Photo Friday: Long Beach, California

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Right before the wedding, I headed down to LA and the OC just shy of a week to do a few stories for the California board of tourism’s annual Visit California guide. SVV joined me for the weekend, and we ventured on over to Long Beach bright and early Sunday morning.

long beach, california, travel, photography

Of course, SVV was stoked because this meant we got to explore the historic Queen Mary. Being a former Navy guy and all-around dork when it comes to planes, trains, boats and the like, nothing quite gets SVV as high as the chance to wander a retired ship at leisure.

long beach, california, travel, photography

Me? Well, I was just happy to be outdoors in a sundress, as we haven’t had that luxury since I moved here in over a year in San Francisco.

long beach, california, queen mary, travel, photography

As you probably know, the Queen Mary now serves as a hotel. It also hosts this amazing Sunday champagne jazz brunch where, for $39 a person ($12 for children), you get an unlimited buffet (and mimosas). And when they say buffet, they mean it; one afternoon at the Queen Mary and you’ll need a bigger pair of jeans (which is precisely why you’ll always see me in dresses, particularly when dining out—strategy, my friends). There were at least 20 different tables that served everything from cakes and pies to traditional brunch fare to Mexican and Chinese cuisine to oysters. An odd mix, sure, but we weren’t complaining—the food was pretty divine.

long beach, california, queen mary, champagne brunch, travel, photography

Then, we walked off a fraction of the calories by heading up top. I’m not going to lie: I may have pretended (in my mind) like I was on the Titanic. Tell me you could go aboard a ship of such splendor and not think the same thoughts.

long beach, california, queen mary, champagne brunch, travel, photography

The ship is said to be haunted—there are even paranormal tours and a haunted maze during Halloween season—but I wasn’t scared: After all, I was traveling with a walking weapon. Guess that broken arm was good for something after all—personal defense!

long beach, california, queen mary, champagne brunch, travel, photography

(And this was the “small cast,” too; you really should have seen the original club they used to outfit the patient.)

long beach, california, travel, photography

Even if you don’t want to partake in the brunch or stay at the hotel, I’d recommend a visit up to the top deck, if for nothing else, the views.

long beach, california, queen mary, champagne brunch, travel, photography

*All photos taken by SVV or me with a Canon T1i, 17-855mm lens, housed in a LowePro SlingShot.

**For more Photo Friday fun, visit Delicious Baby.

COMMENTS
  • September 17, 2010

    Fun little journey. I haven’t been on the Queen Mary in over 30 years. Don’t think it was a hotel then.

  • September 17, 2010

    I would totally frame that one through the porthole. (it is a porthole, right?)

  • September 17, 2010

    I’ve run past the Queen Mary lots of times but never knew they served brunch. You had me at mimosa. I have to try it out.

  • September 17, 2010

    Ay Dios mio, pobre Scott!!!! I have to try that brunch some time! Cute sundress. 🙂

  • September 17, 2010

    My dad took me on a tour of the Queen Mary when I was a little girl. I seem to remember mannequins? (I was a strange little girl who LOVED mannequins)

  • September 17, 2010

    My boy likes walking around old ships and airplanes, too. I imagine I’d enjoy it more if they were full of yummy things!

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