One thing is for sure: tensions and stresses dissolve in this laid-back, friendly city. Feeling romantic? Cruise the canals of Naples (that's right, Naples Island in Long Beach) in a genuine Venetian gondola. Take the kids to the waterfront entertainment complex with rides and live performances or to the farming demonstrations at Rancho Los Alamitos. At one time a less-than-appealing place to visit, Long Beach has transformed itself into an upscale tourist resort, with many waterfront attractions, including a new, state-of-the-art aquarium with a fabulous shark exhibit, two excellent art museums, charming shops, public golf courses, the annual April Grand Prix international auto race and lots of recreational activities along its eight-mile stretch of beach. The Pechanga Resort and Casino has one of the largest casino floors in California with a total of 188,000 square feet filled with 4,000 slot machines, 154 table games, a 38-table non-smoking poker room, and a 700-seat bingo area. But for everyone, a visit to this floating hotel and museum is a must on any trip to Long Beach.
Others, particularly the younger set, are entranced by the spine-tingling haunted ship stories on the nighttime ghost tour. For some, a tour of the Queen Mary, docked here since its retirement in 1967, evokes waves of nostalgia for the days of the huge ocean liner with its opulent rooms, 1930s deco décor and teakwood decks.
