Bluff Park and Claire's Restaurant, Long Beach

It's wonderful to stroll along the 1.5 km path in Bluff Park, on the edge of the cliff high above Junipero Beach. You can hear the people below having fun, and see the gigantic playground on the beach. There is a lovely lawn the whole way, flowers atop the cliffs, and a few large trees providing shade. I love the look of a green lawn and blue sea. The road noise is a little loud, so better than a picnic is a meal at Claire's At The Museum Restaurant, on the west end of the park. You enter Claire's from the road side, not the park side. Walk through the arch and you will come to the amazing brown brick historic building that is the Long Beach Museum of Art. In front of the mansion is Claire's, with tables and a fountain, and stunning views of the sea. Sit on the west side, furthest back from the ocean, or the wind will assault you! The food is decent, but it's the views and setting that you come for! Be prepared for fairly expensive prices. You are allowed to walk inside the mansion to check it out while you wait for your table.I t is a bit musty, but interesting- it must have been an amazing place to live.

This area of Long Beach has many sweet historic houses and mansions. You can see them as you walk along Ocean Blvd and any of the side streets. You could have many a long stroll checking them all out, and enjoying their little gardens as well.
Long Beach City Beach is below Bluff Park. It has an amazing playground in the sand with two huge tunnel slides and a giant rope climby. A four mile bike path runs along the sand, from Pig Beach in the south to Shoreline Village in the north.

Directions

Claire's At The Museum is located at 2300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803. There is free parking along Ocean Blvd- check the signs for times when parking is allowed.

Click on map for interactive view