Peninsula

At a Glance

•  Neighborhood: The Peninsula 
• City / ZIP: Long Beach, CA 90803 
• Property Types: Single-family homes, condos, limited multi-family 
• Best Known For: Ocean and bay access, sailing culture, tight-knit community, Sublime heritage 
• Adjacent To: Belmont Shore, Naples Island

Overview

The Peninsula is a mile-long strip of land at the southeastern tip of Long Beach, bordered by the open Pacific to the west and the calm waters of Alamitos Bay to the east. With roughly 500 homes and a single access point at Bay Shore Avenue, it's one of the most self-contained — and sought-after — neighborhoods in Southern California. Residents often describe it as feeling like a private island, where neighbors know each other and the water is part of daily life on both sides of the street. 

Ocean Side vs. Bay Side

The Peninsula has two distinct personalities. The ocean side fronts the open Pacific with wide sand, onshore breeze, and unobstructed sunsets — the classic SoCal beach house experience, commanding a premium for direct frontage. The bay side borders calm Alamitos Bay, where many homes have private docks for boats, kayaks, and paddleboards, and the Bayside Walk runs the full length of the neighborhood. Both sides are exceptional; the right fit comes down to lifestyle. 

Real Estate Snapshot

Inventory here is small by design — the geography ensures the neighborhood will never expand. Single-family homes make up the majority, with condos and limited multi-family rounding things out. Value is driven by direct water frontage, dock rights, renovation quality, and proximity to Bay Shore Avenue. Well-priced homes move quickly, and buyers tend to be informed and decisive. 

Lifestyle & Culture 

Olive by the Bay, the neighborhood's Mediterranean-influenced café, anchors local dining and caters the Peninsula Neighborhood Association's free summer concert series at Alamitos Park — Sunday evenings, June through August. Sailing, paddleboarding, and the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club round out water-based life, while Belmont Shore's 2nd Street and Naples Island are minutes away. The Peninsula also holds a piece of Long Beach music history — Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell grew up here, and the neighborhood's beach culture runs through the band's identity to this day.

 Schools

• Naples Elementary K–5 A (Niche) 
• Will Rogers Middle School 6–8 A (Niche) 
• Wilson High School 9–12 A (Niche) 

Getting Around 

Bay Shore Avenue is the Peninsula's only access point — quiet most of the year, busier on summer weekends. The Bayside Walk and ocean beach path make daily life walkable and bikeable, with the 405 and PCH close by and downtown Long Beach about 15 minutes away. 

Is the Peninsula Right for You? 

The Peninsula isn't for everyone — and that's exactly what makes it what it is. The tradeoffs are real: limited inventory, a single access point, tight summer parking, and a dining scene that's more modest than neighboring Belmont Shore. In exchange, residents get a genuine beach community on two bodies of water, neighbors who know each other by name, free summer concerts with the bay as a backdrop, and a lifestyle that's genuinely hard to replicate anywhere else in Los Angeles County.