20 Fun Free Things to Do in Long Beach, CA

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Long Beach is one of the best places to visit on the West Coast of the United States. Located in Southern California, this beautiful town has many attractions that will appeal to all types of travelers. Conveniently, if you're traveling on a budget, you can still find an array of things to do at no cost.

Fun free things to do in Long Beach, CA, include spending time on the beach and following trails around parks. You can also visit some attractions for free, like the El Dorado Nature Center and the Museum of Latin American Art. To discover all the exciting free Long Beach activities you can try, read on for 20 suggestions!

Planning a last-minute trip to Long Beach?

Before traveling to Long Beach, book your accommodations and experiences ahead of time. See the short list of top suggestions below.

🏨 Top accommodations in Long Beach

• Hyatt Centric the Pike Long Beach (rated highly)
• The Cove Hotel (relax by the pool)
• Hyatt Regency Long Beach (4-star rating)

☂️ Top tours and experiences in Long Beach

• Five-Hour Private Los Angeles Hollywood Day Trip (rated highly)
• Skip the Ticketing Line - Aquarium of the Pacific General Admission Ticket
• Catalina Express Round-Trip Ferry Service - Long Beach or San Pedro to Avalon
• Shared Eight Hours Los Angeles City Sightseeing Tour From Long Beach
• Swan Boat Rental at Rainbow Lagoon

20 Fun Things to Do in Long Beach for Free

Fun Things to Do in Long Beach for Free

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Go kayaking in Belmont Shore

The Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach is known for its lagoons and canals. If you have your own kayaking or paddleboard equipment, going here to sail on the water is a must.

As you paddle down the canals, you can admire the surrounding views, complete with plants, palm trees, and quaint seaside-style houses.

🏨 Place to stay close to Belmont Shore

• Hotel Current (highly acclaimed)

Look around the Long Beach Antique Market

One of the most popular weekend attractions in Long Beach is the Long Beach Antique Market. Many even call it "the best flea market in the US!"

The open-air market has an array of vendors selling antique furniture, jewelry, decor items, and more. Walking around the market and discovering all the unique pieces for sale is a fun and free thing to do.

Tour Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens

Located about 20 minutes from Central Long Beach, Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens is a must-visit free attraction. Rancho Los Alamitos opened in 1834 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

The seven-and-a-half-acre site features the ranch house and pretty gardens. During a visit, you can tour the ranch and learn more about its history. You'll also find out more about the land the ranch sits on, which has been inhabited in some capacity for thousands of years.

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See the Queen Mary

One of the most interesting attractions in Long Beach is the Queen Mary. Docked in Queensway Bay, the vintage ocean liner houses a hotel, bars, and restaurants.

While you must pay for a room or a meal and drinks to go on the boat, you can view it in the harbor for free. When in the area, be sure to snap some pictures of this unique Long Beach landmark.

☂️ Discover The Queen Mary on a tour

• Private Helicopter Tour Over Long Beach (high demand)

🏨 Nearest accommodations to The Queen Mary

• Hyatt Centric the Pike Long Beach (well-rated)
• The Westin Long Beach (relax by the pool)

Admire artworks at the Museum of Latin American Art

The Museum of Latin American Art, or MOLAA, is one of the places to go in Long Beach for free that you must make time to visit. While there is usually an admission fee, the Museum of Latin American Art hosts free Sunday events.

Founded in 1996, the museum is the only gallery in the US dedicated to contemporary Latin American art. During a visit, you'll see 1,500 works, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures.

Do note that making a reservation is recommended if you want to attend the free Sunday event. You can do so easily on the MOLAA website.

🏨 Places to stay near Museum of Latin American Art MOLAA

• Renaissance Long Beach Hotel (take it easy by the pool)
• Hyatt Regency Long Beach (4-star rating)

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Catch a free show at Laugh Factory

Laugh Factory is a much-loved comedy venue in Long Beach. The attraction hosts various comedians, including world-famous acts and local performers.

