If you are a passionate surfer who likes sandy beaches, a unique beach town vibe, and great restaurants and bars, then Huntington Beach in California is a perfect place for you. Known as Surf City in the USA, Huntington Beach attracts thousands of tourists daily. Every year a lot of tourists decide to become residents, so this is one of the fastest-growing cities in this part of California.
One of the most exciting things that this place offer is the city’s 9.5-mile-long beach. Of course, romantic sunsets, perfect restaurants and bars, and different kinds of town attractions are on the “must-do” Huntington Beach list.
Huntington Beach Weather
When it comes to weather, Huntington Beach is located all along the Pacific Ocean so there is no extreme heat, rainfall, or cold. It sounds like perfect weather. Well, it is. Year-round high temperatures average from 18 C to 26 C. The coolest months are December, January, and February, and the warmest is from July to October.
Huntington Beach – What to Expect There
So now that we know all the basic information about HB, let’s back to the track. We give you a list of the best things to do in Huntington Beach. Enjoy!
Huntington Beach Pier
Huntington Beach Pier is one of the top attractions of Huntington Beach. This pier is the heart of this city and its only purpose is – fun. Pier invites tourists to enjoy a stroll along its 1,850 feet that stretch all the way to the Ruby’s Surf City Diner.
People come here to watch surfers, and surfers come here to meet their friends and “colleagues” and talk about their passion for surfing. Likewise, fishermen also love to come to the pier. So if you love fishing, this is the place to be to hear great fishing stories and perhaps learn some new techniques.
This place has unforgettable sunsets so it is the reason why there are hundreds of tourists every evening. During the whole year, travel and fashion bloggers come to the pier to take photos for their blogs.
A Little Bit of History of Huntington Beach Pier
It’s interesting to mention that this pier was built of lumber in 1904, but was destroyed by storms and earthquakes. Later, the pier was made of steel-reinforced concrete protected by epoxy. Now it can take almost every natural disaster. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
International Surfing Museum
No matter if you are a surfer or not, International Surfing Museum is the perfect place to stop and find interesting information about this beautiful sport. Attractions such as motorized surfboards, rare and restored surfboards, and a whole palette of other surf-related collections can be found in this museum.
And, if you are a surfer you must come here to take some insider tips on the best places to surf in the area.
Downtown Huntington Beach
Pier, sandy beach, perfect restaurants, great bars, nail salons, fashion boutiques, ice cream shops….all of this you can find in Huntington Beach downtown. So no worries, you will be entertained 24/7.
Of course, it’s good to mention that Tuesday is “the day”. On Tuesdays, during Surf City Nights, this town comes crazy alive; they close 3 blocks of Main Street for traffic, farmers start selling everything (flowers, crafts…) and there is music and live performances. There are also activities for children – bouncy castles, pony rides, dances, clowns…
Huntington Beach State Park
Huntington Beach State Park is on the Pacific Coast Highway and is long about two miles. This park is located between Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach south and the Santa Ana River on the boundary with Newport Beach.
This is the most popular beach and a great place to spend your day swimming, surfing, fishing or just chilling in the shade of an umbrella. But don’t worry, there are many activities for those who cannot just sit all day.
From volleyball courts and basketball courts to hiking and biking trails, you can choose what you like the most.
This beach is very popular, especially in late spring, summer, and the fall, when swells come from the south to produce prime waves. Swimming is fun but risky because of the strong current and rip tides. Likewise, this beach is perfect for fishermen who catch fish with their bare hands. We dare you to try that!
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is a 1,300-acre sanctuary for wildlife and migratory birds. And for the protection of the coastal wetlands and species that call it home.
Bordered by residences and oil fields on one side, and Pacific Coast Highway on the other, this is a perfect place where you can walk along 5 miles of trails and look at almost 200 species of birds.
Downtown, you can find Bolsa Chica Wetlands Interpretive Center off Warner Avenue to discover scheduled tours through this great sanctuary.
Huntington Dog Beach
If you have a furry friend who likes the beach, this is the perfect place for him. We all know that Californians adore their dogs, and that’s probably a reason why Huntington has a beautiful beach along the Pacific Coast Highway that is reserved for dogs.
Here, your pet will enjoy playing with other dogs, beautiful sunsets, running by the ocean, and hopping after Frisbees. Their human friends could also enjoy making new friends or just chilling with the old ones. There are green areas on this beach so you can enjoy a picnic, too.
Huntington Beach Art Center
The Huntington Beach Art Center is dedicated to presenting and showcasing artworks of all kinds of media by local artists. The purpose of the center is to encourage curiosity and promote understanding of contemporary perspectives as well as cultural and historic ones.
Every year, the Huntington Beach Art Center makes an open call to the community and receives submissions from up to 300 artists.
Huntington Beach Old World Village
Since 1970, this village is a place where you can shop and dine, all in an old-world setting. Designed with the cobbled street, giving it period vibes, this is the place where you will find plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars.
If you are with kids, this place is perfect for your family. All shops are private so the place gives an eclectic mix impression. There are a lot of gift shops, local handicrafts, and boutiques with unique clothes.
Interesting information is that this village hosts different kinds of events, even Oktoberfest.
Wrapping Things Up
We have reached the end of our Huntington Beach guide. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed reading it and you learned useful new information about this great destination. If you plan on taking a road trip there, and you have questions, don’t be shy and let us know in the comments. We will be more than glad to help you out!
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