Last Updated on July 30, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Long Beach makes family trip planning easier by placing an aquarium, harbor cruises, bike rentals, public art, restaurants, and waterfront parks close together. Beyond downtown, families can explore calm beaches, historic ranchos, nature trails, and ferries to Catalina Island. The best plan depends on your children’s ages, attention spans, and comfort around boats and water.
Quick Answer
The best things to do in Long Beach with kids include the Aquarium of the Pacific, a short harbor cruise, the beach bike path, Rainbow Lagoon swan boats, Mother’s Beach, the two historic ranchos, Long Beach Museum of Art programs, and El Dorado Nature Center. Reserve major attractions before busy weekends.
Key Takeaways
- The Aquarium of the Pacific and nearby waterfront attractions can fill a relaxed half day without much driving.
- Whale watching usually takes longer than a harbor cruise, and sightings are never guaranteed.
- Long Beach Bike Share is designed for riders age 16 and older; private rental shops offer children’s bikes, trailers, and surreys.
- A Catalina Island visit is a full-day outing for most families, not a quick addition to an aquarium day.
- Check beach postings before swimming and avoid ocean contact for at least 72 hours after significant rain.
Plan a Long Beach Family Trip
Downtown Long Beach works well for a first visit because the aquarium, Rainbow Harbor, Shoreline Village, Rainbow Lagoon, restaurants, and several hotels are close together. Activities farther east, including Mother’s Beach, Naples, the ranchos, and El Dorado Nature Center, are easier with a car or rideshare.
Family Trip at a Glance
| Time Required | A half day for the downtown waterfront; one or two days for beaches, museums, ranchos, or nature trails; a full day for Catalina Island |
| Best Ages | Toddlers through teens, with shorter boat rides and playground stops usually working best for younger children |
| Reservations | Recommended for the aquarium, whale watching, Catalina Express, gondolas, ranch house tours, and weekend rentals; required for Rainbow Lagoon swan boats |
| Cost | Ranges from free ranchos, murals, parks, and walking routes to premium aquarium, ferry, cruise, and gondola tickets |
Pro Tip: Choose one major timed attraction and one flexible activity per half day. That leaves room for meals, parking, restroom breaks, naps, weather changes, and children who want to stay longer than expected.
Aquarium of the Pacific: Hands-On Marine Adventures
The Aquarium of the Pacific is one of the easiest major attractions to build a Long Beach family day around. The nonprofit aquarium displays about 12,000 animals in more than 100 exhibits, including habitats focused on Southern California, the Northern Pacific, and the Tropical Pacific.
Children can watch sea otters, seals, sharks, rays, fish, frogs, and sea jellies. Hands-on areas include shark and ray touch pools and the Moon Jelly Touch Lab. Lorikeet Forest offers another close animal experience, although feeding schedules, animal access, and add-on costs can change.
Allow about three to four hours for a first visit. Families who stop for every presentation, feeding, or play area may need longer. Check current admission prices, reservation requirements, exhibit closures, and the day’s presentation schedule before leaving home.
- Bring a refillable water bottle and a light layer because indoor and outdoor areas can feel different.
- Use the aquarium’s daily schedule to choose two or three presentations rather than rushing between all of them.
- Ask at the information desk about current accessibility, sensory resources, and baby-carrier loans.
- Pair the aquarium with Shoreline Village, Rainbow Lagoon, or a short harbor cruise instead of driving to another part of the city immediately afterward.
Note: The aquarium does not currently rent strollers. Bring your own stroller or ask whether a complimentary baby backpack is available at the information desk.
Whale and Dolphin Watching With Harbor Breeze Cruises
Harbor Breeze Cruises operates whale- and dolphin-watching trips from Rainbow Harbor. The standard wildlife tour is usually about 2.5 hours and includes narration from Aquarium of the Pacific professionals or other trained educators.
Depending on the season and conditions, passengers may see dolphins, sea lions, migrating gray whales, blue whales, humpback whales, or other marine wildlife. These are wild animals, so no species or sighting is guaranteed. The educational narration, harbor views, and time on the water should be part of the appeal even when animals remain distant.
Choose the Right Boat Tour for Your Children
A 2.5-hour ocean trip can be exciting for school-age children who enjoy wildlife, but it may feel long for a toddler who needs frequent movement or naps. Harbor Breeze also offers a shorter narrated harbor tour, which can be a better first boat experience.
- Check the marine forecast and operator cancellation policy before departure.
- Bring a windproof layer even on a warm day.
- Consider motion-sickness precautions before boarding rather than after symptoms begin.
- Keep children seated or within arm’s reach near railings and stairs.
- Bring binoculars only if children can use them safely without leaning over the rail.
