Not only does Bay Shore Avenue boast a legit packed beach, but Naples is famous for its nod to Italy including ritzy homes crafted in Italianate style and romantic gondola rides through the narrow canals ringing the islands and steered by gondoliers in striped shirts. I continue aboard my scooter all the way until I reach the neighborhood of Naples which actually consists of three islands (including an island within an island) that spill into Alamitos Bay. I decide to beat summer’s sweltering heat (which in coastal Long Beach is only 77 degrees) with a scoop of mango chamay ice cream in a cup, but of course I also sample flavors like Thai Tea and Green Goblin. I’m back on my scooter moments later, but a few blocks down the road am slamming the brakes when I pass plantbased vegan ice cream shop Hug Life (2707 E. The place is a perfect ten on the hipster scale (they even have swings inside the shop), and the product curation is fantastic. a combination clothing store, café, home goods emporium, men’s barber shop and nursery.
My favorite store along Retro Row has to be the Hangout (2122 E.