Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Long Beach, CA

This month is all about books at Savvy Source, and what better way to start than with an alphabet celebrating all that is unique about Long Beach?

A is for the Aquarium of the Pacific.

B is for Bayshore Beach, the perfect beach for toddlers who are too timid for big Pacific waves.

C is for the Colorado Lagoon, a favorite hangout for pelicans and egrets.

D is for Diners. What's up with all the diners here, anyway? Everyone has a fave. I am partial to The Omelette Inn and The Potholder in Belmont Heights.

E is for El Dorado Park.

F is for Farmers' Markets, where you can sample a crisp persimmon or buy a loaf of fresh raisin bread while listening to free music.

G is for the Grand Prix.

H is for Howl'oween.

I is for International. Long Beach is one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., and it seems like wherever we go, we meet parents from all over the world.

J is for Jazz. We like to chill out to KJazz before bedtime.

K is for the Koi at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden.

L is for libraries. We're glad the Main got a reprieve, but Long Beach's libraries still need our support.

M is for MOLAA.

N is for the Naples Boat Parade.

O is for oil wells.

P is for our award-winning Parks and Recreation department.

Q is for the Queen Mary.

R is for Ranchos. Travel back in time at Rancho Los Cerritos and Rancho Los Alamitos.

S is for Second Street, our favorite place to stroll, shop, people-watch, and grab a bite to eat.

T is for the train, the only way to get to Los Angeles without sitting in traffic and paying an arm and a leg for parking.

U is for University, as in CSULB. You can attend performances with your child at the Carpenter Center and browse the children's section in the library. Or just take advantage of the endless supply of young, energetic babysitters.

V is for Volkswagens, especially old Beetles, which are a dime a dozen in Bluff Heights and Belmont Shore.

W is for West Coast Choppers.

X is for Xiphias gladius, otherwise known as swordfish, which is native to the Pacific Ocean. (Boy is it hard to find words that begin with X.)

Y is for yachts.

Z is for zoos. There's the petting zoo at Lakewood Equestrian Center, and the Santa Ana Zoo in Orange County. Or drive a little further to the L.A. Zoo or San Diego Zoo, both within a couple of hours of Long Beach.

 

What did I miss?