Neighborhood Guide To Huntington Beach
(credit: David McNew/Getty Images)
Huntington Beach is home to more than 10 miles of uninterrupted beaches and is known as Surf City USA for good reason. It was Duke Khahnamoku that brought the sport of surfing to Huntington Beach in 1925 and the first US Surfing Championship was held in the city in 1959. the USA Surf Team then adopted Huntington Beach as its official home in 2005, where the Association of Surfing Professionals North America now calls home. The city is home to the casual trendsetting life in both fashion and food for the west coast. Here are the places to visit when in Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach Pier
Main St. & PCH
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
(714) 536-5511
www.surfcityusa.com
More than 11 million visitors come to Huntington Beach for the infamous Huntington Beach Pier. Its ideal location is great for those looking to be in the sand and water during the day and then hop over to downtown Huntington for food, drinks and entertainment. Those with canine companions can also enjoy a day at the beach at the Huntington Dog Beach. All amenities are included during your time at the beach with parking, restrooms, showers and fire rings. With more than 500 fire rings, Huntington Beach has a reputation for being the bonfire ring capital, which is on a first come first serve basis. The city has more than 1,000 parking spaces near the beach and annual beach parking passes are available to allow for discounts for frequent visitors. This year the city will be attempting to break two Guinness World Records with 60 professional surfers set to ride a custom built 42-foot long surfboard on June 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Fred's Mexican Cafe
300 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 201
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 374-8226
www.fredsmexicancafe.com
For many locals, Fred's Mexican Cafe is a beloved tradition. The friendly staff, the crowd, location and bar scene is one that keeps people coming back. Taco Tuesdays keep this place very lively with folks coming in to enjoy the food, drinks and view. There will always be great music, funky decor and high energy when you enter the restaurant, and it is just a short walk from the beach.
Pedego Electric Bicycles Tour
301 5th St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 465-2782
www.pedegoelectricbikes.com
Taking a tour of Huntington Beach is best done by bike, and Pedego is a staple and integral part of the city for doing just that. In its third year, the electric bikes make biking a more feasible task. Self-guided tours are available through four locations including Huntington Beach Pier, which was constructed in 1903 and rebuilt three times since.
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Downtown Huntington Beach
Main St. & 5th St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-551
www.hbdowntown.com
Just a short walk from the beach is downtown Huntington Beach with its many boutique stores, surf shops, restaurants and entertainment. There is an endless amount of eateries here, each representing various cuisines to enjoy. The visitor kiosk also has information for first time visitors for events that are taking place and best places to visit while in the area. There is a self-guided tour you can pick up and enjoy viewing the history behind downtown Huntington and its mellow and casual environment.
International Surf Museum
411 Olive Ave.
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 960-3483
www.surfingmuseum.org
The Surf Museum is one of the 125 icons of Orange County, and for good reason. Huntington Beach is one of the thriving surfing capitals of the world and interestingly enough, was founded by a woman that never surfed. Founder Natalie Kotsch was originally from Canada, but very quickly realized the importance of the surf culture in the city. She managed to preserve, catalog and bring to the public the history of surfing and the importance of Huntington Beach to surf culture. The museum is free for all to come and enjoy and view the rare items that Kotsch was able to preserve in the museum.
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