Jetsettersblog

Often described as quintessential Southern California seaside communities, Long Beach’s Belmont Shore and Naples are known for their sandy beaches, calm lagoons, picturesque canals, elegant home lined boardwalks; and Second Street, a 15 block long shopping, dining and entertainment district featuring scores of restaurants, specialty shops and boutiques.

Located just minutes east of downtown Long Beach, Belmont Shore (or the Shore as it is affectionately referred to by local residents) and Naples have grown steadily over the years to become one of the region’s most popular day and nighttime family destinations.

By day, visitors to the Shore can sunbathe or enjoy a cool swim at any one of the many lagoons in Alamitos Bay. For avid water sports enthusiasts, there are designated areas for windsurfing, Jet Skiing and water-skiing (equipment rentals are available). Those interested in more leisurely activities may want to simply stroll along Second Street, sampling its many shops and restaurants or take a scenic tour of nearby Naples. Like Venice, Italy, which served as the inspiration for Naples’ master plan, the community was designed around an extensive canal system, giving the area a classical, romantic character. Romantic gondola rides in authentic Venetian gondolas and complete with serenading gondoliers allows visitors to capture the full romance of Naples Island.

Nighttime visitors to Belmont Shore and Naples can sample the area’s varied nightlife, including numerous clubs, coffeehouses and restaurants. Many of Second Street’s retailers are also open during evening hours.

Although it’s difficult to imagine, less than 80 years ago, Belmont Shore and Naples were part of the vast expanse of ocean wetlands that extended along Southern California¡¦s coast. Predating its modern development, the area was part of Rancho Los Alamitos, an early California rancho encompassing the area that is now the southeast portion of Long Beach, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Cypress. By the early 1900s, ownership of the Rancho had passed to the prominent Bixby family, which still controls a sizeable amount of real estate in the area.

When Belmont Shore and Naples were subdivided and the first commercial and residential lots went on sale in the early 1920s, much of the area was still submerged marshland. That, however, didn’t stop prospective landowners from crowding the office of developer McGrath & Selover in protest over the company’s three parcel limit.

The vision of those early real estate mavens was impressive, as was the engineering feat that paved the way for the exclusive seaside community. To elevate the land, developers dredged more than 2 million cubic yards of mud and sand from Alamitos Bay, widening and deepening the Bay and its channels in the process. Additional sand was imported from as far away as Mexico and the Pacific Northwest to enhance the appearance of the Shore’s beachfront and lagoons.

At the time of their original sale, parcels could be purchased for less than $2,000. Today, many of the homes in the upscale community sell for more than $2 million.

The half-century between the 1930s and 1980s witnessed constant change in the Shore, yet the area retained its quaint village feel. It was during this time that Second Street emerged as the main commercial strip.

Building on their reputations as activity centers, Belmont Shore and Naples host a number of special public events. The largest one day car show on the West Coast takes place on Second Street each September, as does the annual Christmas Parade in December. Naples hosts its annual Boat Parade each December, where brightly decorated yachts and sailboats cruise the canals in one of the most spectacular parades of the season.

Products of their rich history and excellent location, Belmont Shore and Naples have developed their own unique personalities over the years.

Each area contributes much to the overall community that is distinctly Long Beach.