Garage Door

A spicy taste of New Orleans comes to the West Coast by way of the Long Beach Crawfish Festival. There's plenty of great live music, vendors and activities and of course, plenty of delicious food! This is one of Long Beach's biggest events, as it regularly draws approximately 15,000 people when it is held every July in the city's Rainbow Lagoon Park.

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.

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.

Get an unexpectedly close look at the whales off the coast when you enjoy the Harbor Breeze Whale Watching Cruises . It is offered in association with the Aquarium of the Pacific; the friendly and knowledgeable staff offer informative narrations on your journey. They also are available to answer any questions you may have. Some individuals on this tour have claimed to see up to eleven whales on one trip, so make sure you have your camera on hand!