Belmont Shore is the rare Southern California beach neighborhood that still feels like a neighborhood. It sits on a narrow peninsula in Long Beach with Alamitos Bay on one side and the open Pacific on the other, anchored by walkable 2nd Street. You can spend a whole trip here without moving the car — which is exactly the point.
Where it is
Belmont Shore occupies the southeastern corner of Long Beach, California, bordered by Alamitos Bay, Naples Island, and the beach. It's about 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles but feels a world away — quieter, sunnier, and built around the water. Our Shankton Peninsula suites sit right on the peninsula, 50 meters from the sand.
2nd Street: the main event
2nd Street is Belmont Shore's walkable spine — roughly a mile of independent coffee shops, restaurants, bars, boutiques, and ice cream counters. It's the kind of street you can wander any evening and find dinner without a reservation. A few local rhythms:
- Mornings: Coffee and a beach walk before the street wakes up.
- Afternoons: Browse the shops, then cross to the bay for a swim.
- Evenings: Dinner and a stroll — it's liveliest on summer weekends.
Alamitos Bay & Naples Island
The bay side is calm, shallow, and perfect for families. Rent a paddleboard or kayak, swim off the small beaches, or walk the waterfront path. Just across the water, Naples Island is a cluster of canals lined with homes — beautiful to wander on foot, and you can even take a gondola ride through the canals for something memorable.
The beaches
You've got two very different waterfronts within a few minutes' walk. The bay beach is protected and gentle — ideal for kids and easy swimming. The Pacific side gives you open ocean, longer sand, and surf. Both Shankton units include beach chairs and an umbrella, so you can just grab and go.
Food & coffee worth the walk
Belmont Shore punches above its weight for a small neighborhood — you'll find everything from casual taco spots and seafood to proper coffee and late-night dessert along 2nd Street and the surrounding blocks. Ask Jasmin, who runs our California homes, for her current short list; the good spots rotate and she keeps up.
Getting there
- Long Beach Airport (LGB): about 10 minutes away — the easy, low-stress option.
- LAX: 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
- By car: Straightforward from the 405 or PCH; each Shankton Peninsula unit includes one dedicated off-street parking space, which is rare here.
Parking (the one thing to know)
Parking is Belmont Shore's only real catch — street spots fill up, especially summer weekends. That's why a dedicated space matters. Each Shankton Peninsula unit comes with one off-street space included, so you're not circling the block after dinner. Street parking is available on most blocks if you need a second car.
When to visit
Long Beach is a year-round destination with mild, sunny weather. Late spring through early fall brings the warmest beach days and the liveliest 2nd Street evenings; winters are quiet, pleasant, and a great time for a calmer, cheaper stay. If you want a summer weekend, book early — the peninsula fills up.
Stay in the middle of it
50 meters to the sand. Walk to everything.
Shankton Peninsula has two rooftop-deck suites on the peninsula — book one for up to 6 or the whole building for 12. Book direct — no platform fees.