There is still time to head over to the Queen Mary and take a ride on the Observation Wheel. The Wheel made its debut appearance at the Long Beach landmark mid-May and will be there until June 17.
About Your Visit
The Wheel is said to be the biggest traveling observation wheel in the entire Western Hemisphere. Each cabin can fit up to eight guests, and refreshments are available for purchase before and after the rides (sorry, no food or beverages are allowed inside the gondolas).
If you’re looking for stunning views of Long Beach, this is your chance. You’ll get to see the Long Beach skyline and views of the iconic Queen Mary like you’ve never seen before. Cabins are climate controlled so you won’t have to worry about the weather ruining your plans either.
You can enjoy a ride on the Wheel with family and friends during the daylight hours or after the sun goes down. Rides start at 11:00 AM and go into the night time when the Wheel lights up with over half a million LED lights.
More About the Wheel
The Observation Wheel is fairly new to the United States. It was built in the Netherlands and arrived here in 2017, and is the largest Observation Wheel ever to be set up in Long Beach. Prior to its location near the Queen Mary, the Wheel was set up in the Coachella Valley to be used at the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals.
The Wheel is named La Grande XL and reaches 164 feet tall—so it’s no wonder that it’s believed to be the largest traveling observation wheel in the Western Hemisphere. Ronald Bussink Professional Rides designed the behemoth wheel, and the R50XL construction came to the United States from the Netherlands in 22 separate containers.
Important Things to Know Before Your Visit
Each gondola fits 6-8 adults and they are all enclosed. There are no height restrictions to ride, and you can let the staff know if you have any special needs or requirements and they will happily assist you. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for children, seniors, and military with an ID, and children 5 and under can ride for free.
If you’re looking for a fun and affordable activity that the whole family will enjoy, head over to the Queen Mary and take a ride on the Observation Wheel before it heads off to its next location. If you’ve never toured the Queen Mary this would be a great chance to make a whole day out of it and take a tour, too. They offer a range of tickets (General Admission, First Class, and Grand Voyage), or you could even do an Aquarium of the Pacific/Queen Mary Combo ticket. We have all these exciting attractions in Long Beach so we may as well get out there and enjoy them.
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