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City in California, United States
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Huntington Beach is in Orange County in Southern California. Huntington Beach is world-famous as "Surf City", from the 1960s Jan and Dean surf rock song of the same name, and much of surfing culture started and continues to evolve there, from surfing styles to surfing apparel companies that started there.
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Huntington Beach boasts the largest unspoiled coastal wetlands in California where many migratory birds stop and nest.
The second most popular sight here, after the beach itself. The is held around here. Many of the upscale restaurants and bars are located near here.
A shopping and gathering place for residents and tourists alike, with sidewalk cafes, surf shops and live music all vying for attention.
It has some of the largest stretches of open-sand beaches in all of California, as well the Huntington Beach Pier (one of the longest concrete piers in the world), site of world-class surfing and volleyball events yearly.
Located south of Beach Boulevard.
One of the most famous places to surf. Contains the pier.
Popular spot for family barbecues.
It was an unincorporated community until annexed by Huntington Beach in 2011. The northernmost beach in Huntington Beach, north of the Warner loop and west of Huntington Harbour. Funkier and less pretentious than other parts of Huntington Beach, home to several dive bars.
There is a wide boardwalk right by the pier. It is part of the Huntington Beach Bike Path. The Bike Path runs for about 8 miles along the beach. Heading south along the boardwalk is likely your best scenic scenario. Walking, riding a bike, running are all very safe. Many very good runners go out first thing in the morning, often as soon as the sun comes up.
You can try your hand at surfing. There is a surf rental shop right at the boardwalk. Start with a boogie board for the day circa $15. There are many good surfers so they may get annoyed if you stand in the waves too long. Keep moving; this is your best bet. If you get tired get out (of their way) by heading to the hot sandy beach to rest up for more.
Take a walk up the main street. There are a number of restaurants and a Starbucks.
There are so many bars on Main St. that you can meet with friends at any of them and have a great time drinking, dining, or dancing.
Great Mexican food & Margaritas. There is no better view of the Huntington Beach pier than Fred's patio. Good prices and a favorite of the locals.
Located a few blocks from downtown, this place offers a full menu of extremely tasty tacos, burritos, and other Mexican cuisine served from behind a counter. Prices for a giant burrito are around $5.50 (includes guacamole, cheese, meat, and a choice of other fillings). Two pool tables are also available for $0.75 per game.
Japanese restaurant with nice atmosphere and a red-lit sushi bar. The prices are good for quality sushi. Try the lunch time menu offered during the weekdays which includes bento-box meals that are enormous for about $10, and the sushi and sashimi lunch specials are half the price of the dinner versions.
A favorite cafe for locals, famous in Huntington Beach for great breakfasts and amazingly low prices.
Basic strip mall restaurant with excellent authentic Italian food.
This upstairs bar and grill has a luau vibe and friendly staff. This may be the only place you can go where it would be wrong not to ask for a rainbow (Rainbow is the name of their world-famous tropical drink).
Family style dining in a casual atmosphere. "Great vibe... great food... great place."
Casual restaurant near Bella Terra & Huntington Harbour Serving New American Food. Craft beers, burgers, seafood, and BBQ. Outside patio that's dog-friendly with free parking.
Sports bar with frequent live music on weekends. Also winners of multiple local awards from various establishments. Daily specials and live sports, too.
Good, cold beer and a delicious menu. Their appetizers are tough to beat.
Delicious drink options include blended drinks such as their Rum Runners, and the food menu has Caribbean cuisine. It's a cool place to be with great "scenery" for the guys, but the service isn't always nice to people in large groups. Happy hour 4-7PM everyday.
Whether you want a Guinness on tap or delicious Irish cuisine, Killarney's is well-suited to fit your needs.
Great microbrews, bar food, and outdoor seating.
Located inside the Hyatt, Vacationers and locals take advantage of nightly happy hour, 4 - 7PM in the Pete's Bar. Complimentary valet parking available for up to three hours, with a minimum purchase of $25 and proper validation. Enjoy a sunset cocktail!
Great place for beers and a game of pool with friends.
Small tiki bar with a very chique interior and two pool tables. Great selection of drinks. Wheelchair accessible. Also has a patio.
Unpretentious dive bar with wide selection of seafood and frequent live music.
In spite of what it sounds like, it's not exactly on the coast.
A luxurious Spanish-inspired hotel with views of the Pacific. Includes a heated pool, direct access to the beach, surf pros, tennis, biking and Camp Hyatt.
Free breakfast in the morning.
7 suites. Pet friendly, Shades Restaurant & Bar, Tennis court, Fitness center, volleyball court, and laundry facility.
This upscale transformation of what once was the Huntington Mall is a vibrant city center. It is just off the 405 at the Edinger exit. The Cinemark movie theater opens up to a courtyard that regularly plays host to musical performances, dance shows, and other fun activities. Second only to downtown in the number of restaurants from sushi at Kabuki to burgers at Johnny Rockets, to the eponymous dessert at The Cheesecake Factory.
Surf accessories and apparel.
By car
Huntington Beach is located at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway, just under 14 miles directly south of Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park.
By train
Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink's Orange County Line serve Santa Ana, Tustin, Buena Park, and Irvine.
OCTA Route 1* North and South runs along the Pacific Coast Highway, servicing all of Orange County's beaches. Routes 33 and 35 South directly run into Huntington State Beach.
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Santa Ana · International · SNA
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