Long Beach

Travelers' Takes

Getting There

Minutes from Long Beach-Seal Beach

A travel journal to Long Beach by joantri

Seal Beach InnMore Photos

Seal Beach is just minutes from Long Beach and is one of those lazy beach towns with small cafes, bars, and shops.

  • 7 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 5 photos

Minutes from Long Beach-Seal BeachBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Seal Beach
On your way from Long Beach, visit the Long Beach Marina where you can have a beverage at the Crab Pot or dine at Schooner or Later ( a busy weekend breakfast place). Then, stroll around Main Street Seal Beach and visit antique shops, Main Street ice cream shop, or dine at Taco Surf, the Abbey, O'Malleys or other Main St hang outs. Walk on the pier and you may see Long Beach downtown on a clear day. Seal Beach is a quiet town with friendly people.

Quick Tips:

For a great cookie, go to Cinnamon Productions. For a great Irish Coffee, go to O'Malleys. For some different food with unique beers, go to the Abbey. There are many beach clothing shops and souvenir shops.

Best Way To Get Around:

You can ride a bike from Long Beach or drive. Parking is difficult on Main Street, but you can park on most side streets and walk. Seal Beach is a great visit, but most miss it on the drive to Huntington Beach and Long Beach.

Seal Beach Inn & GardensBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Seal Beach Inn & Gardens"

Seal Beach Inn
The Seal Beach Inn & Garden is in a perfect location in Seal Beach. The room includes breakfast which is incredible with homemade waffles or a daily quiche, fruit, toast, muffins, tea and coffee. Each room is unique in style and varies in price, but all are quiet and furnished with a style of an inn. They also have a small pool and library. If you are driving, they have a parking lot to park your car which comes in handy if you are visiting Seal Beach. The gardens surround the inn are well kept and give the inn a great appearance.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by joantri on January 2, 2001

Seal Beach Inn & Gardens
212 5th Street Long Beach, California 90740
(562) 493-2416

Old Town CafeBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The Old Town cafe is only open for breakfast and lunch, but you will not be disappointed if you try it. All the breakfast dishes are great with choices of omelettes, pancakes, waffles, to yogurt parfaits, they seem to have a bit of everything. The lunch choices are equally as varied. The Old Town cafe is a small cafe with a few tables, so on the weekend you may wait for 30 minutes. It is well worth the wait and you can put your name in and walk around Main St.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by joantri on January 2, 2001

Old Town Cafe
137 Main St Long Beach, California 90740
562-430-4377

Walt's WharfBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Walt's Wharf is packed every night of the week. They do not take reservations. The menu is a wide variety of seafood choices that come with salad and a vegetable. If you want seafood, a better choice is Captain Jack's in Sunset Beach, but if you are in Seal Beach, still try Walt's. The service is nothing to write home about, but you will enjoy the atmosphere similar to sitting in your own dining room at home. People are very friendly and the fish is prepared with simple and tasty sauces. This is the most expensive restaurant in Seal Beach, so if you are in the mood for a treat, try it.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by joantri on January 2, 2001

Walt's Wharf
201 Main St Long Beach, California
562-598-4433

Bayou Saint JohnBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Bayou St John"

Bayou St John features cajun type specialities. If you like gumbo and shrimp etoufee, you will love Bayou St John. Get the local Sun paper in Seal Beach for a coupon that is printed weekly for a buy one, get one free entree. The atmosphere is quiet with small tables and candle light. If you have a taste for cajun, you have to try it! You also can get the entrees as spicy or not spicy as you like.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by joantri on January 2, 2001

Bayou Saint John
320 Main St Long Beach, California 90740
(562) 431-2298

AbbeyBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "The Abbey"

Owned by Mark Mcguire's brother, this local hangout with a sports bar theme combined with an abbey brick motif serves a great pizza. There are other choices that range from Ahi to salads to fish tacos with a secret sauce. There are many beers on tap that are suggested for the different menu items. If you are a baseball fan, there are sports themed items with hats signed by famous Hollywood people. There are televisions that show a variety of sports events depending on the night. If you are wanting to watch "the game" with some fans, go to the Abbey. Otherwise, try another place as game night the place will be packed. The food is reasonably priced and offers something for everyone. The Abbey is also open for lunch.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by joantri on January 2, 2001

Abbey
306 Main St Long Beach, California 90740
(562) 799-4246

Aquarium of the PacificBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific"

The Long Beach aquarium is minutes away from Seal Beach and is a great aquarium (a smaller version of Monterey), but similar set up. You will enjoy the volunteer guide stories and we were told they allow sleep overs for kids.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by joantri on December 30, 2000

Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way Long Beach, California 90802
(562) 590-3100

Naples IslandBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Naples Island
If you visit Long Beach, you should drive around or take a gondola ride around Naples Island. Not only is it incredible that this corner has giant houses, but at Christmas time there is a boat parade which is better than all others. If you are a walker, a great way of seeing Naples is to walk around the paths that surround this island and boat docks with sail boats and fishing boats. You can stop at Sushi of Naples for a great bargain lunch or dinner before 6pm. Otherwise, if you are a good walker, go to 2nd street for a wide choice of restaurants.

Naples is a hidden piece of Long Beach that can be seen by boat or by car or by walking. It is best explored by walking, but a gondola ride can be very romantic and leaves from Ocean Blvd.

Don't miss Naples, if you are in the Long Beach area.

About the Writer

joantri
joantri
seal beach, California

Get the Word Out

Share this travel journal beyond IgoUgo with your favorite sharing tools.