Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/14049
HOME & GARDEN : THE OUTDOORS When you hear the name Billie Jean King, you think two things: tennis and perfection. That's exactly what patrons get at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. With eight lighted courts, a 24-hour res- tringing service, private, semi-private and group lessons and a fully stocked pro shop, Long Beach's next tennis champion is practicing right now at this location. TENNIS Long Beach lost an icon when Java Lanes was demolished, but thankfully Lakewood's Cal Bowl is there to pick up the slack – and the spares. Whether it's Friday and Saturday night Cosmic Bowl or $1.75 a game after 9PM Sunday through Tuesday, this alley has got you covered. BOWLING When your clubs have been collecting dust and your swing is off, do yourself a favor and hit the driving range at Recreation Park before stepping onto either Recreation Park South 9-Hole Golf Course or the neighboring Recreation Park 18-Hole Golf Course. Those of us on the links thank you in advance. GOLF Nestled adjacent to Cal State Long Beach, Whaley Park is the ideal location to toss a baseball, softball or football with friends— thanks to an open field and plenty of youngsters to help old timers feel like kids again. PLAY CATCH In addition to being home of the area's best outdoor basketball courts, the Bayshore Handball Courts are also home to two handball courts located a stone's throw from the water. It's first come, first served, so get there early if you want a workout that's intense and lots of fun. HANDBALL Gym memberships can be expensive, but there's no need to break the piggy bank thanks to the exercise equipment at Bixby Park. EXERCISE Let's face it: Long Beach's oceans aren't exactly the ideal swimming environments. Fortunately, there's the Belmont Plaza Pool. With 16 heated lanes, diving boards, water polo facilities and a weight room, diehard and amateur swimmers can enjoy the unique workout that comes from traversing through water. SWIM Most people know the cemented lanes at the ocean as a bike path, but thanks to a roller skating insurgency, you're bound to find nearly as many four-wheelers enjoying the fun and sun as two-wheel enthusiasts. ROLLERSKATE When you live near an ocean, there's usually only one place to ride your bike and that's the bike path. But in Long Beach, we've not only got a great one of those, but four others to make your tires jump for joy. Whether you're digging the scenery at El Dorado Park Bike Path, Heartwell Park Bike Path, the Los Angeles River Bikeway or the San Gabriel River Bike Trail, you're destined for a ride both exhilarating and enjoyable. RIDE A BIKE Built in 2004, Houghton Park is the place to be for skateboarders and in-line skaters to drop in on bowls from four, six or seven feet or skate street style on an array of rails, stairs and banks. SKATEBOARD There is no better retreat from the hustle and bustle of big city life than leaving your worries behind and walking through one of the many trails at the El Dorado Nature Center. Choose between a quarter- mile, one-mile or two- mile trail and marvel at plants and animals can exist peacefully within our concrete jungle. WALK/HIKE Who needs little things like goal posts to play soccer? Not the regulars at Bixby Park, who use trash cans as goal markers to engage in the world's most popular sport while overlooking the Pacific Ocean. SOCCER Belmont Shore is home to many great activities and one of them is beach volleyball. Whether you're a total novice looking for some fun in the sun or striving to be the next Misty May-Treanor, the sand beaches and permanent nets just south of the Belmont Pier are waiting for you. VOLLEYBALL Do you enjoy throwing a Frisbee but crave more competition in the activity? Then look no further than the El Dorado Park Disc Golf Course, where lush trees are an amazing sight but also a hindrance for 18 fun-filled holes. DISC GOLF All those bicycles, roller skaters, skateboarders and pedestrians can make the bike path a difficult jaunt for runners looking to break a sweat. By staying atop the stairs and running at Bluff Park, joggers not only get an elevated view of the water, but also get a glimpse of the remarkable homes along Ocean Avenue. RUN The sand at your feet, the wind altering your shot and the attractive beach- goers passing by separate the would-be ballers and streetball legends at the two outdoor courts at Bayshore Handball Courts. BASKETBALL GET OUTSIDE It's a hectic world out there. Everything from jobs, families, traffic, the state of the economy and world issues can wreck havoc on our stress levels. We have two choices in dealing with stress: choose to live like an ostrich and ignore these concerns or do the healthy thing and stay active. As local residents, we are incredibly fortunate to live in an environment with choices of an array of outside activities ranging from water sports to tranquil nature walks— all within our metaphorical backyard. For your consideration, these are some favorite local outdoor activities: WRITTEN BY RYAN RITCHIE