Alamitos Heights

Originally first inhabited in the early 1920s, Alamitos Heights is an attractive Long Beach community that is well-suited for both families and individuals looking for a quieter lifestyle. Bordering the Belmont Height neighborhood to the north, this charming community was mainly constructed during the 1930 to 1950 time period.

As such, the Alamitos Heights community boasts of a variety of unique architecture styles that include beautiful Spanish-style homes, expansive two story colonial homes, and ranch- style single story homes. Furthermore, the neighborhoods in this area are beautifully landscaped and boast of a park-like feel.

With respect to proximity to recreational areas, Alamitos Heights is renowned for its many amenities and in fact, this neighborhood is located directly on the edge of Recreation Park. Recreation Park, itself, is one of the city’s largest parks and its many outstanding features include tennis courts, lawn bowling areas, baseball fields, a dog park, and a casting pond.

For individuals who wish to pursue athletic and artistic pursuits, a well-organized community center offers classes in these areas. Further, for those people who enjoy a challenging round of golf or two, the area boasts of not one – but two golf courses. The Recreation Park Public Golf Course is a regulation-sized eighteen-hole golf course that also offers practice greens, a night-lighted driving range and a high quality restaurant. The second golf course is conveniently located right across the street from the Recreation Park Public Golf Course and contains a nine-hole golf course called Recreation Park South. Of course, the area is also close to other amenities that include the Marine Stadium, Marina Vista Park, and many fine restaurants and shops.

Spinnaker Bay

Located north of Naples and east of Belmont Shore, this community is surrounded by the sparkling waters of Spinnaker Cove and Spinnaker Bay. Ideally located close to the marina and the romantic canals of Naples, the Spinnaker Bay area offers individuals who live here a waterfront living lifestyle with many spectacular water views.

The area offers a variety of elegant homes for individuals – including luxurious town houses and Mediterranean-style waterfront homes. Moreover, Spinnaker Bay is close to the California State University – and a plethora of quality entertainment, dining, and shopping destinations.Additionally, for individuals who love to boat, you can easily boat to the charming Naples canals, Catalina Island or even gorgeous San Diego and Santa Barbara on a whim.

Spinnaker Bay is also conveniently located near freeways and the community is also only a twenty-four mile drive to the Los Angeles Airport LAX and a nineteen mile drive to John Wayne Airport. Moreover, Long Beach also has its own airport and regularly offers flights to popular destinations on a regular basis.

Park Estates

A truly prestigious neighborhood, Park Estates is ideally located near Cal State Long Beach.Located in the eastern section of Long Beach, this tranquil area is an excellent location for a wide range of people – including families, professionals, and retired individuals alike. Boasting of some of the grandest homes and lots in the city, this restful community is a without a doubt a sought-after location for individuals with discerning tastes.

In fact, many of the lots available in Park Estates range in size from a generous eight thousand square feet to well over thirty-two thousand feet. As such, not surprisingly, this renowned area also contains some beautifully landscaped yards. Moreover, most of the homes on the tree-lined streets in this area range in size from 2200 to well over 3300 square feet. However, to cater to people who like less expansive living spaces, there are a few homes with about 1800 square feet of living space.

Moreover, while this esteemed community may be small – occupying just over half a square mile– the Park Estates area is definitely an impressive one with plenty of green space that includes two parks – namely the Boulton Creek Park and Los Altos Plaza Park. All in all then, the prominent Park Estates neighborhood is definitely a sought after area in Long Beach, California.

Naples

Located on three different islands in Alamitos Bay, Naples is without a doubt one of the more unique communities in Long Beach, California. Founded in 1903, the picturesque man-made islands in Naples were officially completed in the 1920s. That said, one cannot help but draw comparisons of this lovely community to Venice, Italy as the islands are divided into canals with five charming Venetian-style bridges – and yes,romantic gondola rides are available. To further add to this European theme, many of the streets in Naples have Italian names and the center of Naples boasts of a gorgeous fountain.

Today, Naples is one of the more affluent neighborhoods in Long Beach and many of these luxurious properties have waterfront frontage. With respect to the architecture itself here, you can expect to find a wide variety of architectural styles here– including both traditional and contemporary styles. Moreover, Naples’ residents can enjoy recreational activities that include boating and kayaking. Additionally, Naples is within walking distance to beach bike paths, surfing at Seal Beach and the best shopping,dining, and nightlife in Long Beach.

Downtown Long Beach

Recently revitalized, downtown Long Beach borders the majestic Pacific Ocean to the south, the grand Los Angeles River to the west, 7th Street to the north and Alamitos Avenue to the east.Without a doubt a vibrant place to live, the downtown area boasts of affordable new and newly renovated condo developments – including sought-after beachfront condos, New York City inspired loft complexes, charming bungalows and elegant apartments. For those people who are looking for character homes, the Historic district boasts of gorgeous Victorian homes and Craftsman-style cottages.

The downtown area is home to quality dining establishments, a farmers market, unique retail shops, music festivals and more. The downtown area is also close to a wide net of popular attractions that include the Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach Sports Arena, The Queen Mary and others.

Moreover, the downtown area is a wireless hot zone – and it is home to new entertainment complexes and shopping centers for your convenience. The downtown Long Beach area is home to many larger hotels, the Long Beach Area Convention Center – with the latter boasting of a 224,000 square foot hall with over 80,000 square feet of space for various meetings. Further,since the Long Beach Airport is so close, many people value this convenience.

