Living in the shadow of Los Angeles for it's entire existence, Long Beach has often been overlooked as somehow less than a real city, but rather just a big town.
Famed during World War II for it's naval ship repair contributions, Long Beach has continued to be a port-dominated city even today.
The Port of Long Beach is currently the second-busiest in the United States. The Titanic-sized RMS Queen Mary, a luxury cruise ship in the Art Deco style of the 1930s, is permanently docked here and operates as a hotel and maritime museum.
The outskirts of Long Beach are mostly industrial, with heavy representation by the oil refining industry. In fact, when paired with the similar area in neighboring South Bay, they combine to supply nearly every drop of California's fuel supply.
This city of half a million has been undergoing a transformation in recent times, with the downtown area's rapid retail and residential development literally changing the skyline by the day. Many of the surrounding neighborhoods are revitalizing themselves as well, providing all the great dining, culture and nightlife that a real city needs.
