Mayor's Welcome

I invite you to explore Long Beach’s amazing blend of urban sophistication, year-round outdoor activities and laid back, beachy vibes. Kayak, kite surf, swim, sail or just soak in the sunny skies and moderate climate served up all year. With everything from fine dining to friendly pubs, our food scene is among the most diverse and exciting in the nation.

Stroll Retro Row, the hip shopping and dining district that celebrates old school cool, or take in Bixby Knolls’ mom-and-pop shops and award-winning craft breweries that earned it the nickname, “Brewery Knolls.” From Uptown Long Beach (with attractions like the Uptown Commons food hall, DeForest Wetlands and much more) to the beachfront shopping and dining district of Belmont Shore and Naples, Long Beach is full of unique corridors and neighborhoods to explore.

In Long Beach, you’ll find one-of-a-kind attractions like the Aquarium of the Pacific (the largest in Southern California), the historic RMS Queen Mary, Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach Museum of Art, two historic ranchos (Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos), Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, and the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum.

We are also proudly home to many cultural events, including the annual Long Beach Pride Parade & Festival, the Cambodia Town Parade & Culture Festival, the Long Beach Marathon, and the largest Juneteenth festival in Southern California.

With an award-winning boutique Convention & Entertainment Center, Long Beach has played host to incredible conferences and events over the years, including TED, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, ComplexCon, Olympic trials, and many others. The Center’s theaters are often host to internationally renowned talent like Bob Dylan, Ali Wong, Ringo Starr, and many other musical, theatrical and comedic acts.

Art, in all its forms, is a mainstay of the city. The world knows us as a city of rock, rap and hip hop stars, but we are also home to one of the nation’s most honored symphonies, a groundbreaking opera company, and many other incredible performing arts groups. Our city streets are alive with color thanks to our annual international mural festival, Long Beach Walls.

Consistently ranked as one of the most walkable and bikable cities in America, visiting Long Beach sustainably is easy with Long Beach Transit and citywide e-scooter and bike rental programs.

My welcome could continue on and on – with 50 square miles and a population of half million residents, there is so much to see and do, it’s impossible to put it all to one page. I encourage you to look around www.visitlongbeach.com to learn more about all the things to see and do, and to plan out your itinerary.

I love this city. Like so many young people, Long Beach welcomed me, empowered and encouraged me to do my best, to set down roots and ultimately build a family that enjoys and contributes to a community that strives to be a better place for residents and visitors alike.I've seen the results of what happens when neighbors come together and create change – I see it every day right here in my home city. I can’t wait for you to see it too.

Welcome to Long Beach!

Rex Richardson
Mayor