thru. If you're into architecture, it's cool to see if you are in the area. I am and left wanting to get my hands on it. Lol. It's a landmark, but I didn't see a plaque. Personally, I'd open my doors and show and tell :-) It's kinda shocking how wide it is (or isn't ;-)). I held my arms open and felt I was the same length.

I love this event. I've been coming to this event every year. Although prices start getting higher…read moreand higher lately. I usually get 12 tickets and I used to try 4-5 dishes but now it is only enough maybe two or three maximum. I try to come as early as possible to avoid the lines because after 7 PM line gets longer. They are also live music throughout the Festival. Fun event.

I liked the idea of Belmont Stroll and Savor because it gives you the opportunity to try out a lot…read moreof different things on second street that you normally wouldn't have. All the food here is sample sized and they don't take money, but instead, you pay with tickets, which can be purchased in several areas in the street. My main complaints with this is that a lot of the food wasn't as fresh because it was sitting outside in a warm container vs being made to order like it normally would and that the selection was a lot smaller than I expected. I feel like the samples weren't necessarily a good representation for if you were to actually order something there normally. Overall, the concept is good but I feel like it could've been executed better.

There's little cluster hidden in Long Beach that you sort of want to keep a little secrets.... But…read morebeautiful places are meant to be shared. Everyone knows about mother's beach with the clam water just along the bay. But across the water, this little hidden spot with its cute picturesque view of the waterfront and beautiful homes. It's tucked inside the community of Alamitos Heights along the Marina. There's a parking lot beforehand where you'll have a little walk which isn't much. If you know where the Pete Archer Rowing Center is, then it's basically there. There's a little dirt path behind the center which leads you to the entrance of the trail. It's not a big place but a cute little path that shows you beautiful homes and plants along the way. A good 15 min or so if you walk leisurely taking your time around the whole path. But take your time so you can fully enjoy it. There's also docks that you can walk onto looking out over the water. I didn't know that it's a sanctuary where oysters are habitat. The path is along the back of some homes so be respectful as it's someone's property and leave it the way you saw it, clean. There's benches places along the way to have a seat and just take it in. Native plants growing wild but beautifully preserved. Just taking the time and enjoying everything was quite nice. A quiet place that you didn't even know was here. Loads of flowers starting to blooms at the moment. Also with flowers comes the butterflies. Plus as it's part of the bay, the water was so calm and clear. People were kayaking and paddle boarding while we were there. The view of the boats and homes were beautiful but you're there for the path. A simple beautiful walk with nature. Man made nature but beautiful. Afterwards, you could sit and enjoy the water view along the path back to your car.

At the end of Marine Stadium, through a narrow pathway next to the rowing center, is the entrance…read moreto this park. Surrounded by water, this tiny park is a great place to walk or sit and watch the Marine life. Very clean and well maintained. It's especially beautiful during sunsets.

Delicious food. Marlow was an amazing server. Very attentive and helpful. She made my first…read moreexperience here a great one. Overall look of the establishment is very comfortable and unique. I will definitely visit again.

My husband made reservations on Sunday for Mother's Day and it was wonderful! I was surprised this…read moreplace wasn't packed for a busy holiday but the service was nonetheless top tier. We were greeted with a smile and were taken careful from the beginning to the very end. My husband and I shared the Cesaer salad and the fresh Parmesan was *chef's kiss*. We also ordered two pasta dish that were both unique and delicious in their own ways. I ordered the spaghetti nerano with a side of grilled chicken and my husband ordered the pappardelle genoese. It paired perfectly with each other because each dish can get overwhelming after a few bites. Our son of course shared our meals but also had a side of delicious crispy fries! We ended the night with a chocolate and hazelnut gelato. Both were rich in flavors! Our wonderful server also brought out two deep friend bread filled with Nutella and that took me into a ratatouille moment! Definitely can't eat more than one if you're watching your intake. Overall the restaurant looked beautiful on the outside and cozy on the inside! Definitely will be back!

We are so fortunate to have a great Italian Deli just a short walk away! Angelo's is a staple in…read moreBelmont Shore. Great sandwiches, pastas, and salads. They have a nice selection of of grocery items as well including pizza dough! I ordered my favorite Roasted Turkey sandwich. Generous amount of turkey with the amazing green garlic sauce on the most crunchy French roll! I always get a container of the green garlic sauce to.enjoy at home. Goes well with veggies and bread! My husband ordered his favorite Chicken Parmesan sandwich, excellent. Portions are definitely large enough to share but we prefer to take our leftovers home to enjoy for another lunch. There are plenty of wines to buy for home or enjoy when dining in. They also have a few Italian beers on draft along with a nice assortment of canned ones. Service is very friendly and helpful. In addition, the food comes out quickly. Easy to grab and go on a lunch hour.

First off, the service here is great. The staff were warm, welcoming, and made the experience feel…read morereally friendly from the start. I tried the Torpedo sandwich, and while it was good, I realized I personally prefer hot sandwiches over cold ones so for me, the food was just okay this time. That said, I'd definitely be open to coming back and trying other items on the menu. The ambience is pretty quiet since most people seem to grab their food to go rather than dine in. It's more of a quick stop spot than a place to hang out. Overall, a solid place to check out if you're in the 2nd Street area, especially with the great service.

