LONG BEACH ATTRACTIONS

Long Beach just keeps getting better. Itt's always been known as a vacation destination. At least that's the way people remember it who once enjoyed beach thrill rides at The Pike. The seaside amusement park that was dismantled in the 1970's, has been re-invented in the 21st century to include game rooms, a carousel and Ferris wheel, plus awesome dining and nightlife.

Known as the international city, restaurants offer everything from tapas to sushi or Irish stew, and include bands, dancing and great entertainment. Cafe Sevilla offers a variety of foods and shows, while Queen Mary Brunch is simply awesome. The variety of foods, and harpist that sits on a stage in the center of the buffet service station offer a touch of elegance to the Grand Ballroom graced with original antique carvings and wall murals. Filled with dance shows, dinners and museum exhibits plus special events, Queen Mary ship is now in a renaissance as hotel guests who come for the Carnival Cruise ships that leave the Port of Long Beach, stay overnight on The Queen.

I visited Long Beach recently and got an update on what's new and cool.  Maybe you're going to think its crazy to live only 15 miles from the heart of downtown Long Beach and spend the night, but my experience was not unusual, believe it or not! I spoke to lots of folks in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, and discovered that they came from Malibu, Hollywood and nearby cities. Some came for parties, conventions, weddings or a getaway, and each found the hotel ideal for a sleep-over, rather than driving home on freeways late.  So different is Long Beach from nearby cities that it offers a great weekend getaway or escape for locals living even 10 minutes by car.

Conventions of farm associations, transit companies and food marketing firms are a few of the events and meetings that fill the Long Beach Convention Center and its surrounding hotels such as Hyatt Regency, Westin and Renaissance Hotel. Little did I know, in fact, that after my first overnighter as a tourist, I'd go back to attend a convention of the California Transit Association, and stay at the same Hyatt hotel in just a few months! I got to fill in some blanks I missed from the first visit by taking a walk from the hotel's bridge over to Shoreline Village.

I even returned, yet another time, to fly out of the hidden gem, Long Beach Airport. I took a Jet Blue flight to Sacramento and enjoyed the historic terminal with cases of memorabilia and coves to sit on plush seats and enjoy Jet Blue's free wi-fi. What a treat! While plans for expansion are in the works, the airport is old-fashioned and easy to navigate. If you plan a trip to Long Beach and cannot drive, do try to fly into Long Beach Airport for easy travels.

What's new: When visiting Long Beach, the vibrant Pine Avenue includes many restaurants with nightlife and a great concert venue, Vault 350 (vault350.com). The venue includes top acts, but is not the only performing arts venue. Professional ice hockey team, Ice Dogs, plays in the Long Beach Arena, a unique cylinder-shaped building covered with the world's largest whale and oceanic-themed mural by famed artist, Wyland. In addition, concerts, theater performances and a variety of entertainment is held at the Long Beach Convention Center's Terrace Theater throughout the year (longbeachcc.com). Nearby California State University Long Beach is home to another concert and performing arts venue, the Carpenter Performing Arts Center (carpenterarts.org) named for the renown singing act, The Carpenters.

Tea time is mighty fine with the gourmet salads, soups and sandwiches served to unique tea blends at Vintage Tea Leaf (vintagetealeaf.com). Among her credits, Beverly, the Tea Mistress, was chosen as the pilot U.S. tea establishment for a new tea machine from Japan. This tea rivals Starbucks coffee in its appeal and will hopefully make its way throughout the USA.

For art, we couldn't be more amazed than a visit to the spectacular, world-class venue, Museum of Latin American Art. Bringing the best of Latin America to California, the museum is another hidden gem that deserves recognition at attendance to match its vision and collections.  That recognition is building, but for an art experience every bit as unique as the top L.A. galleries and museums, take time to see this hidden gem in Long Beach.

A city in change, you'll notice while driving Ocean Avenue in the heart of downtown Long Beach that older buildings without historic designation are making way for high-rise, luxury condominium residences. You can't stop the change, and for Long Beach, California, the change you'll see is bringing the tourists from near and far to attend conferences, and to enjoy the hip music and arts scene that rivals any destination in Southern California.