Long Beach, CA: More Than L.A.'s Kid Brother

By: Lilit Marcus

Long Beach, California (CNN) — While Long Beach is in Los Angeles County, it often feels more linked to Orange County, the suburban mecca just to the south.

But thanks to rent prices going up in Los Angeles (who could have seen that coming?) and the improved L.A. Metro going all the way to downtown Long Beach, this quieter oceanside city is about to have a moment. Here are the best things to do when you travel here:

On and off the water
Long Beach is chock-a-block with things to do even if you opt to skip the beach. The city is probably most famous for the Queen Mary, an elegant Cunard cruise liner that retired to life as a hotel in the 1960s.

The ship is noted for its well-maintained Art Deco interior, and it's hard not to feel glamorous a la Lady Mary or Rose DeWitt Bukater when you're strolling past the wood paneling, glass inlays and other design touches.

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