Food: Thank you to our waitress for recommending the lunch prix fixe! With the option of a salad or…read moreveggie an entree, my partner and I settled for the Roasted Cauliflower, Shrimp & Melon salad, Tagliatelle and Gnocchi, which were all very wonderful, with a nice flavor balance, to say the least. The meal also came with dessert, per chef's choice--this time it was a panna cotta that was to die for! Instantly became a fave. Service: Great! Always attended to, and food came in at a reasonable pace. Ambiance: Casual and simple, with a monochromatic interior. Really puts the focal point on the food. Parking: Street parking is available, but can take a minute to find a spot during peak hours.

Parking is street parking only, so definitely give yourself extra time to find a spot. I'd also…read morehighly recommend making a reservation since the space is small & busy. The restaurant has a cute, no-fuss decor style that still feels cozy and elevated. We sat inside, which seemed like a much nicer vibe than the outdoor seating. Service was fast and friendly throughout the meal. I ordered the chittara pomodoro, which was so tasty and clearly tasted homemade in the best way. For dessert, we had the panna cotta, which was the perfect light and creamy ending to the meal. Overall, such a charming little spot for a cozy dinner.

TED is great at challenging people to think…read more Sharing ideas. Inspiring. The bathrooms were clean and the staff was, like Tina Turner said to me once, simply the best. Better than all the rest. Thank you

Probably shouldn't be spilling the beans about this, but it's one of the greatest new developments…read moreat the Long Beach Convention Center, and I just can't keep it to myself. TED (Technology Entertainment Design) has decided to call Long Beach its new home. This is good news for the city and good news for the residents who want to take advantage of the influx of brain power and talent to downtown for one week each year. Do yourself a favor and check out the talks on the websites to find out how incredible an honor this is, and how lucky we are to have a convention of this caliber to call Long Beach its headquarters. Most of the convention is private and extremely exclusive (it costs 6,000 dollars to get in and is completely sold out for next year), but there is the chance that if you time it right, you might bump into a few of the speakers and participants while they are strolling around Pine Ave. in between lectures.

The Jergins Subway is a tunnel that was built under Ocean Blvd. at Pine Ave. in the 1920's as a…read moresafe way to cross under the street. It led from the corner of Pine Ave. (I believe the one opposite Rock Bottom, which is now a hotel) across the street to what is now a parking lot directly across from the Ocean Center building. The builder, Mr. Jergins, designed it with fancy tilework and a huge skylight. The tunnel ran under Ocean Boulevard and connected up with the Jergins Arcade. The Jergins Arcade was also a walk through with a series of shops along the way which opened at the far end onto the Pike. The Jergins Subway had no shops except during the 1930's in the depression when people were allowed to open booths along the walls. These were taken out in 1940. The subway has been closed off since the demolition of the Jergins Trust Building.... not sure when that was. It was recently opened for inspection and local historians say the tile work is still in great shape. The floor tile is in a kind of mosaic that looks like carpet. There is beautiful wall tile going up 10 feet with a decorative cap. Most of the ceiling is also tiled though the skylight has long since been filled in. The tunnel is very long, more than 180 feet. There is some graffiti on the walls and evidence of a homeless camp at the far northern end. The original steps are still there but there is a concrete wall blocking off that north end. I recently found out about the Subway while researching the old Pike and I've been wanting to go try to "find" it. On a recent walk down Ocean Blvd, my bf and I found what we think is a door leading to the inside of the tunnel. It's located in the parking lot across the street from Caso Vino / Ocean Center Building. It's in a fenced off construction site. Very cool that a part of Long Beach's history still exists, virtually untouched, hidden under the street. I hope one day it can be opened again, because not only is it historically significant, but crossing Ocean and Pine (especially at night) can be a little dangerous with all the traffic. Also check out another piece of old Pike history if you're in the same area. Located on Seaside Way & Pine Ave. (right near Casa Vino) is a huge old building up on blocks in a fenced off parking lot. It's an original building from the old Pike.. called the Loof's-Lite-A-Line building that once housed a carousel and later a gaming hall. It's about 90 years old and was considered to be the center of the old Pike. Loof's-Lite-A-Line still exists.. it's located now at 2500 Long Beach Blvd. Thanks to Paul Prosise for some of the text.

Wow, I now think I may have an idea how Geraldo Rivera felt when he finally opened Al Capone's…read morevault. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this was a serious letdown. Oh sure, it was cool seeing a place that time forgot, but they don't really let you behind the curtain. From what I understand, all the cool shit is still blocked off! I will say that it kinda reminded me of that scene in Beneath The Planet of the Apes where Brent discovers a cave that ends up being a post apocalyptic New York Subway station. Maybe if they had a guy dressed up as Victor Bueno in a deformed mutant costume, I may have bumped this up a couple stars.