Warning: Do not chase, feed, touch, or pressure wildlife for a closer photograph. Follow the crew’s instructions and let marine animals approach or move away on their own.
Bike the Shoreline Path and Rent Family Cycles
The official Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath is a 3.1-mile concrete route running along the beach from Alamitos Avenue to 54th Place. It has separate marked space for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. It is a point-to-point path rather than a loop, so families should include the return distance when deciding how far to ride.
Safe Family Cycling Routes
The flat beach route is easier than riding on city streets, but it can become crowded with walkers, runners, skaters, bicycles, and other permitted users. Ride at a controlled speed, stay in the correct lane, pass only when there is room, and stop off the travel lane for snacks or photographs.
Long Beach Bike Share is designed mainly for individual riders and short trips. A user must be at least 18 to check out a bicycle with a credit card, and riders must be at least 16. It is therefore not the best rental system for a family with younger children.
| Length | 3.1 miles each way if ridden from one official endpoint to the other |
| Endpoints | Alamitos Avenue to 54th Place along the beach |
| Individual Rentals | Bike Share for eligible older teens and adults; private shops for a wider range of bicycles |
| Family Equipment | Surreys, children’s bikes, trailers, tandems, and other specialty cycles from private rental operators |
Surrey Rental Options
Wheel Fun Rentals at Shoreline Village offers surreys, traditional bicycles, tandems, children’s equipment, and other specialty cycles. This is separate from Long Beach Bike Share.
Surreys keep a group together, but they are wider and heavier than regular bicycles. Drivers must meet the operator’s age rules, and the adults doing most of the pedaling should be comfortable steering and braking before entering a busy path. Helmets are offered, and California law requires helmets for riders younger than 18.
Pro Tip: Start with a one-hour rental and turn around halfway through the booked time. This prevents a tired family from facing a long return ride after the rental period is nearly over.
Explore Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos
Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos introduce families to the layered Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and American history of the region. Standard public admission is free at both sites, although special programs may require tickets.
At Rancho Los Alamitos, visitors can explore gardens, barns, and outdoor areas independently and reserve a docent-guided historic house tour. The site is generally open Wednesday through Sunday in the afternoon, but entrance gates close before the grounds do. Reservations are recommended, and larger groups must arrange their visit in advance.
Rancho Los Cerritos is also open Wednesday through Sunday, with longer Saturday hours. Visitors can choose from docent-led or self-guided options, depending on availability. The first floor and many garden paths are wheelchair accessible, but the second story of the historic adobe is not. A virtual upstairs experience is available.
- Check each rancho’s calendar because holidays and special events may change public hours.
- Do not encourage children to touch artifacts, enter planting beds, or collect leaves unless staff explicitly allow it.
- Bring water, sun protection, and closed-toe shoes for uneven historic grounds.
- Ask about sensory guides or accessibility accommodations before the visit when needed.
Day Trip to Catalina Island: Beaches and Outdoor Fun
Catalina Express trips between Long Beach and Avalon take approximately one hour each way. Once check-in, boarding, the return deadline, and parking are included, Catalina becomes a full-day outing for most families.
Avalon offers beaches, restaurants, a playground near the ferry terminal, kayaking, sightseeing tours, and other seasonal activities. Zip line, water-sport, and adventure operators may set age, height, weight, footwear, or health restrictions, so verify the rules before buying ferry tickets around one activity.
Catalina Express Tips
- Reserve the outbound and return ferry together, especially during weekends, holidays, and summer.
- Arrive with enough time for parking, ticket collection, luggage handling, and boarding.
- General indoor and outdoor seating is first come, first served.
- Children must be removed from strollers before boarding.
- One fold-up stroller per infant or child can normally be transported free, but it must fit in the luggage compartment or a crew-designated area.
- Keep medications, identification, snacks, a water bottle, sun protection, and motion-sickness supplies in a small accessible bag.
Note: A family with a strict nap schedule may enjoy Long Beach’s shorter harbor cruise more than a Catalina day trip. Ferry times limit how easily you can leave early when a child becomes tired.
Island Activities and Trails
For a simple family day, combine a beach stop, lunch, the nearby playground, and an easy walk through Avalon. Kayak rentals and guided sightseeing tours can add adventure without committing to a long backcountry route.
Do not assume every Catalina trail begins in town or suits young children. Some routes require permits, transportation, more water, and better footwear than a waterfront stroll. Check the current route, access rules, weather, and return time before leaving Avalon.
Beaches, Playgrounds, and Nature Breaks
Mother’s Beach is one of the most convenient choices for families with younger children. It has a protected bay swimming area, playground, grass, picnic space, parking, and seasonal lifeguard supervision. The calmer setting does not remove the need for close adult supervision.
