Long Beach, California

It's no coincidence that multiple generations have packed up their lives, thrown a copy of the Beach Boys in the tape, CD or MP3 player and taken off for the paradise that is Long Beach. Located just outside of Los Angeles, life in Long Beach allows residents to feel simultaneously a part of one of the world's major urban centers while providing the much-envied Californian surf and sun.

It's impossible to discuss Long Beach without referring to the beaches that give it its name. First developed under the name of Willmore City in 1882, the sandy stretches along the 11-mile (17-kilometer) oceanfront offer beautiful views, a bicycle/pedestrian path, concessions, and a fishing pier. Belmont Plaza Beach hosts beach volleyball events while Belmont Shore Beach has excellent long tracts of white sand.

Although it certainly is fun basking in the sun, running into the ocean, and then lying in the sun again, eventually you'll want to do something different. Fortunately, there's a plethora of activities that ensure paradise never becomes mundane. Sport fishing is a big deal here. Trips out of Pierpoint Landing offer everything from catching barracuda to peaceful whale watching. Long Beach also serves as the major conduit to Catalina Island, a major vacation destination offering fine dining, casinos, and extreme sports. The city also hosts the Long Beach Triathlon keeping competitors of all ages and abilities busy training year-round. And if you need to relax after all that activity, there are seven day-spas to take advantage of.

There is no lack of cultural and intellectual stimulation here either. The landmark Long Beach Playhouse has been entertaining audiences for 75 years. This theatre has been complimented by the new Carpenter Performing Arts Center – a multifaceted facility with a 1,074-seat theatre, which is able to accommodate a variety of art forms.

With more sun and fun than most destinations and a vibrant and healthy arts community, convincing people to move to Long Beach is not difficult. Whether you want to improve your tan or your overall day-to-day life, Long Beach is the place for you.

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