I grew up in Southern California but rarely think to be a tourist in cities I frequent occasionally. I’ve had plenty of fun times in Long Beach from my high school years to my 20’s and 30’s. My aunt and uncle also have a home on Naples Canal and every year we celebrate Christmas holiday at their home on the day of the boat parade.
Recently, I was invited by the Long Beach Convention and Visitors bureau to spend a day touring a few end-of-summer highlights with a group of other SoCal bloggers.
I arrived noonish to check into The Westin Hotel Long Beach which is expansive, beautiful and centrally located to many hotspots in Long Beach. My room had a great view of the harbor, truly breathtaking.
Our day started with light bites at the Long Beach CVB offices then a walk across the street to take in the new murals painted on buildings and structures as part of the POW! WOW! festival. POW! WOW! brings art and culture to public spaces by beautifying the city while cultivating community pride. It’s a worldwide series of street art events, which has brought murals to public spaces to cities like Honolulu, Seoul, Washington DC, Taipei and Tokyo.
These massive murals are truly impressive. We had fun trying to be part of the art as you can see from me and Tillie of My Stiletto Life in the photos below.
After mural hopping, our Insta-group was escorted to Naples Canal for a gondola ride through the canals. Mind you I’ve walked throughout the canals by foot but never have experienced the gondola. This is something that screams romance during sunset hours.
Our gondolier-slash-guide, Guiseppe (I don’t think that’s his real name, LOL) shared a wealth of information about the canals. I found myself internally saying, “I never knew that” or “Wow, who knew?” after everything he said. Of course at the end of the ride he sang in Italian as if we were on a gondola ride in Venice, Italy.
As the sun was starting to slowly set on the horizon, we caught the final night of Savor & Stroll which happens annually in Belmont Shores off 2nd Street. This is Long Beach’s version of a Taste festival where you buy tickets to savor a specialty item from participating restaurants and eateries. Instead of popping by booths in a localized area, you stroll up and down 2nd street where you’re directly outside of each venue that’s participating. Now this is savvy eats!
Be warned, you can fill up pretty quickly so bring an appetite and share some items that way you can try everything. My favorite pit stop, Snow Monster. I did eat actual food but this place is super cute and I love Boba teas. Their presentation is phenomenal AND tasty. I could barely finish my Coconut Thai Tea boba drink. It’s a meal in itself!
My night ended back in my quiet and clean room at the Westin Hotel. Just when I was ready to settle in, I noticed a little sign on the mirror in the bathroom that mentions you can rent workout wear if you forgot your own. After stuffing my face and fueled with caffeine from my Thai tea, heck why not? I don’t know if most hotels offer this or I just never paid attention before, but I love it!
In the morning I felt refreshed from a good night’s sleep. The bed was comfy and plush. Thank goodness because I’m a stickler for comfy beds. If the bed isn’t comfortable I’ll either ask for a bed topper or another room and sometimes check into a different hotel. No joke. The hospitality was amazing at The Westin Long Beach. If you are a Marriott rewards member, don’t forget to get your points here!
Unfortunately, I had to head back to San Diego in the morning so I couldn’t walk around other cool spots I discovered while driving through town. I will be back!
*Thank you to Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Westin Hotel Long Beach for your gracious hospitality.