They aren’t really trees, but they float and they light up, and they’ve expanded far beyond Alamitos Bay. The Trees in the Bay have become a uniquely Long Beach holiday tradition.
Sixty-six floating wooden pyramids will light up on Thanksgiving night. The City actually starts anchoring the trees in early October to have them “trimmed” and lit by Thanksgiving night. I don’t believe there is another city in the World that has such a display of floating Christmas trees!
The tradition certainly began in Long Beach. The story goes that Long Beach resident Don May decided in 1949 to send a traditional Christmas tree floating out into the bay on a raft. By 1953, the live tree was replaced with a wooden frame, stabilizing the lights.
At first, the city footed the bill for the program. But by the mid-1970s, a group called the Trees in the Bay Committee formed to keep the trees in the upper bay lit, and the Alamitos Bay Beach Preservation Group, the Peninsula neighborhood group, jumped in later to have the trees stretch down the bay beach.
Now, nearly 70 trees are available for holiday decorations with seven in Colorado Lagoon. There is even one on top of the Belmont Pier and rainbow lagoon in Downtown Long Beach.
Gondola guests will notice that some of the trees look more like the popular red, white and blue Bomb Pops popsicles than Christmas trees. That tradition dates back to 2001, when John Amick, a marine maintenance employee, came up with the idea to show the city’s patriotism. Amazing enough is that this year the Naples Islands decor and parade theme is “Star Spangled Christmas!’ How about that?
The city is working on the next generation of trees for the city, with a design for a solar-powered LED display. That would eliminate the bulky electrical cables – and the cost for the electricity.
They all will be out of the water and stored away by mid-February.
All of the trees, with the exception of those in Colorado Lagoon, will be set on timers Thanksgiving Day.
The trees will be lit at dusk on Thanksgiving and stay lit nightly through New Year’s Day.
SLEIGHS ON THE BAY
VENETIAN SLEIGH RIDES IN LONG BEACH? AT THE GONDOLA GETAWAY IN LONG BEACH
A HOLIDAY BOAT CRUISE WHILE NAVIGATING PICTURESQUE CANALS FLANKED BY HOMES COVERED WITH GLITTERING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND COLORFUL DECORATIONS IN A VENICE-STYLE GONDOLA IN A JOYFUL VOYAGE OF THRILLING ENCHANTMENT?
A GLAD EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND AN UNSURPASSED GIFT FOR THOSE IN ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS.
WE CRUISE THE CANALS EVERY NIGHT OF DECEMBER ‘SANS’ CHRISTMAS DAY.
The Islands of Naples in Long Beach turns into a Charles Dickens Christmas Carol in December, and no one captures its Holiday ambience better than the famed Gondola Getaway, which has a fleet of gondolas plying the canals of an idyllic sanctuary with breath-taking sights.
“I don’t think there is any place in Southern California that is more alluring during the Christmas season,” “This is our 36th year of operation, and each year we’ve thrived to make improvements. I don’t think there is a more unique and uplifting way to celebrate the Holidays than a cruise on one of our gondolas.”
This has become the quintessential experience for married couples and for single couples deeply enamored with each other and families too—but the regular-size gondolas can seat up to six. The large gondolas have a capacity of 14—and many businesses across the years have used them for their Christmas parties. Cuisine Cruises are only available (only during the day) in the month of December. The rest of the year both day and night.
These will be catered by the legendary Belmont Shore Italian eatery, Domenicos, and will be delivered to the largest vessel on the Gondola Getaway fleet, the Caorlina, which we had this unique design shipped over from Venice. It has a large mahogany table on it, and there will be plenty of pizza, pasta and salad to eat and the sweet nectars of grape to drink. Remember, Cuisine Cruises only available until 4 PM in the month of December!
And many people across the years have purchased Gondola Getaway gift certificates as a Christmas offering for friends and family members, much to the later enjoyment to those blessed to receive them. There are many ways to experience the Holiday season but no more compelling way than floating around the canals of Naples immersed in a euphoric reverie.
Further information can be obtained at www.gondo.net, or at (562) 433-9595.
The Gondola Getaway will be offering its totally unique way to see the Holiday lights for its 37th year in a row! The Islands of Naples become a fairytale setting for the Month of December and the Gondola Getaway offers the most unique way to experience the Holiday celebrations. “Naples Islands might very well be the most enchanting place on Earth during the Holiday season, and experiencing it by gondola truly is the bow on top of the gift.” We have this wired after 36 years!” The Gondola Getaway experience of course can be a romantic adventure for two, but the our Gondolas fill up with family and friends this time of year. Our large Gondolas seat up to 14 passengers for the Ultimate Venetian Sleigh ride. We offer all the experience of a Christmas Sleigh ride….without the snow. We replace it with starlit skies, inky black calm water in the Canals of Naples Island. We still have warm blankets if needed but its not gonna snow on your parade. Grab a nice big bottle of Red, a Hot Toddy or some decadent Hot Chocolate and come on down and do what may fill you more christmas spirit then you thought you could handle. What a 3D gift to your honey or family!
Speaking of gifts, the “gift of Romance” is and has been trending for 1,000’s of years and the gift of a Gondola ride shows that you are not just the run of the mill Kris Kringle . A Gondola Getaway gift certificate is unique, appreciated and will be used for that special occasion. It will stuff a stocking like no other. The most thoughtful family or employee gift on the market today!
Our Gift Certificates replicate an Italian Passport so it is like you are sending your friends, family or employees on a trip to Italia!
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