Wet Lands

Hike in Long Beach and Visit Honest Abe Cider House and Meadery

Honest Abe Cider House and Meadery

Got a need for mead? Before you wet your whistle at Honest Abe Cider House and Meadery (LA’s first of its kind), whistle while you walk through the Dominguez Gap Wetlands in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach.

Park at the expansive lot at C. David Molina Park and find the Dominguez Gap Wetlands at the western edge of the park, marked with a historical sign. Originally a flood control basin, in 2008 the city renovated the space to a 37-acre wetlands preserve. See it on a 2.3-mile rectangular loop through the riparian environment. Head south along the wide dirt trail that borders the river (to your right) and the wetlands (to your left). 

Dominguez Gap Wetlands

While the natural sights are unchanging during this flat stroll, they are incredibly picturesque. As you walk under sycamores, look to the water for the plentiful resident waterfowl, including ducks (of both the mallard and wood duck variety), coots, and cormorants. There are also bridges along the way for some picturesque photo ops.

undefined

If you’re looking for more Bixby Knoll history and nature, check out Rancho Los Cerritos, a national historic landmark only a few miles from Dominguez Gap. Free to enter and full of helpful docents, explore the indigenous garden trail (look for the popcorn bush, named for the smell its leaves produce) and check out the historic adobe and museum, once home to the father of Long Beach, Jotham Bixby!

Bonus Mead: After all that history, you’re surely thirsty! Head to Honest Abe Cider House and Meadery, now partnered with SoCal Vibes Co. You can try a variety of local beer and cider, but we recommend you go for the mead tasting flight. They are all delicious, and perfect for autumn. We really liked the Cactus Kooler (orange and pineapple) and Wildflower (if you prefer dry). Grab a snack and a table outside.

To get to the Dominguez Gap trailhead at C. David Molina Park, take the I-710 southbound to the Del Amo Blvd. exit. Turn left at Susana Rd. followed by an immediate left onto Del Amo Blvd. Take the first right onto Oregon Ave. and the park will be on your immediate right. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Camp at Goose Lake in the Lakes Basin

    Duck, Duck, Goose!

    Try to get a first-come, first-served campsite at one of the Lakes Basin’s lakeside campgrounds. We love Goose Lake Campground, where there are just 13 sites and no motorized boats.

    View
  2. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

    View
  3. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View
  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Let's Go to Paso!

    Paso Robles is a good idea in all seasons, but one season brings a special bounty: harvest season! Road-trip ready and teeming with fall colors and fun events, Paso Robles is the ultimate destination for unique autumn experiences.

    View
  2. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View
  3. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View
  4. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

    View