Planning your trip to Long Beach, San Pedro and Catalina Island

Gondola Getaway, 5437 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; (562) 433-9595, www.gondo.net. Since 1982, this 10-vessel company has offered gondola tours of the waterways of Naples in southern Long Beach. Cruises (50 minutes) start 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Cost is usually $85 a couple, $25 a person for groups of seven to 19 people.

Tantalum, 6272 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach; (562) 431-1414, www.tantalumrestaurant.com. In a corner of the Marina Pacifica mall, with unexpected views of Alamitos Bay and big happy-hour crowds. Asian fusion menu, big bar area, lots of Asian-tropical atmosphere. $$

Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach; (562) 590-3100, www.aquariumofpacific.org. Adults $24.95, children 3-11 $13.95. With Queen Mary admission, $36 for adults, $21 for children. With LA Zoo admission, $33 for adults, $22 for children. Packages with boat cruises and behind-the-scenes tours also available (prices subject to change). Open 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. daily (except Christmas and during the Long Beach Grand Prix usually a weekend in mid-April).

Bubba Gump, the Pike at Rainbow Harbor, 87 Aquarium Way, Long Beach; (562) 437-2434, www.bubbagump.com.$$

P.F. Chang, 340 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach; (562) 308-1025, www.pfchangs.com. $$

Parkers’ Lighthouse, 435 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach; (562) 432-6500, www.parkerslighthouse.com. Surf, turf and 144 patio seats. Lunch and dinner. Burgers, gumbo and sushi and rolls go for $7 and less during weekday happy hours. $$-$$$

555 East, 555 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; (562) 437-0626, www.555east.com. An old-fashioned steakhouse with checkerboard marble floors and lots of dark wood. Dinner nightly, lunch weekdays. Don’t overlook the meat loaf (available at lunch only). $$-$$$

Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach; (877) 342-0738, www.queenmary.com. Tours ($25-$75 depending on tour) and hotel rooms. $-$$

Hotel Maya, 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach; (562) 435-7676, www.hotelmayalongbeach.com. $-$$$.

Hilton Long Beach & Executive Meeting Center, 701 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; (562) 983-3400, www.hilton.com. $-$$$

Hyatt Regency Long Beach, 200 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach; (562) 491-1234, www.longbeach.hyatt.com. $-$$$$

The Westin Long Beach, 333 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; (562) 436-3000, www.westinlongbeachhotel.com. $-$$$$

Retro Row, East 4th Street from Junipero to Cherry avenues, Long Beach; www.4thstreetlongbeach.com.

Trebor Nevets, 2116 E. 4^th St., Long Beach; (562) 901-0600, www.trebornevets.com.

Imonni Nanala, 2016 E. 4^th St., Long Beach.

4^th Street Vine, 2142 E. 4^th St., Long Beach; (562) 343-5463, www.4thstreetvine.com.

Open Books, 2226 E. 4^th St., Long Beach; (562) 499-6736, www.thestoryofopen.com.

Lola’s Mexican Cuisine, 2030 E. 4th St., Long Beach; (562) 343-5506, www.lolasmexicancuisine.com. Lunch and dinner. Spicy tortilla soup. $/$$

Number Nine, 2118 E. 4th St., Long Beach; (562) 434-2009, www.numberninenoodles.com. Noodles, spring rolls, salads, sandwiches, beer and wine, served in a deep, narrow, white space. Try the Vietnamese lemonade. $

Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach; (562) 437-1689, www.molaa.org.

Long Beach Museum of Art, 2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; (562) 439-2119, www.lbma.org.

Belmont Brewing Co., 25-39th Place, Long Beach; (562) 433-3891, www.belmontbrewing.com. Hand-crafted beers, patio with a beach view and a spot next to the Belmont Pier. Good chowder and bread. $

Open Sesame, 5201 and 5215 E. 2nd St., Long Beach; (562) 621-1698, www.opensesamegrill.com. $$

Catalina Express, 95 Berth, San Pedro and 320 Golden Shore St., Long Beach; (800) 481-3470, www.catalinaexpress.com.

