As Valentine’s Day approaches, Long Beach offers a kind of romance that feels timeless, unhurried, and quietly magical. It drifts through calm water, passes beneath arched bridges, and echoes with stories carried across generations. Few experiences capture that spirit quite like a gondola ride through the canals of Naples Island.
The Gondola Getaway was founded in 1982 with a simple but ambitious idea: to bring the old-world charm of Venetian gondolas to the waterways of Long Beach. The setting could not have been more fitting. Naples Island itself was developed in the early 1900s as a Venetian-style neighborhood, complete with winding canals, decorative bridges, and waterfront homes designed to celebrate life on the water. Gondolas first appeared here as early as 1903, making the connection between Long Beach and Venice more than just symbolic.
For more than three decades, Gondola Getaway has focused on authenticity and craftsmanship. This is not a novelty ride but a living tradition. Each year, the company trains a team of gondoliers who travel to Venice to row and race alongside locals. They are the only American team to have participated continuously in Venice’s historic rowing events for more than 30 years. Those journeys shape everything they bring back to Long Beach, from rowing techniques and boat handling to the stories and spirit that define the gondola experience.
That dedication is perhaps most clearly reflected in the Vogalonga Regatta, a long-distance rowing marathon through the Venetian lagoon. Since the mid-1980s, Gondola Getaway crews have returned to Venice year after year, rowing mile after mile through canals and open water. Living, eating, and training alongside Venetians, they absorb traditions that cannot be learned from books or manuals. Those experiences become part of every ride back home, adding depth and soul to what might otherwise be a simple outing.
Valentine’s Day rides through Naples Island feel especially fitting. The gondola glides quietly through the calm waters of Alamitos Bay and into the meandering canals of Rivo Alto and Napoli. Couples pass beneath bridge after bridge, each one connecting another piece of the island’s fabric. The Accademia, Ravenna, Toledo, and Neapolitan East bridges appear in gentle succession, leading eventually to the beloved Treasure Island bridge. The rhythm of the oar, the soft movement of the boat, and the intimacy of the setting create a sense of privacy that feels rare in a busy city.
What keeps guests returning year after year is not just the scenery. It is the personality of the gondoliers, the elegance of the Venetian craft, and the feeling that something meaningful is being shared. These boats are not replicas built for display. They are specialized Venetian vessels imported and adapted for Long Beach waters, some of which exist nowhere else outside of Venice itself.
Romance here is also rooted in tradition. Gondola Getaway is deeply involved in preserving Venetian culture through events such as the Festa Della Sensa, a celebration dating back more than a thousand years. In Venice, the ceremony symbolizes the city’s marriage to the sea. Since 2016, that same tradition has been re-created in Long Beach, complete with a ceremonial ring tossed into the water, a rowing regatta, and a communal feast featuring local Italian restaurants. It is a reminder that the gondola is not just about romance but about honoring a relationship with the water.
Behind it all is founder Michael O’Toole, whose vision continues to guide the company. His belief that authenticity matters has shaped everything from gondolier training to cultural exchanges between Long Beach and Venice. Today, Long Beach’s status as a friendship city with Venice reflects that shared commitment to culture, history, and connection.
On Valentine’s Day, those values translate into something beautifully simple. A gondola ride offers couples a chance to slow down, to listen, and to be present. There is no rush, no traffic, and no need for grand gestures. Just water, movement, and a tradition that has crossed oceans to find a home in Long Beach.
For those looking to celebrate love in a way that feels genuine and memorable, the gondolas of Naples Island offer more than a ride. They offer a story, one that has been unfolding for more than a century, and one that continues to drift gently through the canals every single day. For more information, visit gondolagetawayinc.com/.
