Section 04 - Proposed Schedule to visit Long Beach

Section 05 - Southwest Airlines - SFO to LGB - 10.02.2024

Section 06 - Long Beach Overview

Long Beach is a coastal city and port in Southern California. Moored in its Queensway Bay, RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner and museum ship. The waterfront Aquarium of the Pacific features touch tanks and a shark lagoon. Modern and contemporary works are on display at the Museum of Latin American Art. Rancho Los Cerritos is a 19th century adobe home and museum set in expansive gardens.

• Population: 451,307 (2022)
• Tax rate: 10.25%
• Elevation: 52 ft (16 m)
• Incorporated: December 13, 1897

Catalina Express goes from 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach (catalinaexpress.com)

Los Angeles schools start August 12th, so that might cut down on the crowds. Also, some things on Catalina close after Labor Day, so if you go then check to make sure the submarine, etc are still available.

Section 07 - Long Beach Weather - October

Section 08 - Map of Down Town Long Beach

....................... Map of Long Beach ........................

Section 09 - Long Beach Motel - 10.02.2024

Motel 6 is one of the less expensive places to stay. On Santa Catalina Island most room are over $400 a night.

Aquarium of the Pacific and Queen Mary are also close by if you're interested in visiting either of them.

Ocean Blvd. has a lot of restaurants in the area also, Bubba Gumps, and so on.

Section 10 - Loaded Cafe- 10.02.2024

I found across the street from Motel 6, a geat place for breakfasts, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Very friendly staff if a little slow. Wonderful food.

Section 11 - Aquarium of the Pacific - 10.03.2024  1961 - Big Fish in the Bahamas As I walked into the aquarium, I saw this huge fish swimming around. It reminded me when I first went out of the country in 1962 and the first time I went scuba diving. I did a two week cruise in the Bahamas, one week over Christmas and the second week over New Years. Two men on the ship were from Canada and were underwater demolition experts. They had brought three sets 9of scuba gear and asked if anybody wanted to go with them. Of course, I said yes, even though I had never been diving. We got off the ship onto a small boat and sailed off about half a mile from the ship and put on the gear. We fell off of the launch and swam around and I watched them to know what to do. We went down to the bottom and saw sharks and other fish, but then I was so excited I kept pointing down at this, and that, pointing at a sponge, at a coral, at a fish. The two under water demolition experts kept waving their arms at me. I wondered what was wrong with them. I kept looking down at the bottom of the ocean and kept pointing at this and that. They shook their arms even more. Now there was a cut in the rocks like a small canyon. It was about 12 feet wide and 10 feet deep. I started swimming inside of that canyon and suddenly felt like something was looking at me. I looked up and there was a fish about a foot away from me. He looked like one of these fish that I have a photo of from the aquarium. The fish looked at me and I looked at him or her, and I didn’t know what to do. He must’ve weighed three or 400 pounds, he was huge, Well I looked at him and he looked at me and I got scared. I turned around and swam away as fast as I could, and then we went to the surface of the Caribbean Sea and got onto the launch. Well, the men cracked up, laughing, they thought it was so funny that the fish looked as surprise as I did, but he was not going to back off. They said I was lucky. I was so big because he wasn’t going to attack me. He just wondered what was this fool doing down here? Anyway, they said that I had already done a good job of diving and wondered how long I’ve been diving. I said this is the first time I had been diving, never had any experience, they were shocked. A few days later, we did another dive and ended up by standing back to back on the bottom with barracuda and sharks swimming around us.. All very exciting for someone from the farm and the first time they’ve been sailing on the ocean and diving in the ocean. 20 years later I decided to get my Padi diving license and took classes at the YMCA For six weeks to get certified. So after the first time I went diving, I actually learned how to really dive and be safe. It worked out great when I went diving in Fiji. So much for a ship of fools.  Continuation of the Aquarium of the Pacific  Section 12 - Queen Mary Tour - 10.04.2024 I have been on cruise ships all over the world. Interesting, I was on the new Queen Mary 2 on a cross the Atlantic cruise from Southampton England to New Jersey/New York City. 2019 - Southampton - Queen Mary 2 Chuck & Virginia Crossing the Atlantic Touring the original Queen Mary docked in Long Beach California.  Section 13 - Overview of Santa Catalina Island - 10.05.2024 Santa Catalina, one of California's Channel Islands, lies southwest of Los Angeles. It's known for its wildlife, dive sites and Mt. Orizaba, its highest peak. The resort town of Two Harbors lies to the north. To the south, in the city of Avalon, palm trees and cabanas line Descanso Beach. Avalon's circular, art deco Catalina Casino is a cultural center with a movie theater, ballroom and museum. Population: 4,096 (2010) Pop. density: 55 sq mi (21.2/km2) Area: 74.98 sq mi (194.2 km2) Size: about 76 square miles Archipelago: Channel Islands of California Highest elevation: 2,097 ft (639.2 m)  Section 14 - Catalina Express - 10.05.2024 Catalina Island is just an hour away with year-round boat transportation and up to 30 departures daily. Boats depart from ports in San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point. Catalina is only 22 miles off the coast of Southern California. Catalina Express' fleet of eight fast, modern boats make for a quick, easy and fun getaway. Experience the picturesque town of Avalon filled with activities on land and sea, or the rustic village of Two Harbors, with spectacular campgrounds and beautiful beaches. From scenic beauty, high adventure activities, great rest and relaxation, Catalina Island has it all. Take the trip for a day, or stay overnight. Book your Catalina Island ferry online now! Catalina Express goes from 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach (catalinaexpress.com)  Section 15 - Possible Tours - Catalina Island - 10.05.2024 The Catalina Casino Ticket and Waiver - 08.05.2024 Casino Entry  Section 16 - Santa Catalina Island Photos - 10.05.2024 Dancing Big Band Era First Talkie Theatre Lounging! Catalina Express Ferry Goodbye to Catalina Island Sailing from Catalina Queen Mary 1  Section 17 - Lunch With My Friend Gail - 10.06.2024 I met Gail around 2003 and we traveled to the Netherlands on a cruise, to Zambia and Victory Falls and on to South Africa. Later to Yellowstone National Park and also she visited me in San Francisco where we drove to Napa and took the wine train on a tour including wine and lunch. She also celebrated my birthday in Las Vegas at the Belagio Hotel with a special dinner in the high end restaurant overlooking the fountains. Gail gave me some tips on how to manage my trip as she used to be a high profile travel agent in Los Angeles. Hopefully she will drive from LA to Long Beach as I haven't seen her in a few years! 2004 - Netherlands - Cruise 2005 - Venice Beach 2006 - Santa Monica 2006 - Zambia - Victoria Falls 2006 - South Africa - Safari 2010 - Napa - Wine Train 2010 - Yellowstone - National Park 2010 - Las Vegas - Chuck's 70th Birthday 2011 - Santa Anita - Horse Racing 2024 - Long Beach - Chuck & Gail  Section 18 - Tickets for all the Venues - 10.02.2024  Section 19 - Southwest Flight from LGB to SFO - 10.07.2024  Section 20 - Las Vegas Airport - 10.07.2024 I met a lot of interesting people as I flew to and from Long Beach. No more direct flights so one has to have a layover from San Francisco at Las Vegas or maybe Phenix Arizona. Here I am in Las Vegas chatting away with fellow travelers!  Section 21 - Chuck's View from Home - 10.07.2024 Chuck's view of San Francisco from his apartment on the 28th floor.   Created on: 2024.08.01 Updated on: 2024.10.10