Reservations are needed for this lovely little garden tucked into the middle of the CSULB campus,…read moreso we made ours the night before and grabbed a 12:00 PM Sunday spot. One thing to know before you go: check the operating hours. The garden was closing at 1:00 that day, so our visit was shorter than we would have liked. About 15 minutes before closing they started rounding everyone up, which was completely understandable, but next time I'd definitely book earlier. We brought Billy's mom and dad with us, and his father is 92 amazing years old, so we're always paying attention to how much walking, stress, parking drama, or general nonsense an outing involves. This one was about as easy as it gets. There's paid parking right next to the garden. I think we paid around $6.50, and the payment system was simple enough. Once you're inside, it's just beautiful. Little bridges, waterfalls, colorful koi everywhere (bonus! tons of baby koi this time!) lilies on the pond, flowers, and these bright red dragonflies flying around that completely caught my attention. There were families, students, people sketching, people feeding the fish, just a really nice mix of people quietly enjoying the space. What I especially like is that you don't have to make a whole production out of it. You can stroll, sit for a while, watch the koi, cross a bridge, look at the water, and just enjoy being somewhere pretty. Small, peaceful, easy, and genuinely lovely. It makes for a really nice family outing, and it's one of those places that's good to keep in your back pocket when you want to do something without committing to an entire day.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a peaceful hidden gem tucked inside California State…read moreUniversity, Long Beach. I walked into a space that is smaller than some larger Japanese gardens, but the layout feels carefully planned with winding paths, traditional landscaping, a koi pond, waterfalls, bridges, and quiet corners throughout. It is the type of place where taking your time matters more than trying to see everything quickly, and the smaller size actually makes the experience feel more intimate. The garden feels like a world apart from the campus surrounding it, and the transition from the university grounds to the garden is immediate and effective. The koi pond is easily the centerpiece of the garden and one of the most enjoyable parts to spend time around. I found myself lingering by the water, watching the fish move through the pond as the sunlight filtered through the trees. The fish are large and active, and the surrounding greenery, stone features, and water elements create a very relaxing atmosphere. The garden does a good job balancing natural scenery with traditional Japanese design, with each section offering a slightly different view and feeling as I walked through. The bridges and stone lanterns add to the sense of place, and the sound of the waterfalls creates a calming background that stays with you as you move through the space. What I liked most about this garden is how calm it feels despite being located on a college campus. It feels separated from the surrounding area once you enter, making it a nice place for a quiet walk, photography, or just taking a break. The landscaping is well maintained, and the entire space has a slower pace that encourages you to actually stop and appreciate the details rather than rushing through. The garden's design rewards a slow approach, with each turn in the path offering a slightly different perspective on the pond, the plants, and the stonework. The visit is fairly quick since the garden is compact, but it works well as a relaxing stop rather than a destination that takes up an entire afternoon. Reservations are required, so it is worth checking availability before going. Admission is free, although parking is an extra cost and can be the main inconvenience, especially during busy campus hours. The garden's location on campus makes it accessible, but the parking situation can require a bit of patience. Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a beautiful spot if you are looking for a peaceful escape rather than a large attraction. The koi pond, thoughtful design, and quiet atmosphere make it a place worth visiting, especially on a nice day when you can take your time walking through the garden. It offers a brief but meaningful pause from the surrounding city and campus life, and the care that has gone into maintaining the space is evident in every corner.

This spot is a gem! With beautiful foster kitties running around the shop in an enclosed area along…read morethe walls and two spots around the front of the store. We came here to attend the 2026 Cat Zine Fest and it was really quite nice. Lots of cat related items here as they mention, and the zines themselves were amazing. So funny and affordable and easy to support artists from all around the world with this event. Really can't wait to go back! All the staff were super nice and also cat lovers... it was just a dream to be here especially to see the little kitties.

A cool store with a wide variety of cat-themed gifts and books. And yes, there are live cats here…read morejust chilling in 3 large cat areas. Like little cat apartments. They are lounging in chairs, up on window sills, or scratching on cat scratchers. They are the cutest things in the world and can be adopted right out of the store. Parking available on the street or in the small private lot to the left of the store. Bonus: Walk across the street and get some Gusto Bread or a book at Page Against The Machine when you're done.

What a great event that Long Beach puts on. A fun day at the beach followed up with food trucks and…read morea great movie. It was especially great in that the movie was Grease! One of our favorites. And they declared it a sing along. You could hear sod singing during the songs, which was good since it didn't drown out the actual songs. My one complaint is that they need a better sound system. The DJ who played ahead of the movies had a much better sound system. It was hard to hear at first and then got slightly better. But such great songs need to be played at full volume. It, I would do it again. It was a really fun time.

This is one of my favorite summer traditions. It's great for family and friends and the community…read moreto come together and enjoy a movie on the beach. I highly recommend to bring items for once the sun comes down. Parking is free after 4pm. You can bring your own food or buy food from selected vendors such as Dominos Pizza, Kettle Corn stand or a local food truck as well as the permanent food concession that is at Granada beach. There is also face painting for kids and local sponsors Port of Long Beach and LBS Financial. You can go to their website for movies that will be showing throughout the summer. Yes I recommend to come early if you can for a great viewing spot.