With respect to green space, the downtown area is home to Lincoln Park – the oldest park in all of Long Beach, California. Rich in history, the park is home to a Japanese garden, an Andrew Carnegie funded library, a dog part, picnic areas and other amenities.

Belmont Shore

Located near the southernmost part of Long Beach – between Naples and Bluff Park -Belmont Shore is a bustling seaside community. The quaint community also features two beautiful beaches, a pier, and a diverse beachfront community. Moreover, the community is close to the beach at Bay Shore – a well protected family oriented beach.This beach is also very close to a diverse mix of quality restaurants and nightlife.Additionally, Belmont Shore also boasts of its very own shopping district and business community.

Many people enjoy taking advantage of the paved bike path whether it is by biking, inline skating, jogging, or walking methods. There is also free fishing available at the Belmont Memorial Pier, a Jet Ski launch ramp, beach volleyball courts, the Belmont Pool and other great activities for people who enjoy an active lifestyle.

Some of the many festivals that occur here on an annual basis include the Belmont Shore Community Chocolate Festival on Second Street – which features live music, decadent chocolate dessert contests, pie eating contests, and anything related to chocolate. Other activities include Dine & Stroll food events and the December annual holiday parade.

Overall, this place is such a beloved one that when people move from the area, they still pine for this unique and active waterfront area.

Long Beach

The coastal neighborhood is bounded by Junipero Avenue on the east, Shoreline Drive and Alamitos Boulevard on the west, Fourth Street on the north, and Ocean Boulevard on the south.Surrounding communities include the East Village Arts District to the west, Hellman to the north and Bluff Park to the east, with a wide sandy beach along the Pacific Ocean to the south.

Climate
Due to its coastal location next to the Pacific Ocean, temperatures in Alamitos Beach are moderate throughout the year. Heat and humidity rarely coincide, making heat waves more tolerable than they would be otherwise. Temperature highs typically range from the low-80s F°in the summertime, 70s F° during the spring and fall, and 60s in the winter.
As in most locations in Southern California, rainfall occurs largely during the winter months.Storms can bring heavy rainfall, but Alamitos Beach receives less precipitation than locations adjacent to the San Gabriel or San Bernardino mountains further inland, whose rainfall is enhanced by orographic lift.

Characteristics
The coastal neighborhood is mainly dense residential, with large condominium buildings along the beach and smaller condominiums, apartment buildings, and single family residences as one moves inland. A public beach is within short walking distance of all residences with some buildings having direct access. The beach includes the Long Beach bicycle path that starts at Shoreline Village and ends in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach.
The neighborhood was laid out in the 1920s, and many of its buildings date back to that era. Asa result, the experience of living here is to feel the human scale of its often-quaint two-story-building setting, and with many conveniences only a short walk away. The urban yet human-scale neighborhood makes this section of Long Beach unique among beach communities in Los Angeles and neighboring Orange Counties.
Alamitos Bay Beach is located in Long Beach, California. Access to this beach is not readily known outside the local area as there are no hotels along the Long Beach peninsula where the beach can be accessed. In the summer, the beach fills with local kids attending camps.

From kayaking to kite surfing, sailboat lessons to basketball, the beach offers a variety of activities and rentals. This a kids vacation paradise, though most the children are local kids who take are accustomed to a beach lifestyle. Children living on the Long Beach peninsula, Naples Island and Belmont Shore have access to the beaches on daily basis and boy, do they enjoy their beaches!

At Alamitos Bay Beach, you’ll find lifeguards on duty in the summer. As the long, warm days heat up the beach activities, the cooler nights bring out romantics who come to this beach to board the Naples gondola rides. Actually, many families ride the gondolas and we’ve discovered that the gondola experience is fantastic for birthdays, family gatherings or a leisurely ride around the bay, steered by a gondolier who will sing for you. Birthday parties can be planned at Alamitos Bay Beach through the concessionaire with the tiki-themed building and carved statues that sit out on the beach.

We love this beach because it is old-fashioned, intimate and located in a protected bay away from the powerful Pacific Ocean waves. In the winter months around November, you’ll see light displays on platforms in the bay that herald the holidays. In this bay is the beloved Naples Boat Parade, held usually the second Saturday in December. After the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade is held on Second Street, you know the Naples Boat Parade will be coming within a week or two.

For those seeking a great beach that’s slightly out of reach from view, you have to navigate to Ocean Avenue in Long Beach and head south toward the peninsula.

Nightlife
It is known for its vibrant nightlife, and for its significant LGBT community. The Broadway Corridor business district in Alamitos Beach, is home to many well-established gay bars,restaurants and other businesses that are gay-owned. Bars serving a largely LGBT clientèle include The Paradise Piano Bar, The Brit Pub, The Mine Shaft, and The Falcon. The 4th Street Corridor, along the constituting northern border of Alamitos Beach, is where straight bars like The V-Room, and The Pike Bar & Fish Grill are located. The shops and restaurants along Shoreline Village and the Pike are also within walking distance.

Events
Ocean Blvd is the home of many city events including the Long Beach Marathon, the Long Beach Pride Parade. the Amgen Tour of California Bike Race to name a few.