Just south of the major city Los Angeles is what many refer to as a place with a heart of a small town and the body of a big city: we’re talking about Long Beach. Known for its distinct, slower-paced culture compared to its big-city neighbor, Long Beach offers its residents a great mix of culture, great weather, and otherwise so many other things to do.
So, if you find yourself considering moving to Long Beach, you should know what life is really like here. Without further ado, here’s life in Long Beach.
Let’s talk about the location
Right off the bat, we need to talk about where Long Beach is located and its many benefits both in terms of amenities, attractions, and ease of life. For instance, you’re within a day trip to national hotspots such as Disneyland in nearby Anaheim. Meanwhile, there’s also plenty to enjoy within the city as well due to proximity to the water.
Due to its location, Long Beach experiences year-round pleasant weather, with more than 285 sunny days on average each year, and the water is relatively warm regardless of whether it’s summer or winter.
And if the location isn’t ideal for staying or driving a day away, Long Beach also has its own airport, saving you a stressful trip through LAX.
The arts have grown in Long Beach
The city of Long Beach faced its fair share of challenges after the U.S. Navy left in the 1990s, but the last few years have really shown some growth, including a big push for public art, which is apparent in events such as the Pow! Wow! Long Beach International Mural Festival. This festival travels all around the world, but it has provided murals for over 40 square miles of Long Beach, creating a walkable art experience that is entirely unique.
Long Beach also has indoor exhibits for you to enjoy, such as the Museum of Latin American art, offering arts from the wide array of Latin cultures, art styles, and more. In fact, don’t be surprised if you find a lot of culturally diverse art to enjoy as Long Beach has been named one of the most diverse cities in the U.S.
You have to try Long Beach cuisine
A big part of any thriving culture is its food, and Long Beach’s culinary arts can match its public art with just as much diversity to enjoy. For instance, you can enjoy a quick hot chicken sandwich from a spot like Cluck and Blaze or try out the Asian-fushion inspired fresh seafood of A&J Seafood Shack.
Much like its cultural diversity, you’ll find most folks in Long Beach enjoy just as diverse restaurant options as well with their top ten recommended places to grab a bite.
You may be healthier in Long Beach
Maybe it’s proximity to the beach, the chance to stretch your legs as you enjoy the art, or just an overall enjoyable pace of life. Regardless, Long Beach is one of the healthiest cities in America according to WalletHub, scoring particularly high in its health care, food, and green space ranks.
Additionally, while not nearly as high as its health ranking, Long Beach was also among WalletHub’s least stressed cities. It may have ranked higher, if not for one thing: the financial stress in the cost of housing. According to BestPlace.net, the cost of housing in Long Beach is more than double the national ranking, with the average median home cost coming in north of $600,000 (the national average being roughly $231,000.) Unfortunately, there is no big savings in apartments either, as the average two-bedroom is more than $1,800 a month.
And while the cost of housing may put a damper on life in Long Beach, we have some good news. By using a Long Beach storage facility, you can maximize your living space at a significantly lower cost than buying a bigger home, business, or renting a larger apartment.
For more on how Long Beach self storage can help you, click here.
