Reservations are needed for this lovely little garden tucked into the middle of the CSULB campus,…read moreso we made ours the night before and grabbed a 12:00 PM Sunday spot. One thing to know before you go: check the operating hours. The garden was closing at 1:00 that day, so our visit was shorter than we would have liked. About 15 minutes before closing they started rounding everyone up, which was completely understandable, but next time I'd definitely book earlier. We brought Billy's mom and dad with us, and his father is 92 amazing years old, so we're always paying attention to how much walking, stress, parking drama, or general nonsense an outing involves. This one was about as easy as it gets. There's paid parking right next to the garden. I think we paid around $6.50, and the payment system was simple enough. Once you're inside, it's just beautiful. Little bridges, waterfalls, colorful koi everywhere (bonus! tons of baby koi this time!) lilies on the pond, flowers, and these bright red dragonflies flying around that completely caught my attention. There were families, students, people sketching, people feeding the fish, just a really nice mix of people quietly enjoying the space. What I especially like is that you don't have to make a whole production out of it. You can stroll, sit for a while, watch the koi, cross a bridge, look at the water, and just enjoy being somewhere pretty. Small, peaceful, easy, and genuinely lovely. It makes for a really nice family outing, and it's one of those places that's good to keep in your back pocket when you want to do something without committing to an entire day.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a peaceful hidden gem tucked inside California State…read moreUniversity, Long Beach. I walked into a space that is smaller than some larger Japanese gardens, but the layout feels carefully planned with winding paths, traditional landscaping, a koi pond, waterfalls, bridges, and quiet corners throughout. It is the type of place where taking your time matters more than trying to see everything quickly, and the smaller size actually makes the experience feel more intimate. The garden feels like a world apart from the campus surrounding it, and the transition from the university grounds to the garden is immediate and effective. The koi pond is easily the centerpiece of the garden and one of the most enjoyable parts to spend time around. I found myself lingering by the water, watching the fish move through the pond as the sunlight filtered through the trees. The fish are large and active, and the surrounding greenery, stone features, and water elements create a very relaxing atmosphere. The garden does a good job balancing natural scenery with traditional Japanese design, with each section offering a slightly different view and feeling as I walked through. The bridges and stone lanterns add to the sense of place, and the sound of the waterfalls creates a calming background that stays with you as you move through the space. What I liked most about this garden is how calm it feels despite being located on a college campus. It feels separated from the surrounding area once you enter, making it a nice place for a quiet walk, photography, or just taking a break. The landscaping is well maintained, and the entire space has a slower pace that encourages you to actually stop and appreciate the details rather than rushing through. The garden's design rewards a slow approach, with each turn in the path offering a slightly different perspective on the pond, the plants, and the stonework. The visit is fairly quick since the garden is compact, but it works well as a relaxing stop rather than a destination that takes up an entire afternoon. Reservations are required, so it is worth checking availability before going. Admission is free, although parking is an extra cost and can be the main inconvenience, especially during busy campus hours. The garden's location on campus makes it accessible, but the parking situation can require a bit of patience. Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a beautiful spot if you are looking for a peaceful escape rather than a large attraction. The koi pond, thoughtful design, and quiet atmosphere make it a place worth visiting, especially on a nice day when you can take your time walking through the garden. It offers a brief but meaningful pause from the surrounding city and campus life, and the care that has gone into maintaining the space is evident in every corner.

This spot is a gem! With beautiful foster kitties running around the shop in an enclosed area along…read morethe walls and two spots around the front of the store. We came here to attend the 2026 Cat Zine Fest and it was really quite nice. Lots of cat related items here as they mention, and the zines themselves were amazing. So funny and affordable and easy to support artists from all around the world with this event. Really can't wait to go back! All the staff were super nice and also cat lovers... it was just a dream to be here especially to see the little kitties.

First time here and found it through TikTok. Cute decent sized cat store with cat playrooms (you're…read morewelcome to go inside to play or pet the adorable kitties) which are for adoptions. So many cat toys, artwork, art pieces, local made items, stickers, books, magnets, mugs, art supplies and so much more! Decent price for the items I believe and a part goes back towards their organization. There's plenty parking at the side of the store. The staff are attentive and kind, I'd come back here!

What a great event that Long Beach puts on. A fun day at the beach followed up with food trucks and…read morea great movie. It was especially great in that the movie was Grease! One of our favorites. And they declared it a sing along. You could hear sod singing during the songs, which was good since it didn't drown out the actual songs. My one complaint is that they need a better sound system. The DJ who played ahead of the movies had a much better sound system. It was hard to hear at first and then got slightly better. But such great songs need to be played at full volume. It, I would do it again. It was a really fun time.

This is one of my favorite summer traditions. It's great for family and friends and the community…read moreto come together and enjoy a movie on the beach. I highly recommend to bring items for once the sun comes down. Parking is free after 4pm. You can bring your own food or buy food from selected vendors such as Dominos Pizza, Kettle Corn stand or a local food truck as well as the permanent food concession that is at Granada beach. There is also face painting for kids and local sponsors Port of Long Beach and LBS Financial. You can go to their website for movies that will be showing throughout the summer. Yes I recommend to come early if you can for a great viewing spot.

