Alamitos Bay Marina, Long Beach, CA

Alamitos Bay Marina is the boating corner of Long Beach, where docks, launch ramps and shipyards line the water just north of Naples and east of Second Street. The neighborhood runs from the waterfront restaurants of Alamitos Bay Landing up to the busy shopping at Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway, and most days the view is masts. Housing here is mostly apartments and condominiums set close to the marina channels, plus Belmont Shores Mobile Estates on Marina View Drive and some single-family streets near the Bixby Village Golf Course. Many buildings are oriented toward the water, and slips, dry storage and boat services are part of everyday life for a lot of residents. For the outdoors, Jack Nichol Park on Costa Del Sol Way and Sim's Pond at Loynes Drive and Pacific Coast Highway are both nearby for a walk. The San Gabriel River Bike Trail starts at the east edge and runs north for miles, and Davie's Launch Ramp puts small boats in the water. Boathouse On The Bay has bay-view dining, The Crab Pot and San Pedro Fish Market both lean on seafood, Ballast Point Brewing pours its beers by the water, and Schooner or Later handles breakfast on Marina Drive. Errands are easy. Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Gelson's with Renaud's Bakery all sit within a few blocks, which is rare anywhere in the city. Seal Beach is just across the river, and the 405 and 22 are a short drive north. The intersection of Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway is one of the busiest in southeast Long Beach, and weekend traffic around the shopping center tests patience. On the docks, though, Alamitos Bay Marina runs on boat time, and the best hour is late afternoon when the sailboats come back in.