El Dorado Nature Center is a useful alternative when the family needs shade, birds, and a break from the waterfront. The site has a quarter-mile paved trail and about two miles of dirt trails around lakes, a stream, and wooded habitat. Pedestrian admission is free, while vehicles pay the current park entry fee.
Summer visitors can also check the City’s current aquatic-playground schedule. The floating Wibit courses at Alamitos Beach and Bayshore Beach are seasonal, require a swim test, and are intended for capable swimmers who can follow lifeguard directions.
Warning: Check current beach postings before anyone enters the water. The City of Long Beach recommends avoiding ocean contact for at least 72 hours after significant rainfall, especially near storm drains, river mouths, streams, and lagoons. Swim near a lifeguard and obey all warning signs.
Naples Gondola Rides, Swan Boats, and Rainbow Lagoon
A ride through the Naples canals or around Rainbow Lagoon gives families a slower water activity without committing to an offshore cruise.
Gondola Getaway operates approximately 50-minute canal cruises that welcome all ages. Standard gondolas suit smaller groups, while larger food-oriented cruises are available for groups that reserve in advance. Prices are substantially higher than a pedal-boat rental, making a gondola better for a celebration or planned family experience.
Rainbow Lagoon swan boats are rented for one-hour sessions. Reservations are required, weather can affect operations, and every rider must wear the supplied Coast Guard-approved life vest. An adult age 18 or older must sign the waiver, and younger riders must meet the operator’s supervision rules.
- Choose a morning swan-boat time when you want a better chance of lighter winds.
- Use an illuminated evening ride for older children who can comfortably stay up after sunset.
- Bring a light jacket because the waterfront can cool quickly.
- Use the restroom before boarding; pedal boats do not have onboard facilities.
Museums, Murals, and Creative Indoor Activities
The Long Beach Museum of Art offers family artmaking, stroller tours, and other programs connected to its exhibitions. Family ArtMaking is a free drop-in program, but its frequency changes by season. Check the current calendar rather than assuming it occurs every weekend.
The Museum of Latin American Art presents exhibitions, workshops, guided tours, and family events. Sunday admission and event terms can vary, so confirm the current program, ticket, and parking details before visiting.
For an outdoor art activity, follow part of the Long Beach Walls mural network. Artists connected with the program have created more than 150 public murals across the city. Use the current mural map and choose a compact cluster rather than expecting young children to walk the entire collection.
The ranchos and aquarium also work well when the family wants structured learning. On a very hot or rainy day, use the aquarium or a scheduled museum program as the main activity and treat murals as an optional weather-dependent stop.
Long Beach families can combine marine science, public art, local history, beaches, and nature trails without turning every day into a long drive across Southern California.
Family-Friendly Eats and Where to Stay
Near Rainbow Harbor, Tequila Jack’s offers waterfront Mexican food close to the aquarium and Shoreline Village. Long Beach Creamery is a local dessert option, while The Hangar at Long Beach Exchange and SteelCraft provide several vendors in shared seating areas.
The Hangar is near Long Beach Airport rather than the downtown waterfront, and SteelCraft is in Bixby Knolls. Both are better when their locations fit the day’s route; neither is a quick walk from the aquarium.
For an overnight visit, compare hotels by location, room layout, pool access, refrigerator availability, parking charges, and walking distance rather than relying only on the nightly rate.
- Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach: Close to the aquarium, Pike Outlets, restaurants, and downtown waterfront.
- Hyatt Regency Long Beach: Waterfront location with a pool and easy access to Rainbow Lagoon, Shoreline Village, and the aquarium.
- Marriott Long Beach Downtown: Central downtown base for restaurants, transit, and waterfront attractions.
- Hotel Maya: Resort-like waterfront setting across Queensway Bay; confirm current transportation options before booking.
Pro Tip: Add hotel parking, destination fees, breakfast, and the cost of moving between neighborhoods before deciding which room is least expensive overall.
Long Beach Family Itineraries
One-Day Waterfront Itinerary
- Morning: Spend three to four hours at the Aquarium of the Pacific.
- Lunch: Eat at Shoreline Village or another nearby waterfront restaurant.
- Afternoon: Choose a short harbor cruise, one-hour swan boat rental, or short family-cycle ride.
- Evening: Walk around Rainbow Harbor, see nearby murals, or return to the hotel pool.
This plan keeps driving to a minimum and gives families several exit points when younger children become tired.
Two-Day Family Itinerary
Day one: Follow the waterfront itinerary at a slower pace. Do not schedule both whale watching and the aquarium unless your children are comfortable with a long, structured day.
Day two: Visit Mother’s Beach or El Dorado Nature Center in the morning. Add one rancho, a museum program, or a Naples gondola ride in the afternoon.
