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19 Ideas for What to Do in Huntington Beach
👉 Jump to: Best Things to Do | Beaches | Food & Drink | Non-Beach Activities
You won’t have to dig deep to find the best things to do in Huntington Beach. Most of them are within walking distance of the surface… specifically, the surface of the Pacific Ocean! Known as Surf City, USA, this California beach town has unquestionably nailed the branding.
I’m an LA local who lives just 45 minutes away from Huntington Beach. I’ve spent most of my life discovering the best of Huntington, and I’m stoked to share some of my favorites.
Whether you want to hang ten or just hang out, the awesome Huntington Beach attractions I’ll go over in this guide will make your visit epic. And if you need a place to stay on your beach vacation, check out my guide to the best places to stay in Orange County.
Best Things to Do in Huntington Beach
Huntington State Beach
Frolic in the sand & sea on one of California’s best beaches.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 536-1454 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free
Consistently ranked among the top beaches in Southern California, Huntington State Beach is the classic West Coast beach. Sunshine, warm sand, great surf, and surfers to match. You’ll need to get here early to stake out a spot — but once you’ve got one, simply unfurl your beach blanket and enjoy.
Dozens of Orange County restaurants & shops are within walking distance from the beach. In the summertime, you can grab fresh fruit, cold water, and other goodies from wandering snack vendors. In addition to being well-stocked on surfboards, local rental shops can set you up for outdoor activities, from beach volleyball to biking trails.
🏖️ Pro Tip: If you park at a meter, set an alarm. Once you’re here, it’s hard to leave.
Huntington Beach Pier
Enjoy a leisurely stroll and extraordinary views on one of the longest piers on the West Coast.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 5 am – midnight, daily | Entrance: Free
It’s no wonder this striking structure is the most photographed spot in Huntington Beach! Be it barnacle-clad pylons, expansive Pacific Ocean views, or a stunning sunset silhouette, every angle of the Huntington Beach Pier is a good one.
Visitors can dine at two restaurants at the end of the pier — Huntington’s and Broad Street Oyster Co. The food is great (if a bit overpriced), but you really can’t beat the view.
Ruby’s Surf City Diner occupied the end of the pier for decades before it closed in 2021. Those longing for a taste of Ruby’s classic charm can still get their fill on the nearby Balboa Pier.
Surf Lessons
Get expert local guidance on the signature Huntington Beach activity.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 813-2880 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 7 pm daily | Entrance: $145 & up |👉 Private Group Surf Lessons in Huntington Beach
Unsurprisingly, Surf City, USA, is one of the best surf spots in California.
Whether you prefer gentle beginner waves or an advanced clinic at Surfside, experienced instructors will coach you on how to safely maneuver on your board and in the water. Two of the most popular schools in Huntington Beach are Banzai Surf School and McKinnon Surf & Sup.
Downtown Huntington Beach
Stroll between sidewalk sales, surf shops, and entertainment outlets (day drinking optional, but not discouraged).
The palm-lined boulevards of downtown Huntington Beach pairs party with picturesque. The biggest crowds flock to this zone in the summer months, but you can find all-day margarita specials and bangin’ breakfast burritos around here anytime.
Most of downtown lies west of Orange Ave between 6th Street and 2nd Street. The most popular strip is Main Street, directly opposite the Huntington Beach Pier, where outdoor sale racks and souvenir stands hawk deals aplenty.
Downtown continues along Pacific Coast Highway, extending a few blocks on either side of Main Street. To the south, you’ll find the area’s bougiest options, such as the upscale mall Pacific City and the luxe Paséa Hotel & Spa. Though nothing around here is super cheap, your options become more affordable heading north, towards Sunset & Seal Beach.
🏖️ Pro Tip: Post-beach is the perfect time to hit a local cantina, so park for the end of your day, not the start. Parking structures off of Walnut or Olive Ave are less than a 10-minute walk to the beach, and you can pay an all-day rate instead of minding the meter. Plus, your car won’t bake in the sun all day. ☀️🚗
Surf City Nights
Get turned up on a Tuesday at this lively weekly street fair & farmers’ market.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 536-8300 | Website | Hours: Tuesdays, 5 pm – 9 pm (spring/summer); Tuesdays, 5 pm – 8 pm (fall/winter)
Rarely will one stumble across a more fun weekly shop than Surf City Nights. Whether you’re in the market for fresh produce or handmade jewelry, the stalls here will have it. Add live music and margarita specials and you’ve got a school night to remember.
This event takes place right on the main drag in Huntington Beach. You’ll find it at the center of town, on the three blocks of Main Street between Olive Ave and Pacific Coast Highway.
