River's End Park in Seal Beach is 6.2 acres of scenic views with trails for walking, running, or…read morebiking. There are picnic areas with a covered gazebo and benches throughout the trail to rest. There is street parking in the area. Depending on how long you're staying keep an eye on the signs because some streets are limited to 1 hour while some streets don't have a limit. I have a new found appreciation for this park, and parks similar to it. I thought it was all natural, but turns out it takes a lot of volunteers to maintain it for the public to enjoy. I came here with a group of passionate volunteers on a weekend and we helped plant new flowers and herbs, and removed weeds. I think I'm better at removing weeds than planting flowers. Despite it being a scorching hot day, it felt very rewarding that we were able to give back to a beautiful public space for all to enjoy. I would definitely want to come back here for a picnic and walk to the beach after. The views are romantic and stunning.

2/19/25 Beautiful, stunning, serene & uplifting…read more Hubby & I have passed by this park numerous times & I am surprised it's not on Yelp (but Google has it). It is located exactly where IT IS, at the River's End. The San Gabriel River. This park is on 1st Street & Ocean Way & right before the entrance to The Beach House Restaurant. The San Gabriel Trail begins/ends here as well. Plenty of cement benches/tables are available to provide areas for picnic. There is an area dedicated for tots to run around (non playground), too. Parking is in the neighborhood or you may opt to pay for parking at the lot of The Beach House. Public restrooms available next to this restaurant. Definitely worth a visit, although small, it is picturesque as it is located by the beach.

A beautiful lagoon that has walking path and plenty of green and a crossing bridge from the north…read moreto south end. I saw people swam in the lagoon. It's a lovely place to walked around and enjoy the day or evening or whatever you're for. There are benches for you to sit and do work or have a picnic. It's next to the golf course and neighborhood area and nearby a cafe place with delish food.

Visited the Colorado Lagoon to search for bioluminescent fireworms on an April evening about thirty…read moreminutes after sunset by the dock. When I arrived, there were already people lined up along the edge, quietly focused on searching for a glowing line that moved like a worm. Parents had brought their children, making it an all ages event. The sight was captivating as the fireworms swarmed near the surface of the water for a few seconds before diving back in. It is said that these creatures rise from the seabed during specific moon phases to spawn at the surface, creating an unforgettable display.

A Hidden Wildlife Gem Inside a Navy Base…read more I had no idea this place even existed -- a huge wildlife refuge tucked inside an active Navy base! California never fails to surprise. The refuge is only open once a month for a free, escorted educational tour (last Saturday, except December), and you do need to reserve in advance. Definitely not a casual drop-in, but the effort is well worth it. I went hunting for the threatened Pacific Green Sea Turtle -- and ended up spotting three! We also saw a very healthy coyote making its rounds, and a variety of birds you don't normally see in urban areas. The refuge is also home to endangered species like the California Least Tern and the Light-footed Ridgway's Rail. It's peaceful, educational, and a little unexpected -- a real escape from the city, without even leaving Southern California. Birds you're likely to see: Common / regularly seen: Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Willet, Western Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, American Coot, Double-crested Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron, Killdeer, Belding's Savannah Sparrow Seasonal / pretty likely: California Least Tern (endangered), Light-footed Ridgway's Rail (endangered), Brown Pelican, Forster's Tern, Caspian Tern, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Curlew Uncommon: Northern Harrier, Snowy Plover, Peregrine Falcon, Reddish Egret, Burrowing Owl Rare: Bald Eagle Highly recommend for anyone who loves wildlife, birding, or just escaping the urban grind. Even if you're not a hardcore nature nerd, it's fascinating to see a thriving ecosystem inside a military base.

Park near the but if you need to use the restroom. Come to run here frequently and also did a bird…read morewatching intro class. A really great clean path for running.

I've only been here a couple of times with my two dogs, but it's such a nice change from our usual…read moreneighborhood walks, the Naples canals, or Marine Stadium. It's a great little road/trail--peaceful, scenic, and perfect for getting in a longer walk. There were a few other people out when we went, which was nice. I did notice some dogs off-leash (which I personally don't mind), but with coyotes in the area, I kept my small pups leashed just to be safe. A couple things to note: when I went around 4pm, there were quite a few mosquitoes--probably because it had rained recently and there was some standing water along the road/trail side. Also, parking was a bit confusing since there aren't marked stalls. I wasn't sure if I should park at an angle, perpendicular on the hill, or parallel, so that could definitely be clearer. It did feel a little quiet and slightly eerie when we first arrived since no one else was there, but there are homes along the top of the trail, so you're not completely isolated. Overall, I really enjoyed it and will definitely be back--especially once everything is dried out. Looking forward to more calm, serene walks with my pups!

This is my happy place. Whenever I am stressed or sad, I come here, and all is well again…read more My dog loves this place. She gets to roam around and explore the urban wilderness. As the saying goes, I am happy when my dog is happy. The best part of being here is that there is always shade, no matter what time of the day or season. There are three trash cans to hold those poop bags, and fallen tree trucks to serve as rugged furniture for an impromptu picnic. Parking is never an issue. The dirt lot can accommodate many cars, but the dirt can be bumpy.

