Perfect Plants for Your Patio

As summer in Southern California begins to wane, it is time to think about spending more time on your apartment’s patio. The cooler days are the perfect reason to get out on your balcony and what better way to add to the ambiance than by adding plants.  Try adding these plants to your patio in your Long Beach apartment.

Agave is the perfect patio plant.  It is heat tolerant and nearly impossible to kill.  They are perfect for sunburns too!

Canna plants can add a tropical look to your patio.  They love the sun and come in various shades of red, yellow, orange, and pink.

Bamboo is known as the “Lucky Tree” and lucky for you it is easy to grow.  Bamboo plants make a dramatic statement, they love lots of sun and moist, well-drained soil.

Check out your local home improvement store or garden centers in Long Beach for inspiration to brightening up your apartment’s patio.

Rio 2016 – Local Athletes and Where to Watch Them

Southern California will be represented big time in the Summer Olympics with many athletes coming from Long Beach or the surrounding cities.  Check out this list of athletes and some great spots to watch them compete near your Long Beach apartment.

Local Athletes

Track and Field

Ariana Washington

Long Beach, CA

Water Polo

Tony Azevedo
Long Beach, CA

Kaleigh Gilchrist
Newport Beach, CA

John Mann
Newport Beach, CA

Sam Mikulak
Newport Beach, CA

Aria Fischer
Laguna Beach, CA

Makenzie Fischer
Laguna Beach, CA

Kaleigh Gilchrist
Newport Beach, CA

John Mann
Newport Beach, CA

Swimming

Tom Shields
Huntington Beach, CA

Local Sports Bars

Bottoms Up Sports Bar

Legends Restaurant & Sports Bar

Cirivello’s Sport Stop

Sports Pub & Grill

Check Out These Awesome August Events

shoreline
From concerts in the park, to local festivals, to outdoor movies, August is set to be the best month of the summer of 2016.

84th Annual Long Beach Sand Sculpture Art & Music Festival

August 13th (1oam to 9pm) and August 14th, (10am to 6pm)Granada Beach

Enjoy live music, kids’ activities, sculpture competitions (even one for amateurs) a Craft Beer & Wine Garden, Food Court and more!  Don’t miss the illuminated sculptures at night.

Website

Movies in the Park

7:30 – 9pm at Admiral Kidd Park

There are still so many great movies at the Long Beach Movies in the Park Series.  Check out the schedule, grab a chair and catch a movie under the August summer stars.

Shoreline Symphonic Winds

Friday, August 5, 2016 7pm – 8:30pm – Wardlow Park

Listen to the sounds of the symphony in the park.  Check out the Long Beach Park website for more dates.

 

 

5 Weekend Getaway Ideas

family-campingWhy book a trip to a touristy beach resort this summer when these off the beaten path weekend escapes are more affordable and let you discover less known destinations.

Follow these five getaway ideas for the perfect weekend escape.

Rent a House

A hotel is relaxing, but why not rent a house instead.  Websites like AIRBNB, VRBO, and Home Away make it safe and easy to find a house to meet your needs.  Houses are typically cheaper than hotels, accommodate larger groups, and let you explore an area as a resident and not a tourist.

Go Camping

A weekend in the woods is the perfect solution for your hectic daily life.  Plus, it is cheaper than a hotel!  Pitch a tent, rent a camper or a cabin for the perfect family getaway.

Take a Cruise

Many area cruise lines offer two or three day cruises to local harbors or even no where.  These affordable vacations are an ideal way to escape the daily grind.

Get Lucky

Got your attention on that one, didn’t we?  Spend a night or two at one of Southern California’s casinos and spas. And, well maybe you will “get lucky”.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

Explore a museum, stay at a BnB, rent a kayak, or take a tour in Long Beach.  There really is so much to discover just minutes from your apartment in Long Beach.

 

 

 

Family Fun Activities Near Your Long Beach Apartment

family-fun5Whether you are looking for some ways to solve the “I am bored” summer syndrome or have friends with families coming to visit you at your Long Beach apartment, we have put together some fail proof family fun activities and places to visit.

Livingston Drive Park

Livingston Drive & 2nd Street
Long Beach, CA 90803

Website

El Dorado Nature Center

7550 E Spring Street
Long Beach, CA 90815
Website

Long Beach Hydrobikes

110 N Marina Drive
Long Beach, CA 90803
Website

 

Poolside Snack Ideas

northpointe
Your beautiful Long Beach apartment has so many great amenities, so why not plan to stay home, work out in the fitness center, read a book (or kindle) by the pool and maybe have a late night supper or snack poolside.  Here are some easy summer pool side recipes.

