Ever wonder how Long Beach got its name? Originally planned as Wilmore City after the developer William Wilmore, Long Beach began attracting visitors, creating a real estate boom. In 1888, residents of Wilmore City decided to rename their town to Long Beach after… you guessed it, its long wide beaches!

Only a 30-minute drive from downtown L.A., Long Beach is the sixth largest city in California that is known for its waterfront attractions, incredible dining experiences, and public art everywhere. Nevertheless, we want to make sure you make the most out of your visit to Long Beach, so we’ve put together 4 things to do while attending the upcoming CITE conference.

For the Foodies

For those of you who didn’t already know, Long Beach is known as “The International City”, and rightfully so, especially when it comes to their wide variety of global cuisine. So, if you’re interested in expanding your palate’s horizons, check out some of these gems!

  • Phnom Penh Noodle Shack: Providing the taste of Cambodian cuisine. Located in the heart of Long Beach’s Cambodia Town, it’s a neighbourhood favourite providing stir fry noodles, noodle soup, and much more!
  • Open Sesame: Authentic Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine created from scratch. The details are to die for, with traditional teas and coffees accompanied with homemade desserts. It’s no wonder this is arguably one of the most popular restaurants in Belmont Shore.

Shop ‘til You Drop

One-of-a-kind? Try your luck here, you’ll be sure to find it. Whether you’re looking for something unique, trendy, or hand-spun local, it may take a little searching, but rest assured, the city will have it!

  • Marina Pacifica Mall: This exclusive retail oasis offers tons of prominent stores and local boutiques. It has everything from shopping, dining, and entertainment right on the ocean front.
  • The Pike Outlets: Located next to The Aquarium of the Pacific, this open-air shopping center is filled with restaurants, bars, popular shops… and let’s not forget the famous Ferris Wheel and Laugh Factory!

Beaches… Duh!

What better way to spend the day in this city than by checking out their local beaches? Long Beach has an array of long and wide beaches that gives this town their name. Perfect for tanning, walking, and coast views.

  • Alamito’s Bay Beach: Apart from being one of the more slightly warmer beaches, it is also known for its amenities and many fun activities including biking, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, gondola boating, and much more.
  • Belmont Shore Beach: Popular for young singles and families, it is another beautiful beach, known for being dog friendly.

Tours, Tours, and more Tours

If you plan on doing some exploring, then doing a tour is for you! As one of the largest shipping ports in the United States, the city can feel pretty big! But don’t let that worry you, it’s easy to get around by visiting a lot of fun attractions.

  • The Queen Mary: The top tourist attraction in Long Beach has definitely got to be The Queen Mary! Offering visitors a sneak peek into back in time when steamships were the most prestigious way to travel (psst, but be careful, they say it’s haunted!).
  • The Aquarium of the Pacific: As the fourth most attended aquarium in the United States, this educating and entertaining attraction offers over 50 exhibits, many of them interactive.

For our CITE attendees, find Netsweeper at Booth 557 on December 1st to learn about our exciting ventures in technology and a chance to win an Apple Watch Ultra!