History & Background
"The Pike" is a downtown LB institution. Opened in 1902, the original "Pike", with its wooden dual-track "Cyclone Racer", brought thrills to generations kids & grownups alike. People loved the old bath house resort and Looff Carousel, along with dozens of roller coasters and other rides. Having gone through several economic and societal changes, The Pike eventually closed in 1979.
In an effort to revitalize downtown Long Beach, the new "Pike at Rainbow Harbor" was opened in 2003, and today provides a broad array of fun activities for families, both locals and from all over Southern California.
The Pike Today
The Pike today is a vibrant destination, full of things to do and see, and for its great eats! Officially known as "The Pike at Rainbow Harbor", The Pike is best known for wonderful restaurants, shops, and it still has several amusements, like the Giant (Ferris) Wheel (solar powered!), dinner cruises on the bay and whale watching excursions (sightings not guaranteed, but a good time is!). There is a neat structure around the main overpass to the Aquarium reminiscent of the old roller coasters that used to dominate the old Pike. Don't be fooled! There's no ticket booth.
The Pike has some terrific restaurants, including: Gladstones, P.F. Changs, Auld Dubliner Irish Pub, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, California Pizza Kitchen, KDB, Islands and Cold Stone Creamery. Plenty of valet parking at The Pike's "restaurant row". They even have a video arcade, a book store (Borders), The Laugh Factory and the Cinemark movie theater. There's even a hotel (The AVIA) in the Pike complex itself.
A marvelous outdoor venue, The Pike is great for walking along the Pine Avenue Pier waterfront, biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, sitting in the sun, running into friends, making new ones, exploring the tall ships and paddleboats, renting a Segway and watching the boats go in and out of the marina. You can relax, listen to concerts or enjoy the fountain...all in an afternoon.
Nearby
Also nearby are several wonderful Long Beach sites of interest and other treats, including: The Long Beach Aquarium, Parker's Lighthouse Restaurant, Long Beach Convention Center, plus the venerable Long Beach establishment, The Sky Room, at 40 South Locust (www.TheSkyRoom.com), and, of course, the Queen Mary (www.queenmary.com).
If you have time, check out nearby Shoreline Village. A popular favorite is the world famous Yardhouse Restaurant, featuring over 200 beers on tap! But that's another story...
Events @ The Pike
KDB Restaurant and the Laugh Factory have regularly scheduled events, and other restaurants and stores hold periodic special occasions, so check out the calendar at www.ThePikeAtLongBeach.com.
Directions and Parking
First of all, the AquaBus goes directly to the wharf at the Pike. That would be your best bet for the most fun. The Passport also has frequent stops at the Pike amusements
Driving:
• From the 710, take exit 1C on the left for "Downtown Long Beach toward Convention Center/Aquarium"
• Merge onto W Shoreline Dr
• Go about a mile and a half and watch for the parking structure on the left at Queensway Bay
• Or you can park at any of the fine restaurants on S. Pine Ave, just past the Aquarium on the right.
• Or you can try to meter park on main streets throughout The Pike: Aquarium Way, Bay Street or The Paseo
For more information:
• www.thepikeatlongbeach.com
• The Historical Society of Long Beach is located at 4260 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach; (562) 424-2220; www.HSLB.org
• www.lbtransit.com
• www.BeachCalifornia.com
• www.VisitLongBeach.com
Thanks to:
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pike
• www.millikanalumni.com/Pike/BestEmailStories.html
• www.angelfire.com/ca7/loyaltubist/Main.html
• California Digital Library, content.cdlib.org
Thanks for watching!
Barbara Irvine-Parker
(562) 208-9726
barbarairvineparker4@msn.com
www.barbara4realestate.com
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Revisit The Pikeby DennisMorawski15,401 views
I lived in Long Beach for 4 years. Now Im back in Japan and my heart literally ached when I watched this video...I miss LB SO MUCH!! :(
rwatanabe1611 1 day ago