Tropical Guacamole and Chips or Pita Bread

Guacamole and chips are a summer time staple.  Adding some pineapple, jalapeno, fresh squeezed limes and cilantro to store bought guacamole will make it a crowd pleaser.

Sunny Orange Lemonade

Make a simple syrup by bringing 1 1/4 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a boil.  In the meantime squeeze 3/4 cup of lemon and orange juice (about 4), add lemon and orange zest, pour in to a pool safe pitcher and let sit.

Fresh Fruit on Skewers

Fresh fruit skewers are the perfect choice for relaxing by the pool.  Buy fresh fruit and melons from the Long Beach farmers market, cut it and add thinly sliced meat and raspberry vinaigrette.   Let sit for an hour, then skewer the fruit.

Fun Fish Sandwiches

Kids and adults will love these easy to make and fun to eat sandwiches.  Spread peanut butter and jelly on bread, using a fish-shaped cookie cutter, cut them in to small bite sized finger sandwiches.  Place them on a platter and keep cool until it is time to serve.  You can substitute pb&j for tuna, egg or chicken salad for a more adult version.

Summer Fun in Long Beach

Summer is a great time to spend time with family and friends and take in everything that Long Beach has to offer, from free movies in the park, to live outdoor concerts, there are so many great things to do this summer near your Long Beach apartment.

Several of the parks in Long Beach offer FREE outdoor movies.  This is a wonderful way to spend a hot summer night.  Here is a schedule and a link to the Long Beach Recreation’s website for more info.

Movies in the Park

Wednesday, July 6, 2016, 7:30pm – 9:00pm – Heartwell Park

Hotel Transylvania 2 

King Park

College Estates Park

Orizaba Par

Stearns Champions Park

Live Music

Whaley Park

Los Cerritos Park

Marine Stadium

El Dorado Park West

Bluff Park

El Dorado Nature Center

King Park

El Dorado Nature Center

These are a few of the summer events near your apartment in Long Beach.

Weekend Destination Spots Near Long Beach

Planning to get away this weekend for a night or a weekend?  Why not try these great California get away destinations.

Ojai

Ojai is located 2 and a half hours from your Long Beach apartment.  Explore small antique shops, marvel at the Spanish architecture, pick fruit or enjoy a pie from the many fruit groves, and taste wine at the local wineries.  If you are going to spend the night there are some great options, from historic inns to resorts and romantic B&Bs, there is plenty to choose from.  Here are a few:

  • Lavender Inn
  • Ojai Retreat
  • Acacia Mansion

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is the perfect weekend vacation spot, located 2 and a half hours from Long Beach, it has wonderful beaches, a long pier and some top-notch inns and wineries.  Nestled below a mountain range, it is always a bit cooler than Long Beach and LA.

Idyllwild

Idyllwild is a sleepy little mountain town located 2 and a half hours from Long Beach.  The ride up and down are part of its lure, but the small shops and good restaurants are a bonus.  Rent a cabin or stay at one of the motels on the mountain.

Take Dad Fishing this Father’s Day

Father’s Day always conjures up memories from ones childhood and one of those memories often is of fishing with Dad!  Whether you fished with your father or not, Father’s Day is a great day to renew or start a new tradition.

These highly rated fishing companies offer sport fishing for groups or individuals and go out daily.

Check their websites for pricing and schedules.

Long Beach Sportfishing

555 Pico Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Long Beach Marina Sport Fishing

180 N Marina Dr, Long Beach, CA 90803

Aztec Toronado Fishing Charter

200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

If catching fish is not Dad’s idea of a fun day.  The Aquarium of the Pacific has a fun Father’s Day barbecue on Sunday, June 19th.

 

Summer Balcony Decorating Ideas

You are lucky that one of the many features in your Long Beach apartment is a balcony!  A place where you can get out and read a book or enjoy the warm summer nights.  To help you enjoy it we have put together some great outdoor decorating ideas and buying tips that won’t cost you an arm and a leg or take too much time.

  1. Add a chair (or two), decorative pillows, a matching rug, a small table, and a plant!  This is an easy an inexpensive way to spruce up your patio.  Home Goods, Pier 1, and World Market have some great selections.  Don’t be afraid to mix and match!
  2. Nothing is more soothing than water, so why not buy or make a small water fountain and create your own balcony oasis.  Here is a link to steps to make your own bamboo water fountain, but many of the local home stores sell small fountains as well.
  3. Hang or place a lantern on your patio. Shop an old consignment store for an old lantern and place it on a table on the deck or use 3-com hooks to hang it from the top of your deck.  Add a candle for instant ambiance.   Don’t forget to turn it off or purchase flameless candles from Bed Bath and Beyond.

These three decorating tips will make enjoying your apartment’s balcony more enjoyable.