LBC Marine Stadium has my favorite secret slice of grass area with dogs allowed. Free parking. BUT…read moreno restrooms. There are trash cans though. There is a concrete path for strolling or jogging around the marina. View is amazing from the grass. Boats, and wake boarders performing tricks and such. Across the street where the boat can dock on the beach is full of people beaching it on the sand. There are restrooms there. No dogs allowed. Not really meant for swimming and playing in the waters but we still see people do it. Call LBC Park and Recs to make sure this patch of areas are not reserved for any events too. No overnight parking. Located near the Rowing Association.

A great place to stroll or relax by the water. It will be hopping in 28 during the Olympics.read more

I went to the 3 day Jazz Festival. The first day we had a Cabana and I was also a guest. I knew we…read moregot 2 bottles of wine, but our server was new and didn't know what the guest with Green Bands were allowed (We were told 2 drinks, no buffet) then told the drinks were 2 sodas and allowed to eat at the buffet. I bought a frozen margarita and had to wait forever for a straw. I did have a good time. Day 2, I had front row (VIP). The lot wasn't full but I was not allowed to park there. No Handicap parking and I had to pay $10 across the street. I paid, parked and was asked for my parking ticket. I told the guy I wasn't given one. I gave the guy a $20, he gave me two 5's and waved me in like the car ahead of me. Yep, the parking guy was pocketing cash. Made me feel like a crook. Too far for me to walk back with the guy who asked for my ticket. I already had to walk a ways to get in the venue with my injured ankle. The show was awesome and I met happy people and took jaw dropping pictures and got to talk to my entertainer friends. The food was not great. My beef was horribly dry. I ran off to buy a dinner plate from the Venders. Day 3, I had to park at the Pike. This was a long walk in the hot sun. Security dropped my water bottles on the filthy ground. I'm in pain and drenched with sweat. The stage manager saw me and grabbed my bags and told them I was ok and wouldn't bring anything in because I'd be taken care of once I got in. And that I didn't need to smuggle anything in. Well by then they had already had my belongings in disarray and contaminated my ice cold water bottles on the ground. The volunteers did not know exactly where my seat was I moved three times. But again I had a great time. A long walk to my car and had to pay $21 for parking. I will be back next year. I'll start saving up now. I highly recommend the events here.

The interpretive signs around the lagoon tells you that it is a haven for wildlife. There is half a…read moretruth to what they say. But that means that there is also a big fat half-lie too. There is very little natural habitat here. The upland areas are mostly covered with lawns and non-native palm trees. It's a very urban park here, and there isn't to support wildlife here. In the last century, most of this area was open ocean. The semi-circular Rainbow Pier was created in the 1920s, along with the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium. Soon after, the City began filling in the open water behind the pier. With the decline of Long Beach's downtown in the 1970s and 1980s, the City undertook aggressive revitalization plans, which included massive filling of the area behind the pier, to create the modern-day landscape. Thus, Rainbow Lagoon is the vestige of the sheltered cove that was once protected by Rainbow Pier. The park is much more welcoming for human inhabitants than wildlife. There is a beautiful winding path that take you over colorful bridges, and paddle boats to take you over the water. It is a lovely park, just not wondeful for wildlife, notwithstanding this semi-informative interpretive signs. Oceanic water fills Rainbow Lagoon via underground pipes and culverts. This keeps a marine, but wave-free environmnent. In some ways, this is similar to natural lagoons (such as Malibu Lagoon) where waves are cut off by natural sand bars, which come and go with the seasons. In a natural state, this still water would be conducive the establishment of salt marsh plants, like cordgrasses. However, there are none to be found here. In contrast to a natural lagoon, Rainbow Lagoon is paved with concrete and in general has a very hard "edge" which prevents the establishment of plants. As you can see in the picture above, there is no gradual shift from deep to shallow water; these gradients normally create a variety of depths, which are essential to a diverse fish community with species of different sizes. The far edge in the photograph is rocky, which adds a little diversity. But the hard substrate again does not allow plants to establish. No doubt the plant-free environment is an intentional component of the park management, as such plants could create nuissances in such an urban environment. The blunted tidal inputs creates other problems for the lagoon: lack of oxygen. Wave energy and fresh inputs of ocean water would normally keep the oxygen levels high. Making matters worse, the concrete lining makes the water heat up in the sun, further depleting oxygen. To prevent oxygen levels from getting too low (which would result in massive fish-kills), water is agitated and circulated by fountains. These fountains also improve the aesthetics of the park. And despite my griping, you can see some interesting birds hunt the little fish in the lagoon. I saw a Green Heron here the other day, and these shy birds aren't so easy to spot sometimes!

Love this beach, so nice quiet and with the view of Naples Island, you can't really go wrong here…read more Soft sand and no waves, just calm water and cool breezes. Parking is okey actually, street parking and short walk. If you want waves then you just walk across the street and you're there.

This was my first time to visit the tiny park at the end of the peninsula. The Emperors band was…read moreplaying and we knew all the songs. People were dancing. There was grass and a few trees. I found a good spot to put down our chairs. Enjoyed the concert a lot.

This is a tiny park. It is very safe and clean. The location is great. There is a memorial section…read morealso. It honors fallen service members. I love that it is named after Rosie the Riveter especially since it's located next to the original McDonell Douglas/ Boeing plant.

A memorial has been placed here for those involved with Post 9/11 campaigns. In chronological…read moresequence from left to right are the names of those who sacrificed for our country. I come to give respect to my brothers and sisters who gave their all. Thank you for all you have done. #507MTCO