Although many of the shows cost money to see, Laugh Factory frequently hosts free events. Simply visit their website to determine when free comedy shows are being held.

If a free event is on when you're in the area, going to the show is a must! As many of the performers at these events are up-and-coming comedians, you may discover a new favorite act.

🏨 Accommodations close to the Laugh Factory

• Beachrunners Inn
• Best Western Plus Hotel at the Convention Center

Relax on Alamitos Beach

Long Beach is one of the best beach towns in California. Due to this, you can find a selection of great beaches to hang out on in the area. Best of all, doing so is free!

Alamitos Beach is one of the most popular in Long Beach. It has a soft sandy shore and calm, warm water to swim in. On the beach, you can sunbathe or chat with friends and family. Watching the sunset here is a great idea too.

🏨 Accommodations in close proximity to Alamitos Beach

• Hotel Royal
• Courtyard by Marriott Long Beach Downtown

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Watch the sunset from Belmont Pier

One of the best places to enjoy Long Beach's ocean views is from Belmont Pier. Also known as the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, the attraction is at the end of Long Beach City Beach.

As you walk down the pier, you'll be able to take in the surrounding views of the sparkling ocean and sandy beaches. This location is also another perfect place to watch the sunrise or sunset. After walking on the pier, you can spend some time relaxing on the sand and appreciating the views some more.

Check out the Thursday Night Market

Another of the fun things to do in Long Beach, CA, for free is going to the Thursday Night Market. The market is held on Thursdays between 3rd and 4th Street on the Promenade. It begins at 5 PM and closes at 9 PM.

At the market, you'll discover lots of local vendors. Things for sale include clothing, craft items, pottery and art, baked goods, and much more. Walking around the market and looking at all the products on offer is a fun activity, even if you don't buy.

You can also enjoy the bustling market atmosphere. Thursday Night Market is very family-friendly, and dogs are welcome too.

🏨 Nearest accommodations to 300 The Promenade N

• Hilton Long Beach (unwind poolside)
• Hotel Maya A Doubletree Hotel

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Walk along the Naples Canals

Naples Island is located next to Belmont Shore. It's known for the scenic canals that surround it, called the Naples Canals. Walking on the banks of these canals is a popular free activity to enjoy when in Long Beach.

As you stroll along, you can admire the views and will likely spot boats and even gondolas. Charming seaside homes also line the canals, adding to the beachy atmosphere. As these canals look most scenic in the beautiful weather, the best time to visit Long Beach to go to the Naples Canals during the spring or summer.

🏨 Stay in close proximity to the Naples Canal

• The Pacific Inn (top-rated)

Immerse yourself in nature at the El Dorado Nature Center

One of the best free things to do in Long Beach, California, for outdoor enthusiasts is going to the El Dorado Nature Center. The 105-acre attraction has scenic trails, woodland areas, streams, and lakes.

You'll also see wildlife while exploring the nature center. Animals to see include numerous species of birds, plus frogs, rabbits, and squirrels, among many others. Do note that this attraction is only free for those entering on foot or bike. If you want to drive in and park, there is an entrance fee.

🏨 Accommodations close to El Dorado Nature Center

• Best Western Los Alamitos Inn & Suites
• Ayres Hotel Seal Beach (rated highly)

Wander around Rainbow Lagoon Park

You can discover numerous free activities in Long Beach, CA, that allow you to enjoy the outdoors. A fun outdoor activity to enjoy is exploring Rainbow Lagoon Park.

The pretty Japanese-style park has a lagoon, plus water features and pretty tropical plants. You can rent swan pedal boats to take out on the water, too; however, there is a fee to do so. If visiting the area with your partner, walking around Rainbow Lagoon Park is also one of the many romantic things for couples to do in Long Beach.