Pavilion Hotel, 513 Crescent Ave., Avalon; (310) 510-1788 or (800) 626-1496, www.visitcatalinaisland.com. $$-$$$

Avalon Grille, 423 Crescent Ave., Avalon; (310) 510-7494, www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/dini_avalonGrille.php. This sleek new Catalina restaurant (with horseshoe bar in middle) sits along the Avalon waterfront, offering American regional dishes. Lunch and dinner year-round, Wednesdays through Sundays, and lunch and dinner daily in summer. $$-$$$

CC Gallagher, 523 Crescent Ave., Avalon; (310) 510-1278, www.ccgallagher.com.

Snug Harbor Inn, 108 Sumner Ave., Avalon; (310) 510-8400 or (888) 394-7684, www.snugharbor-inn.com. $$-$$$

Catalina Island Vacation Rentals, 119 Sumner Ave., Suite B, Avalon; (800) 631-5280, www.catalinavacations.com.

Big Olaf’s Ice Cream, 220 Crescent Ave., Avalon; (310) 510-0798.

Golf Gardens, 10 Island Plaza, Avalon; (310) 510-1200, www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/acti_golfGardens.php.

Descanso Beach Club, 1 Descanso Ave., Avalon; (310) 510-7410 or (800) 626-1496, www.visitcatalinaisland.com.

Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour, 1 Descanso Beach Club, St. Catherine Way (just past the casino building), Avalon; (800) 626-7270, www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/tour_zipline.php.

Angels Gate Park, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro; (310) 548-7705, www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/angelsGatePk.htm.

L.A./South Bay Hostel, Hostelling International, Angels Gate Park, 3601 S. Gaffey St., Building 613, San Pedro; (310) 831-8109, www.hiusa.org. Four private rooms, 56 beds in all (52 dorm beds). Open mid-June through early September, closed in other seasons. All bathrooms shared. In San Pedro’s Angels Gate Park, overlooking a grassy knoll and Korean Friendship Bell. Communal kitchen, free breakfast (pancakes and coffee), free parking and Internet, no alcohol. Rates $24-$60 per person, with $3 discounts for members. This location puts you a full 32 miles south of the Hollywood sign, but step outside and you have a grassy park with a 270-degree view of the ocean and Catalina.

Marine Mammal Care Center at Ft. MacArthur (next door to the South Bay Hostel), 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro; (310) 548-5677, www.marinemammalcare.org.

Point Fermin Park and Lighthouse, 807 W. Paseo del Mar, San Pedro; (310) 548-7705, www.sanpedro.com/sp_point/ptfmpk.htm.

Walker’s Café, 700 Paseo del Mar, San Pedro; (310) 833-3623, www.walkerscafe.com. $

The Corner Store, 1118 W. 37th St., San Pedro; (310) 832-2424. $

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro; (310) 548-7562, www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org.

Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles, 1 Ocean Trails Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes; (310) 265-5000, www.trumpnationallosangeles.com.

Terranea Resort, 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes; (310) 265-2800 or (866) 484-5558, www.terranea.com. $$$-$$$$

Nelson’s, 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes; (310) 265-2702, www.terranea.com. $$

Wayfarers Chapel, 5755 Palos Verdes Drive S., Rancho Palos Verdes; (310) 377-1650, www.wayfarerschapel.org.

Price guide to hotel and restaurant listings:

The hotel price-range indicator shows approximate beginning rates for a room for two, before taxes.

$: Less than $150 a night

$$: $151-$250 a night

$$$: $251-$400 a night

$$$$: $401 a night

The restaurant price-range indicator is based on cost per person for a meal, before drinks, tax or tip.

$: Less than $10

$$: $11-$30

$$$: $31 and beyond