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Warm weather has (finally) arrived: 4 ways to celebrate

Has anyone else here experienced a prolonged or perhaps an inaugural year of seasonal depression? (✋). Forget June Gloom, it’s been a long, dark six-month winter as far as I’m concerned. I’ve gotten so pale, I swear, when I finally don a swimsuit again, you will almost be able to see my lungs.

“I guess we live in Seattle now,” I’ve often griped to friends. 

I appreciate you, sweater weather, but I’m ready to move on to the Southland summer that I left San Luis Obispo County for years ago. Although, in two weeks, I’m sure I’ll regret bidding said sweater adieu. 

OK, end rant. I think you can tell that I’ve missed the sun, no matter how much I’ve enjoyed wearing a leather jacket in June. 

Here are four free or affordable outdoorsy activities to enjoy as it continues to heat up in town. 

Park it for the day (free)

I am a huge fan of park hangs.

For me personally, with the right weather, supplies, snacks and company, there’s almost no better way to spend the day. And depending on how hard you go on packing your picnic, it’s very affordable. 

Long Beach has 169 parks, and according to Trust for Public Land’s ParkServe data, 83% of residents here live within a 10-minute walk from one of them. 

There are many parks I’ve yet to explore in Long Beach but some of my favorites are Marine Stadium (which also has a beach), El Dorado Park, Drake Park, Lincoln Park, Rose Park and Bixby Annex Park (the oft-misnamed stretch of green off Ocean Boulevard and Junipero Avenue). My go-to spot though, is the grassy area by the Colorado Lagoon.

Here’s how I’d prep for a proper park day: 

Step 1 – You must have snacks, if not a full-blown brunch/lunch/dinner spread. Find ready-to-go goods like sandwiches, salads, chips, fruit, dips, cookies—et cetera—somewhere like Trader Joe’s, Sprouts or Lazy Acres. Olives Gourmet Grocer on Broadway has premade sides, cheese platters, entrees and more. The Plant Butcher will soon be a good option for you veggie heads. Oh, and don’t forget to bring a cooler and something to put your trash in. 

Step 2 – Lots of parks have picnic benches, but I prefer to sit on the ground. Bring a blanket or tapestry big enough to fit you and yours on. 

Step 3 – You might want some other fun stuff like cards or board games. If you’re a sappy nerd like I am, you could also bring some short story or poetry books to read to your company. 

Catch a movie at Granada Beach (free)

Hot summer days tend to turn into hot summer nights. Just in time, Moonlight Movies on the Beach has returned—and each flick is free. 

A few years ago, I accidentally stumbled upon the large inflatable movie screen while I was taking an evening stroll down the beach path after sunset. I ended up grabbing an ice cream cone from a vendor and plopping right down on the sand next to dozens of others, but I’d recommend bringing a blanket or some beach chairs. 

Here’s the movie schedule for Granada Beach. 

• July 11: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” 
• July 25: “Lilo & Stitch” 
• Aug. 1: “Top Gun: Maverick” 
• Aug. 8: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” 
• Aug. 15: “Back to the Future” 

Ride boozy water taxi or the Rainbow Lagoon swans ($5 – $12)

Have you ever taken a ride on Long Beach Transit’s AquaLink? 

For $5, you can hop on the water taxi in Shoreline Village at Aquarium Dock 4, soak up a 40-minute scenic ocean voyage (which has a bar) and get dropped off at Alamitos Bay Landing Berth 3, which happens to be right in front of Ballast Point Brewing. Nearby, there’s also Malainey’s Grill & One Hell of an Irish Bar (that’s its real name) and Boathouse on the Bay.

Another relatively affordable afternoon or evening on the water can be spent aboard the swans of the Rainbow Lagoon Park in Downtown. Before you scoff at this activity, I swear it is actually a hoot (bad pun, wrong bird). 

Take a friend or a date on this fowl voyage (another bad pun, sorry) around the lagoon. Swan boats are $12 an hour, per person, and can be found at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and South Pine Avenue. Make a reservation ahead of time here.

Yoga under the sun (free)

First of all—do not forget your sunscreen for this.

Have you ever gawked at the dozens of people practicing yoga on the bluff as you drive along Ocean Boulevard past Bixby Annex Park? Now you can join them.

Class is hosted for free by Yogalution and starts at 11 a.m. daily on the corner Ocean and Junipero on the grassy bluff overlooking the city’s coastline.

How do you usually ring in the summer in Long Beach? Email me your suggestions.