Vacation in Huntington Beach, CA
There's Lots of Fun in the Sun for the Entire Family in Surf City
From the Farmer's Market and the Surf Concerts at the Pier to the outdoor cafes and trendy shops on Main Street, Huntington Beach is a Perfect Vacation Spot.
The city of Huntington Beach is steeped in history. Known mainly as Surf City because of its famous surfing spots and tournaments, it once housed the famous music club of the 60’s and 70’s, The Golden Bear. People flocked nationwide to hear some of the best bands and musicians of the time. Today, this West Coast beach city is still a hubbub of entertainment and activity, and is a great vacation destination for both kids and adults.
Main Street
This trendy street is packed with local surf shops (Huntington Surf and Sport even has renowned surfers’ handprints, footprints, and signatures cast in cement along the sidewalk in front of the shop), outdoor cafes, restaurants, bars and boutiques. Because the weather is generally mild, walking and window shopping is a popular draw, year round, for both locals and tourists alike.
Art-A-Faire and the Farmer’s Market
These are both held at the foot of the Huntington Beach pier and are fun places to go on the weekends. The Farmer’s Market is open every Friday from noon until dusk and is stock full of fresh produce, flowers, bread and nuts. The art faire is held every weekend beginning in April and running through December. It features 70 vendors that offer handmade arts and crafts. There is also a good selection of collectibles ranging from paintings and furniture to one of a kind jewelry.
Surf City Nights
This carnival like atmosphere takes place along the first three blocks of Main Street every Tuesday night between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. It is can be a fun family event or one to go to with friends. There is always a farmers’ market, a bounce house (for the kids), street performers (musical and non-musical acts), sidewalk sales, and specials from the local restaurants.
Huntington Central Park
The name may conjure up visions of the historic park in New York City, but this one has a personality all its own. There is 354 acres of trees, rolling lawns and lakes, combined with picnic tables, barbecues, playgrounds, restrooms, and six miles of paved trails and dirt paths. Some of the highlights include the EquestrianCenter that is 25-acres of bridle paths and public trails. Visitors can rent a horse by the hour or take a one-hour guided tour. Lessons are also available but children must be at least 7 years old.
There is also Adventureland that is geared for the kids. They can raft on a small pond, go down a mudslide, navigate a rope bridge or build forts. Geared to ages 6-12, kids must wear tennis shoes and expect to get dirty! This is open mid-June through mid-August only, from 10 a.m. -5 p.m.
Finally, there is the Disc Golf Course that was designed in 1976 by Ed Headrick, the sport's founder. It is considered one of the world’s original disc golf courses and has patented Pole Hole targets. It sits amid tree-lined hills and a lake providing obstacles and traps. Pros and amateurs should enjoy this 54-par, 18 hole course along with the 5,400 feet of space that expands to 6,100 feet for tournament play. Open Monday through Friday, the entrance fee is $1.50. Saturday and Sunday the entrance fee is $2.50. Children 15 years and younger get free admission daily. The park is located at 18000 Golden West Street. Open daily from 6 a.m. -10 p.m.
Other Fun Attractions
Like most beach cities along the California coastline there are always constant year round activities. Huntington Beach has beach volleyball, bicycle cruising, kite flying, surf concerts at the pier, and the Annual Grunion Run. There are also surf schools running regularly, promising to have you up on a board within a few hours. Some attractions exclusive to Huntington Beach, however, are The International Surfing Museum, the US Open of Surfing that’s held every July, and the Taste of New Zealand, scheduled for September 20-21. There will be wine tasting, short films, and chefs flown in from New Zealand, cooking up some of the country’s finest cuisine.
