Bright Lights, Big Ocean

The Aquarium of the Pacific is offering another way to test your sea legs this summer. Every weekend from June 18 through September 5, the Urban Ocean World Port and Sealife Cruise will explore the co-existence of natural and manmade worlds with close up views of operations at the port as well as the majestic harbor bridges and the breakwater and encounters with the pelicans, gulls, sea lions and other wildlife that share the water with international ocean-going vessels. The two hour excursion is narrated by aquarium staff who share facts about the area and discuss how individuals can preserve the ocean for future generations. Tickets cost $29.95 for adults. No information is given on the website about how many cruises are offered each Saturday and Sunday or when the cruises set sail. Call (562) 590-3100 ext. 0 for more information

Queen for a Day!

Spent a lovely day aboard the Aqualink AND the Queen Mary yesterday. The price to ride the Aqualink is now $5 one way, but I had two 2-for-1 coupons for me and my son. My other son brought his bike on board and then rode home from downtown. Three other people had bikes too. Sounds like a good premise for a travel article. A thoroughly eco weekend. A thoroughly modern beachfront. Look mom no sand! Hmm, needs some tweaking.

I got half price tickets from Goldstar for the Ghosts and Legends tour. The entrance for the tour is different from the general entrance, which made for a lot of wasted time wandering around. Once we did get to the tour entrance, we waited on the gang plank with about 15 people for about 5 minutes. Our tour guide was great with just the perfect amount of knowingness as he delivered the sometimes over-the-top references to ghosts and gore and grizzliness. It was fun going to places that are usually off limits like the swimming pool and the hull at the bow of the ship, but it was too dark to really get a feel of what the locations looked like and the piped-in screams and moans and gurgles were way too loud.

We strolled around the deck a little while and had some coffee with a great view of the Long Beach skyline and the undivided attention of a gaggle of pigeons. We didn't pick up the earphones for the audio tour just walked around and read placards here and there. We walked over to the Queen Mary Gateway and all the the shops are empty. I would have thought they could fill that place to cater to the cruise ship passengers. Maybe they should start a new ghost tour in that little prefab ghost town.

On the cruise back to Alamitos Bay, we noticed a lot of wildlife-- pelicans, seagulls, and even some seals sunning themselves on the buoys. I tried to get a picture, but I was so excited I didn't wait for the camera to focus. Something in the effort to clean up the harbor area is working.

Which Way to Gilligan's Island?

Long Beach Harbor offers free 90-minuted narrated cruises from May through September, but you have to be on your toes to snag a seat. Upcoming tours are posted two months in advance, on the first work day of each month at 8 a.m. According to my razor sharp calculations, cruises for August should be fed to freebie sharks like me starting Monday June 1.

Tours are scheduled on various Saturdays and Tuesdays of each month. The boat cruises by the huge gantry cranes and cargo ships as well as some of the wildlife habitats still existing amidst the industrial encroachment, so there’s something for everyone. The tours begin and end at Shoreline Village and validation for a reduced parking rate is available on board the boat.