Tis the season for weekend getaways! Summertime is one of my favorite times of the year (second only to Christmas time) and now that I’m settled into a new city, one of my favorite things to do is take weekend trips. Of course I wish I could leave for a little bit longer than just a day and a half, but I’ve actually really come to enjoy quick trips as a way to explore a new place I’ve never been. A few weekends ago, The Cove Hotel in Long Beach invited Akash and I to stop by the hotel for a visit, and the timing couldn’t have been better. After a busy couple of weeks full of back-to-back traveling, I honestly couldn’t think of a better way to unwind than to spend a weekend by the pool.
It was a short and sweet trip, but I’m excited to recap the yummy food we ate + highlights from the hotel!
LONG BEACH EATS
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
I take my fried chicken very seriously, so you know I’m not kidding when I say that this place was the freaking bomb.com. The chicken is a bit spicy, but I’m such a baby and even I could handle it, so y’all will probably be fine. My mouth is legitimately watering as I’m sitting here writing this post. Their mac & cheese is also amazing, but the absolute best part of the whole meal is dessert. The pecan pie here is to die for. Ask for a scoop of ice cream on top, and you’ve got heaven on a plate.
The best part is that we actually found out that there’s one of these in LA, so you can bet I’ll be stopping by all the time now.
A super cute brunch spot! Near the water too, so perfect for a bit before a beach day.
To be honest I didn’t totally love this place, but it was decent. I had their fish and shrimp tacos, and those were great. Akash ordered their lobster roll, and it really wasn’t great. If you’re in the downtown Long Beach area and looking for a bite to eat, it’s decent!
After dinner at Pier 76, we stopped by The Pie Bar for dessert. The Mississippi Mud pie is amazing – we ordered a pie shot flight, and I scarfed those babies down so quick. Delicious!
THE COVE HOTEL
The hotel was perfect for our little staycation! We spent the majority of the weekend eating + lounging by the pool. By Sunday afternoon, I felt so rejuvenated and ready to hit the ground Monday morning. (Monday morning was a different story though.) The staff at the hotel was so kind, and we had the best time. It’s a pretty small property, so you don’t have to worry about a ton of people walking around all the time. When we visited, there were a few families and other small parties there at the same time. Obviously I would’ve preferred to have the pool all to ourselves, but honestly I can’t complain.
My absolute favorite thing about the hotel was the bedding. Y’all, I keep reminding myself that I need to call the hotel to ask what brand the sheets were, so I can get them for my own apartment. They’re so soft and so cozy, I need them ASAP.
The hotel hooked it up with one of their executive king suites, and we were lucky to have a ginormous bathroom, complete with a rain shower.
Around the hotel there’s really not much to do, but if you’re just wanting to do a weekend staycation, I honestly can’t think of anything better. Plus, it’s a 2 minute walk from Gus’s, so… Now I’m trying to plan our next weekend trip, and can’t decide where to go! We’ve done Palm Springs, Laguna Beach, Carlsbad, La Jolla, and now Long Beach. Any suggestions?
