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1126 Queen's Highway
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 562-435-3511
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Though Hollywood and Beverly Hills have their share of royalty, there’s nothing to compare with the stately queen that resides to the South. The Queen Mary, in permanent residence in Long Beach Harbor exudes the style and grace of a bygone era. But more than that, its massive size is truly awe-inspiring. Weighing in at hefty 81,327 tons and measuring 1,019 feet from stern to bow, the luxury liner is nearly twenty percent longer and twice as heavy as the Titanic. Daily guided tours let modern seafarers get a peek into not only the intricate detail and delicate beauty that decorate the ship, but also the raw strength needed to power this engineering marvel through the seas. And diners at Sir Winston’s restaurant get a taste of what it must have been like to be in those elegant dining rooms of days gone by.
Santa Barbara Mission
2201 Laguna Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: 805-682-4713
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In 1786, the Franciscan Friars arrived in Santa Barbara, and began construction on the Santa Barbara Mission. Originally built to convert the native Chumash Indians, it is one of the best-preserved Mission Churches in the state. The church and Friary are open for daily self-guided tours, and a visit provides a glimpse of this rich period in California History. Also of historical interest in Santa Barbara is the Santa Barbara Royal Presidio, located right downtown. In 1782, the Spanish Military established this fortress in the wilderness of California. It was the last of four outposts the Spanish built along the coast. Its Chapel and living quarters are still intact, and archeological digs nearby have yielded numerous treasures.
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
1130 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: 805-963-4364
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Those with a more artistic bent who visit Santa Barbara may want to tour the Santa Barbara Museum of Art with its acclaimed collection ancient, classical, and modern works. It was founded in 1941 and currently ranks amongst the top 10 regional art museums in the United States. A number of top artists are represented, among them are Thomas Eakins, Claude Monet, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Georgia O'Keeffe. Another bit of high culture here in town is the Santa Barbara Symphony, one of California’s finest orchestras.
Next to the Queen Mary
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 562-432-0424
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Anchored next to the Queen Mary is another of Long Beach’s many attractions, an authentic Soviet Submarine – the Scorpion. Dwarfed by its neighbor’s massive size, the Scorpion was a vessel with decidedly less luxurious accommodations. When it was in use at the height of the Cold War, its 78 submariners had to share just two showers and three toilets for months at a time. Modern visitors to the ship get a compelling if rather cramped view of life aboard one of the 79 Foxtrot subs built by the Soviet Military machine. It’s a fascinating relic of the realities of the Cold War.