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If you are bringing the whole family out for a day of fun in the California sun, then the appropriately-named Mother's Beach is the most obvious choice. This recently-renovated beach park offers plenty of amenities and attractions that will please the whole family. There's a little whale at the center of the kiddie splash pad, rocks to climb, swings to swing on, and of course, lots of sand! A swimming area for adults and older kids is roped off from the area designated for toddlers and kiddies to enjoy.

Every August, the sounds of America's music – jazz – fills the Long Beach air. Fans of this historic musical genre gather at Rainbow Lagoon Park to hear some of the top artists on the scene performing during the Long Beach Jazz Festival. This popular three day event is staged on a beautiful grassy knoll in the park that makes for an experience that is as visually stunning as it is aurally pleasing. The festival also features a great selection of food, arts and crafts, as well as the wares of various vendors.

The Long Beach Ballet is one of Southern California's leading classical institutions. The ballet is both a highly respected academy that utilizes the talents of many professional dancers to train up and coming talents, as well as a performing company that regularly stages various entertainment productions throughout the year. Some of the many great shows that the ballet presents include Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Coppelia, Cinderella and many more. Be sure to check the website for dates and tickets.

Art isn't meant to just engage your eyes. Great art moves you, speaks to you, and inspires you to want to learn more about it. That's exactly what you will experience when you visit the Long Beach Museum of Art. Featuring some of the most impressive pieces of work rendered in various media, this popular attraction embraces both the creations and the creators of art. The museum itself qualifies as a unique piece of art in its own right, as its stunning construction and design allow the building to be situated atop a bluff which offers an equally mesmerizing view of Long Beach Harbor.