I love this place and spend hours here. They are part of the community and really care about their…read morefurry babies. I love how they hold community events and also keep the place clean and have the furry babies do whatever they want to do like in their own habitat at home. The little ones are so cute. I especially like the one who tries to get people to turn on the fountain lol. Hope they remain a staple in the community

This is a cool and quiet location to come hang out and possibly adopt a cat. The cats weren't…read morefriendly, so you really have to appreciate the feline demeanor and arrive with patience. You can't pick up the cats if you're standing; they essentially have to choose you for contact.

It's really well designed with a great ambiance the people who work here are sweet lots of…read morepatience. It has a variety of candies and I have bought here they even have my old time favorites. They also custom design candy and throw parties.

Fun little shop with every kind of candy imaginable - from the sours belts and gummies my kids love…read moreto many of the candy bars and novelties I grew up with waaay back in the 1960's. Really fun to see and taste some of those again. My daughter made me pose next to the photo- op giraffe after we bought our loot. The bulk candies in the bins were weighed, and priced by the pound, and other types of candy bars and treats were priced individually. I loved the artwork on the walls done in candy, too! They offer little candy art classes and events for kids, and sell also sell toys, fun artsy accessories and kits for young girls. Very fun!

This was by far the most fun I have had on a go kart! Armahni(?) the owner was a great host and…read moretour guide. I was in town for a football event that was happening on Sunday. Since I knew I would be there all weekend, I convinced two of my friends to join me in the go kart shenanigans. Armahni(?) and his girlfriend took us around the lake and alongside the canal for an hour or so ride. The best part was when we had the chance to "put the pedal to the medal" (as my grandmother would say lol) and race each other. To actually be able to ride the karts outdoors instead of indoors, and not be on a track made the experience even better. Good times! If you haven't done this yet, you're missing out! : )

Hands down the most fun and unique thing I've done in a while !! The coordination was super easy…read moreand clear... the ride was adventurous and the guides were super fun and kind !! Would definitely come back with a larger group !!

10/10 experience! Mark was a phenomenal instructor! He was beyond patient, helpful and…read moreprofessional. He managed a group of beginner students like a pro. I look forward to introducing others to clay work (pottery) and hoping to take more classes under Mark's attentive supervision and guidance. He made it less scary to be a complete newbie to the craft. lol

Picking up my clay piece from the Yelp elite event. People here are so friendly from staff helping…read moreus during the event up to the time my piece was ready for pick up. Corey I believe was her name was so sweet and friendly when I picked up my garlic scraper and we had such a friendly encounter. Truly recommend this place if you want to learn how to be a sculptor or maybe a special gift for yourself or someone you care about.

Had tickets for the Desi Banks 10:00 p.m. show on Friday. Arrived around 9:55 p.m. The VIP line was…read morelong on Pine Ave. The regular admission line was wrapped around the front of the Pike towards the Nike outlet. It was so long, I'm not sure if all of those people were able to get in. By the time of entry, it was almost 11:00 p.m. The show was over at 12:30 a.m. The show was great, but wasn't expecting that timeline at all.

Good place to hangout with friends. Cheap tickets on weekdays. Lots of seating and nice decor…read more There's a 2 drink minimum but drink prices are very reasonable. Didn't try the food. Decent crowd. Parking is in the lot at the Pike. On the day that we went, 4 out of the 5 comedians were not very funny. Service was friendly and quick. Definitely check out who's performing before you go.

I recently moved to Long Beach and the aquarium of the pacific has been one of the places I bring…read morefamily and friends to when they come visit. The Aquarium has a variety of interactive activities and exhibits that's great for all ages. On the weekends it's pretty busy but that's to be expected. I recommend checking out Groupon to purchase your tickets, they typically have discounts for the after 3pm tickets. They also have food available to purchase at the aquarium, but we typically check out the restaurants across from the aquarium. Overall, the aquarium of the pacific is a fun place to visit and well worth the tip.

My first review was a little too critical. Having returned several times now, I've come to…read moreappreciate it for what it is. The place is a solid, enjoyable aquarium, even if Monterey still wears the crown as California's absolute best. Still, it's hard not to enjoy an afternoon wandering through the exhibits. The jellyfish gallery is a personal favorite. Watching creatures with zero thoughts bounce aimlessly across the tanks is peak therapeutic entertainment. Beyond the marine life, the staff is consistently warm and engaged, bringing great energy to every visit. Pro tip on pricing: Opting for the tax-deductible annual membership pays for itself quickly and makes casual drop-ins totally stress-free, especially on weekdays.

Great selection of pinballs... and retro arcade games. Family friendly atmosphere, yet has a super…read morefun club / lounge vibe as well. Cool place to hang out on weekends & weekdays. I highly recommend this place

Great machines, staff, and vibes. The machines are very well maintained. A good mix from different…read moreeras.