Cooley, Leslie

Even though Belmont Shore tried to break away and establish itself as a city in its own right, it is still technically a part of Long Beach, California. No matter, really, because fans of this impressive district know that in addition to excellent shopping, dining and entertainment, there are plenty of great family fun attractions to enjoy here, too. There's free fishing off the Belmont Memorial Pier, beach volleyball, a dog beach, a jet ski ramp, a paved path for biking and skating, Belmont Pool and lots of other great amenities that make spending a day here fun for the whole family.

Taking a tour is always an adventure, but take that experience to new heights when you see it all from a bird's eye view on board the Island Express Helicopter tour. See the Long Beach coastline, rugged scenery and calming Pacific Ocean waves, among many other sights, when you cruise over the area in a state-of-the-art helicopter. Your pilot's first priority is your safety, and he will also be able to answer any questions you may have along the way.

Enjoy the ocean breezes when you get on board the Catalina Express as you escape to Catalina Island. All of the boats that depart from Long Beach, Dana Point or San Pedro are the most advanced watercraft available and are all part of an impressive fleet of high-speed vessels. The Catalina Express has proudly transported over one million passengers a year and offers year round service with up to 30 departures daily, so there is no excuse for missing any of the fun that the Pacific Ocean offers.

Art is born out of both inspiration and reflection. A specific geographic area can inspire the creation of some truly amazing art as well as reflect the attitudes and feelings of a particular point in time. Nowhere is that more obvious than at Long Beach's Museum of Latin American Art. These works seem to come alive with both a dimensionality and a spiciness that gives them a personality all their own. The facility was founded in 1996 and holds the distinction of being the only museum of its kind in the United States.