Catalina Day-Trip Itinerary
Reserve an early outbound ferry and a return that leaves a reasonable buffer before children’s bedtime. Keep the island plan simple: playground or beach, lunch, one reserved activity, and time near the terminal before boarding. Do not combine Catalina with aquarium tickets on the same day.
Practical Planning for Families
Parking and Transportation
Downtown attractions use separate parking structures and lots with different rates. Confirm whether an attraction validates parking and whether the garage remains open after an evening activity. The Catalina Express terminal uses its own parking arrangements.
Long Beach Transit and rideshare services can reduce repeated parking, but a child safety seat may still be needed. Do not assume every rideshare vehicle carries one.
Accessibility and Sensory Needs
The aquarium, museums, waterfront paths, and ferry terminals provide many accessible features, but the exact experience depends on the activity. Historic homes may have stairs, garden routes can include uneven surfaces, and boats may require transfers or have narrow passages.
Contact the attraction before buying nonrefundable tickets when a family member needs wheelchair space, mobility assistance, reduced-noise hours, captioning, service-animal arrangements, or a specific restroom setup.
Restrooms and Changing Areas
Major ticketed attractions generally provide visitor restrooms, and public facilities are available at many parks and beach areas. Availability, opening hours, and changing tables are not uniform. Use the restroom before boat rentals, bike rides, and trail walks, and ask attraction staff for the nearest family or accessible restroom.
What to Pack
- Refillable water bottles and easy snacks
- Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses
- A wind layer for boats and evening waterfront activities
- Closed-toe shoes for cycling, ranchos, trails, or adventure tours
- A compact stroller that folds easily
- Motion-sickness supplies when recommended by your health professional
- A change of clothes for beach or water-play days
- Portable battery power for tickets, maps, and rideshare access
Sources
- Aquarium of the Pacific — Exhibits — current exhibit count and visitor experiences
- City of Long Beach — Bike Paths — official beach path length, endpoints, and lane layout
- Rancho Los Alamitos — Plan Your Visit — hours, reservations, tours, and admission
- Rancho Los Cerritos — Your Visit — admission, public hours, tours, and group policies
- Catalina Express — Travel Policies — seating, stroller handling, and ticket changes
- City of Long Beach — Recreational Water Samples — water-quality advisories and after-rain precautions
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there medical facilities or urgent care clinics near family attractions?
Long Beach has urgent care clinics, pediatric practices, pharmacies, and hospital emergency departments. Availability and wait times change, so use your insurer’s directory or a current map to identify the appropriate facility. Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency rather than driving to urgent care.
What stroller and wheelchair access is available at major attractions?
The aquarium, museums, waterfront paths, and ferry terminals offer accessible features, but boats, historic homes, beaches, and garden paths can have activity-specific limits. Catalina Express requires children to be removed from strollers before boarding, and historic rancho upper floors may not be wheelchair accessible. Contact the venue when a specific accommodation is essential.
How can families stay safe around tides and ocean currents?
Swim near a lifeguard, keep young children within arm’s reach, obey posted flags, and ask the lifeguard about current conditions. If caught in a rip current, do not fight directly against it; float or tread water, signal for help, and move parallel to shore when able. Avoid water contact for at least 72 hours after significant rain in Long Beach.
Where can families find public restrooms and changing tables?
Ticketed attractions such as the aquarium and museums provide visitor restrooms, and many parks and beach areas have public facilities. Changing tables and opening hours vary. Ask staff before leaving a major attraction, and use the restroom before boat rides, bike rentals, and nature trails.
Can groceries, diapers, or pharmacy items be delivered to a Long Beach hotel?
Major grocery and pharmacy delivery platforms serve much of Long Beach, but coverage, product availability, prescription rules, and delivery times depend on the address. Confirm that the hotel accepts guest deliveries and ask how refrigerated items or prescription orders are handled.
What are the best free things to do in Long Beach with kids?
Good free or low-cost options include the gardens and standard public admission at Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos, public murals, Shoreline Aquatic Park, Mother’s Beach, beach walks, and El Dorado Nature Center for visitors arriving on foot or bicycle. Parking and special events may still have fees.
Is Catalina Island suitable for toddlers?
It can be, but the ferry, fixed return time, stroller handling, and full-day schedule require more planning than a downtown Long Beach outing. Keep the island itinerary simple, bring a foldable stroller, and avoid stacking several timed tours into the same day.
Conclusion
Long Beach works especially well for families because its biggest waterfront attractions are close together, while beaches, historic sites, museums, and nature trails add variety beyond downtown. Start with one anchor activity, reserve anything with a fixed departure time, and leave space for meals and rest. With accurate expectations and basic water and transportation planning, families can enjoy Long Beach without trying to fit every attraction into one exhausting day.