It was my good fortune to have ample opportunity to visit any number of cities and countries during my business career. One particular domestic trip stands out since just about everything went right, starting with the airport and airplane experience and including my hotel stay and some quick sightseeing I managed to squeeze into my schedule. Long Beach, California was my destination and I began my journey at the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The terminal building is beautiful. When Finnish architect Eero Saarinen designed the passenger terminal for this gateway to the nation's capital, he envisioned a building that expressed movement and the excitement of travel. I think he succeeded. Dulles International was the first commercial airport to be designed specifically for jet-age travel. This northern Virginia airport has also been a hub for United Airlines since early May of 1986 when the carrier began service on 16 new domestic routes thus creating its hub status, so it was easy for me to book a nonstop early evening United flight directly to Los Angeles.
Since my flight was departing from the D Concourse, after checking in at the main terminal, I took the mobile lounge and headed for the United Club located next to Gate D8. Although United operates four clubs at Washington Dulles, this is the only lounge near the D gates. Once visitors check in at the upstairs reception desk near the entrance, they must head downstairs to access the lounge itself. It’s a rather old club with low ceilings, but to United’s credit, it was clean and offered plenty of seating options. There was a selection of complimentary beers, wines, and spirits available at the bar. There were also some cold food options, including a small salad bar, several brownies and cookies, as well as soup and a variety of sandwiches and vegetarian wraps. I passed on the food as I was having dinner on the flight and spent a few productive hours here before departure making phone calls and catching up on work.
The carrier was operating a B757-300 aircraft on the transcontinental route that evening. There were 24 seats in the forward cabin of the single-aisle plane in a 2x2 configuration with six rows. The seats were 20.4” wide with 5”of standard seat recline and 38” of seat pitch. I settled into my favorite spot - Seat 2B on the port side of the aircraft and enjoyed a pre-departure beverage as boarding was nearing completion. We took off on time at about 5:45 in the afternoon and within 15 minutes reached our cruising altitude of 38,000 feet. Cocktail orders were taken and tray tables were set with linen and silverware. Drinks were soon presented along with a ramekin of warmed nuts and shortly thereafter, dinner was served. I had preordered the Ropa Vieja Beef Enchiladas with Spanish Rice and Green Chile Sauce, which arrived on a tray with a preset dinner roll, a side salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing and an Apple Tart for dessert. A glass of Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s Just Enough Vineyards accompanied my meal, after which I finished up some work and had time to catch one of the latest releases on the in-flight entertainment system. We landed at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) a bit early, right before 8:00 PM local time after roughly five hours and 15 minutes’ flight time.
It took nearly 45 minutes to travel the 22 miles from the airport to the Marriott Long Beach Downtown Hotel, but the evening ride was a pleasant one and I surely wasn’t missing the notorious traffic frequently plaguing LA on the 405 Freeway Southbound. Located at the crossroads of downtown and the waterfront, this 4-star property is 12 stories high and featured 376 rooms and suites. Check-in was quick and I received an upgrade to a 320-square foot, King-bedded Club Guest Room with M Club access. This concierge lounge was open 24/7 and offered complimentary daily buffet breakfast from 6:00 to 11:00 AM, snacks from 9 in the morning until 10 at night, canapés from 5:30 to 7:30 in the evening and desserts from then until 9:30. Beer, wine and spirits were also made available at the M Club for an extra charge. The hotel featured a restaurant and lounge called Local Current while The Market was their coffee house, which also offered snacks, water and soft drinks for those on the go. This Marriott proved to be an excellent place to stay while conducting business in Long Beach and I did enjoy my two-night stay.
When my work commitments concluded, I made time to explore the area and discover several of its top waterfront attractions. One of the most famous is the RMS Queen Mary. In 1967, the Queen Mary completed her final voyage from Southampton, England, and docked in Long Beach, where she remains permanently moored. In the years since, the nearly one-century-old ocean liner has been transformed into a historic hotel and one of Long Beach’s top attractions. I was grateful to have the opportunity to explore its storied halls and learn of the ship’s history through on onboard tour. I learned The RMS Queen Mary was constructed in 1934 for the Cunard White Star Line. Named for Mary of Teck, wife of King George V and Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India from 1910 to 1936, the liner features a grand Art Deco design that sweeps throughout the ship. Its decor was fashioned from over 50 different types of wood from around the globe. Queen Mary's luxurious onboard amenities included two indoor swimming pools, a music studio, libraries, paddle tennis courts and telephone service that could connect callers to anywhere in the world. Her status as a passenger liner was short-lived, with the onset of World War II resulting in the ship’s conversion to a troopship for Allied soldiers. Following the war, the Queen Mary once again began shuttling passengers back-and-forth across the Atlantic Ocean until the onset of the Jet Age in the late 1950s resulted in decreased demand for sea travel and the liner’s eventual retirement.
Situated across the water from the Queen Mary on a five-acre site on Rainbow Harbor was the Aquarium of the Pacific. While the entrance fee was not inexpensive (at about $35.00 at the time), the experience was worth it. Opened in 1998, it’s the largest aquarium in California and occupies more than 360,000-square-feet of space along the harbor. The aquarium is one of the region’s top family-friendly experiences, welcoming over 1.5 million visitors each year to admire and study more than12,000 animals representing 500 species on view throughout over 100 exhibits, habitats and theaters. I spent several hours there. It was fascinating to experience it all up close and personal, including the many fish, eels, anemones, coral, sea otters, jellyfish, diving birds, giant crabs, and over 150 sharks and rays. In addition to its size and scope, the Aquarium of the Pacific is unique because it focuses exclusively on the Pacific Ocean ecosystem. showcasing a diverse range of marine life from different regions of the Pacific, including exhibits dedicated to Southern California, the Northern Pacific, and the Tropical Pacific, while also actively promoting conservation through educational programs and sustainable practices; making it one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive aquariums.
Of special note is that the many restaurants along the city’s waterfront offer a diverse range of culinary experiences, from upscale Southern California cuisine to fresh seafood fare. We had a business meal at Boathouse on the Bay and I would recommend it should you find yourself in the area. With spectacular water views and a memorable sunset on the evening of our visit, we chose to dine outdoors while watching boats cruising past on picturesque Alamitos Bay. The menu included prime steaks, a variety of seafood and an outstanding sushi bar, all of which meant no-one in our group had any trouble selecting a dinner entrée.
Only an hour southeast of Los Angeles, Long Beach seemed a world away with its beautiful beaches and bustling waterfront scene. I’m anxious for a return visit to this coastal gem.
Until next time…safe travels.
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