Belmont Shore

Belmont Shore is a region of Long Beach that's buzzing with shoppers, residents, visitors, beach-goers and the nautical crowd.

In addition to the city shutting down a couple streets for the summer safety of kids, they also don't mind closing the streets for events such as the annual holiday parade in December, Dine & Stroll food events outdoors, a doggie parade...you name it. While busy 2nd Street is the thoroughfare easily connecting Pacific Coast Highway and other cities with downtown Long Beach, sometimes Belmont Shore just goes for it and closes the street.

Restaurants offer lots of festivity. Ethnic foods, Italian, college influence in youthful energy at night, and Long Beach's gay population all add to this quirky, very unorthodox community that includes many athletes, beach lovers, dog lovers, shop owners and home owners or renters with some nice little cottages or larger waterfront digs near the beach. Then there's Belmont Shore's most prized possession, it's pier.

This is the city that would have been...if not for the lack of money and a generous offer from a neighbor called "Long Beach". At one time Belmont Shore had to choose what it would do. The options were get a pier and be annexed, or have no pier. They wanted that pier so much, their history changed with the consensus among the majority that it was worth the sacrifice.

They got their pier and life is pretty good in Belmont Shore, for the most part, anyway. Just like the good ol' days, Belmont Shore closes its beachfront street, Bayshore, in the summer so that beach-goers are safe from the traffic that pours into their area. Overlooking Naples and the Long Beach peninsula, this small bay area is popular for sunbathing, swimming and learning how to sail the Sabot boats invented here decades ago.

Also a hit is popular 2nd Street, an approximate four-block long shopping region of cute stores, eateries, banks, photo labs and even two Starbucks.

Give yourself an hour or two for enjoyment and exploration of Belmont Shore. But watch your parking meter carefully if you park in front of one. Traffic tickets come like clockwork, and arrive usually the minute your meter expires.

There's a great mix of traditional, unique, and modern housing in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach.

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