Amazing atmosphere with great staff. I love how all the cats here are available to adopt. Such a…read moregood place to relax and enjoy some furry therapy. We had the opportunity to hang out with gandolf, who's available for adoption. He was very curious and playful. A great way to pass your time and for a good cause. I can wait to come back here and enjoy more time with them.

This is a cool and quiet location to come hang out and possibly adopt a cat. The cats weren't…read morefriendly, so you really have to appreciate the feline demeanor and arrive with patience. You can't pick up the cats if you're standing; they essentially have to choose you for contact.

It's really well designed with a great ambiance the people who work here are sweet lots of…read morepatience. It has a variety of candies and I have bought here they even have my old time favorites. They also custom design candy and throw parties.

We spontaneously came across this candy store while strolling Belmont shores and decided to stop in…read morebecause I saw a sign for sour Swedish candy... and I was so excited to find out they have my favorite Swedish sour raspberry bottle candy! I've been looking for these in stores for many years since my favorite candy store closed down in NorCal! The employees were really kind to let me try a piece of candy before purchasing! Just make sure you ask them for a sample because they grab the sample for you. This is to keep the candy clean from strangers hands :) Such a nice hidden gem, especially if you're looking for any retro or Swedish sour candy.

This was by far the most fun I have had on a go kart! Armahni(?) the owner was a great host and…read moretour guide. I was in town for a football event that was happening on Sunday. Since I knew I would be there all weekend, I convinced two of my friends to join me in the go kart shenanigans. Armahni(?) and his girlfriend took us around the lake and alongside the canal for an hour or so ride. The best part was when we had the chance to "put the pedal to the medal" (as my grandmother would say lol) and race each other. To actually be able to ride the karts outdoors instead of indoors, and not be on a track made the experience even better. Good times! If you haven't done this yet, you're missing out! : )

Hands down the most fun and unique thing I've done in a while !! The coordination was super easy…read moreand clear... the ride was adventurous and the guides were super fun and kind !! Would definitely come back with a larger group !!

Went for a private event for my bestie's birthday back in January - the class was great and our…read moreinstructor deserves 5 stars for being super enthusiastic yet patient with our group of 9 people (especially since we were all beginners). He seemed extremely passionate in what he does! Giving a low rating just because of our experience with front desk staff. We come in super cordial just to be met with stank attitudes. A few weeks after our session, we called the place to follow up on our pieces and the woman on the phone sounded rude about us asking about it. We went to pick up our pieces recently and the woman at the front desk definitely sounded like the one we talked to on the phone, same voice and same unwelcoming attitude. As if our presence ruined her day or us picking up our pieces was such a drastic request for her to do.

Picking up my clay piece from the Yelp elite event. People here are so friendly from staff helping…read moreus during the event up to the time my piece was ready for pick up. Corey I believe was her name was so sweet and friendly when I picked up my garlic scraper and we had such a friendly encounter. Truly recommend this place if you want to learn how to be a sculptor or maybe a special gift for yourself or someone you care about.

Ordered sodas, nachos and cheeseburger, and the service was very professional, and although the…read morecheeseburger was significantly delayed, it was fresh and much larger than expected. Came for laughs and had a great time and had some good food. Food options available highly recommend the nachos. The overall ambience felt very much like a theater with so much history and so many comedians who had performed there before.

Good place to hangout with friends. Cheap tickets on weekdays. Lots of seating and nice decor…read more There's a 2 drink minimum but drink prices are very reasonable. Didn't try the food. Decent crowd. Parking is in the lot at the Pike. On the day that we went, 4 out of the 5 comedians were not very funny. Service was friendly and quick. Definitely check out who's performing before you go.

Jellyfish galore! It was a very nice aquarium to go to. Now I know the difference between sea lion…read morevs harbor seals due to their showings. Going on a weekday during the summer can be a hit or miss on crowds. Great place to go to with family and friends and is a good spot to stroll along shoreline village/the pike. You do need to pay for parking at the parking garage but make sure to get your ticket validated at the aquarium so at least the cost is reduced.

What a nice aquarium! I am a scuba diver, and very critical of keeping sea creatures....some where…read moreother than the sea. However I also realize that preserving endangered species, as well as teaching younger generations about conservation is important. I thought the price was a bit steep, but they do offer AAA discounts as well as other discounts. The layout is a bit confusing, and there are not a lot of signs that say "hey this area frogs, fish, and sea turtles". We just keep wandering down different areas asking "have we seen this before?". Eventually we had seen everything. There was a show, but my friend was getting "hangry", so we did not stay for the show. There were several exhibits, where I felt like I was underwater with "my people"....(sea creatures)...The different coral, sea anemone's, fish, crabs..(I am a Cancer, so they ARE my peeps).....lobsters, sea horses...and much more. Always staff around to answer questions, and protect the touch tanks from over zealous kids. I got my under water fix, and also saw some amazing creatures.

Great machines, staff, and vibes. The machines are very well maintained. A good mix from different…read moreeras.

Great selection of pinballs... and retro arcade games. Family friendly atmosphere, yet has a super…read morefun club / lounge vibe as well. Cool place to hang out on weekends & weekdays. I highly recommend this place