Beach Walk + Cambodia Town

Take a Walk on Long Beach and See the Mural Art in Cambodia Town

Woman standing an looking at mural wall art in Cambodia Town Long Beach Los Angeles

A trip to the coastal city of Long Beach is not complete without a … long walk on the beach … 3.5 miles (out and back), to be specific. But we recommend adding a little extra to the outing with a less-visited 2-mile bonus walk through Cambodia Town, featuring local murals and delicious food.

Woman standing at a mural welcoming here to Cambodia Town in Long Beach

Woman walking along the sidewalk at Long Beach in Los Angeles County

Find street parking near Bixby Park at the corner of Cherry Avenue and Ocean Boulevard. Here you’ll find the historic concrete pad remains of a gun battery as well as a panoramic view of the city’s beautiful beachfront. Take the stairs or ramp down to the sand and find a mural on your right, representing the now-closed Bixby pedestrian tunnel.

Woman walking alongside poppies at Long Beach in Los Angeles County

To the west is the more-popular Alamitos Beach. Head east along the pedestrian multi-use walkway or dip your feet in the sand along Junipero Beach. Notice the boats surrounding a nearby island? This is Island White, one of four artificial oil islands (the only decorated ones in the US) named after astronauts who lost their lives in service.

The Lone Sailor sculpture in Long Beach

Woman walking at Belmont Pier Memorial in Long Beach

Woman standing with The Lone Sailor sculpture in Long Beach

Take one of the next two staircases on your left, leading you to Bluff Park. It’s a great alternative to the sand and provides more expansive views. You will also find plenty of California golden poppies and other wildflowers, along with The Lone Sailor sculpture, one of a series of replicas around the US honoring the Navy. At the eastern end of the park, head back down to the beach, reaching Belmont Pier, another memorial for those who have served. Check out Belmont Brewing Company for a local beer and outdoor dining and, if you brought your dog, visit the neighboring stretch of sand—Rosie’s Dog Beach, the only one of its kind in Long Beach.

CAMBODIA TOWN: Long Beach has no shortage of public art, but some of the most unique can be found in the city’s historic Cambodia Town, home to the largest Cambodian community outside the country itself. Park on the street and start your walk at the corner of Alamitos and Anaheim, heading east on Anaheim Street. We recommend using this map for your tour. (Note: Not all artworks are listed, so look for more!) You’ll start with “The Golden Boy” right before Orange Avenue on your left. 

Mural wall art in Cambodia Town Los Angeles County Long Beach

There are numerous artistic offerings, but highlights include “Unity through the Strength of Diversity,” which emphasizes the Latino and Cambodian influence of the area, and “The Spirit Within,” a massive piece across the United Cambodian Community Center façade welcoming visitors. Head back to your car by heading south on Orange Avenue for 2 blocks to find a satisfying reward. At 10th Street, there are more murals and Crystal Thai-Cambodian Cuisine, our favorite for takeout in the area. You can’t go wrong with the myriad Cambodian curries on the menu, but we also like Lok Lak (a savory meaty dish), Somlor Machu Yuon (Khmer sweet and sour soup) and Papaya Salad to round it out. Nyam bai!

To get to Bixby Park and Junipero Beach, take the I-710 south to Shoreline Dr. After 2.3 miles (passing the famous aquarium), take a right onto Ocean Blvd. After 1 mile, you reach Junipero Ave., the park, and the start of the beach walk (find street parking here). Dog-friendly (but not on the beach)!

Story and photos by Matt Pawlik.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View