🏨 Stay near Rainbow Lagoon Park

• Residence Inn Long Beach Downtown

Take your pup to Rosie's Dog Beach

Are you traveling with your dog? If so, make sure you go to Rosie's Dog Beach. This attraction is the only dog beach in the area and is, of course, free to visit. You can hang out on the beach with dogs between 6 AM and 8 PM.

At the beach, your dog can enjoy playing on the sand and swimming in the calm waters. This spot is also popular amongst local dog owners, so your pup is almost guaranteed to find some other dogs to play with. For those not visiting with a dog, you could still head to the beach to watch the adorable canines playing!

Bike on the Rainbow Harbor Esplanade

Biking or walking along the Rainbow Harbor Esplanade is another of the free fun things to do in Long Beach. Located next to Rainbow Lagoon Park, the esplanade runs next to the waterfront and offers scenic views.

As you make your way down the esplanade, you'll be able to watch boats and yachts come in and out of the harbor. You'll also pass attractions like Shoreline Village and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Rainbow Harbor Esplanade is also another of the many places to enjoy the sunrise and sunset in Long Beach.

Hang out on Long Beach City Beach

Long Beach City Beach is the area's main beach. Like other beaches in Long Beach, it has beautiful sandy shores and tranquil water to swim in. Long Beach City Beach is also a popular place to surf, and there is a boardwalk to walk or cycle along. After a day at the beach, you can walk on Belmont Pier and watch the sunset.

Explore Shoreline Aquatic Park

Shoreline Aquatic Park is a grassy park found next to the downtown marina. It has many places to sit and relax with friends or share a picnic. Shoreline Aquatic Park is known for being a great birdwatching spot too.

When in the park, you can also follow some palm tree-lined trails which offer scenic views. In addition, you can see The Lion Lighthouse, which is a Long Beach landmark.

Let your kids play at Bayshore Playground

If you're in Long Beach with kids, taking them to Bayshore Playground is a fun and affordable thing to do. The playground is on the edge of Belmont Shore by Bayshore Beach.

At the playground, your children can play on jungle gyms, slides, and swings. There are also basketball, tennis, and handball courts. After enjoying the playground, you can spend some time on the sand at Bayshore Beach.

Window shop at Shoreline Village

Shoreline Village is an open-air shopping mall on the harbor front. The quaint seaside shopping area houses an array of specialty shops to explore.

Outlets sell clothing and accessories, home decor items, souvenirs, and more. Going to the village to look around the shops is highly recommended. Even if you don't plan to purchase anything, browsing and seeing all the unique pieces for sale is a fun experience in itself.

Visit Colorado Lagoon

Going to Colorado Lagoon is another of the things to do for free in Long Beach. The park is located near California State University and is a great place to relax in the fresh air.

During a visit, you can follow trails around the lagoon and will likely see model boats sailing on the water. There's also a children's playground to go to if traveling with little ones. Colorado Lagoon is next to Recreation Park. This park has another kid's playground, a dog park, and a golf course.

Fun Things to Do Near Long Beach for Free

Spend the day at Huntington Beach

If you have a car or can catch a lift, going to Huntington Beach for the day is highly recommended. Although the beach is in Orange County, you can reach it in 35 minutes when driving.

Huntington Beach is a well-known surfing spot that also has sandy shores to relax on. Along with surfing and sunbathing, you can play beach games and explore the surrounding area.

Another of the great things to do in Orange County is walking down the Huntington Beach Pier. The landmark pier is 1,850 feet long, making it one of the longest piers on the West Coast. Walking on the pier allows you to admire the surrounding ocean and seaside views.

🏨 Accommodations nearby Huntington Beach

• Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort (top-rated)
• Paséa Hotel & Spa (near the waterside)

In Summary

As you can see, there's an array of fun and free stuff to do in Long Beach, CA. Activities to enjoy at no cost include going to beaches, exploring parks, and window shopping at malls and markets. Long Beach has something for everyone, from solo travelers to couples and families.

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