🛍️ Pro Tip: If you have your eye on something in one of the posh boutiques of nearby Pacific City, pick it up before heading to the street fair. There are some great places to shop in California, but these shops in particular close up early for Surf City Nights.
International Surfing Museum
Drop in to check out the world’s largest surfboard.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 960-3483 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Thurs – Sun | Entrance: Free, small donations encouraged
⚠️ Closure Note: International Surfing Museum is temporarily closed until further notice.
Exhibits in the International Surfing Museum weave the tales of local history, illustrating legends with surfing memorabilia that hold historical and cultural significance to the surf community. It’s an interesting visit for anyone curious about Surf City lore.
It’s hard to imagine a better home for an international surfing museum than Huntington, but HB isn’t the only SoCal spot to earn a place in its mentions. Head just about an hour north to check out Surfrider in Malibu, one of LA’s best beaches.
Surfing Walk of Fame
Amble among tributes to famous surfers and pay your respects to the most rad in the game.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 742-0355 | Website | Hours: 24/7 | Entrance: Free
Surf enthusiasts don’t want to miss the Surfing Walk of Fame. You’ll find these tiles along Main St and PCH, commemorating surf champions in bronze-inlaid stone. Each bears the surfer’s name, an etching, and associated accolades. It’s basically a Huntington Beach version of one of Hollywood’s top attractions, the Walk of Fame.
Beaches
Bolsa Chica State Beach
Lounge on a large, easy-to-love beach with ample amenities that include 200 oceanside fire pits.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 444-7275 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: $15 p/vehicle Mon-Fri, $20 Sat & Sun ($30/$40 for oversized vehicles)
Stretching northward toward Seal Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach is well-suited for group beach days.
Bolsa Chica is a popular beach for birthday picnics and get-togethers. It’s served by a large parking area and several public restrooms. The water near shore stays mostly shallow, with good waves for surfing or bodyboarding.
Though it’s not free of summer crowds, you’ll get more space here than in areas closer to downtown. When it is busy, it tends to stay that way into the evening. Fire pits on Bolsa Chica State Beach are first-come, first-served. Get there well before sunset to claim one.
👉 Pro Tip: Plan to pay for parking. You won’t find any street spots along this section of Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Dog Beach
Pamper your puppers with some seaside playtime in Huntington Beach.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 841-8644 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free
They would undoubtedly love it, but dogs are strictly prohibited from the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve – for a lot of very good reasons. However, Huntington Beach has more than made up for it by providing the gorgeous Huntington Dog Beach just for our four-footed friends.
Pups can romp and play sans leash. They can even chase any gulls with the nerve to brave this part of the shore, though their humans should call them back from the waves. The gulls will win that one.
Huntington Dog Beach is on the west side of Pacific Coast Highway between Bolsa Chica Beach and lifeguard tower 14. It’s bordered by the Huntington Beach Bike Trail, which breaks at the beach before continuing southward to join the Santa Ana River Trail.
🐕 Love dogs but aren’t traveling with one? Get your furball fix at the wiener dog races in Old World Village. It’s more a playful and spirited event than an earnest competition, of course, but those lil’ sausage dogs sure do love to run!
Sunset Beach
Give yourself (and your wallet) a break in this peaceful neighborhood bordered by wildlife refuges and Huntington Harbor.
Those searching for serenity will love this northernmost beachfront area in Huntington Beach. It’s an ace base for outdoor pursuits and home to some of the city’s best bargains on food & lodging.
You’ll find plenty of chilled-out bars, burger joints, and pizzerias along PCH. Splurge-worthy seafood at Captain Jack’s is served alongside sailboats gliding to and fro in Huntington Harbour. The view pairs equally pleasantly with a cocktail from the bar, which features live music from Thurs-Sat.
Love nature? Nestled between the ocean and harbor, this small strip of land meets Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in the south and Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge immediately to the north.
Huntington Harbor
Launch all manner of ocean adventures from this pleasant marina.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 862-2688 | Website
Placid and easy to navigate, Huntington Harbor is better suited to entry-level enjoyment than busy Newport. Compound fitness with fun on kayaks or paddleboards. Groups can designate a driver and cruise around with a full cooler on a Duffy boat.
Rental agencies will be happy to set you up, just make sure you stick to the harbor. Nearby Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is a no-boat zone. Rules about that are all the more strict in Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, which borders a military base.
For outings further from shore, charter a private boat for sailing or fishing excursions.
Food & Drink
Sugar Shack Café
Satisfy your hunger at this low-key local favorite for all-day breakfast.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 536-0355 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 2 pm daily
One of my closest friends in college was a surfer. When one of us needed a serious mental health boost, we’d split the cost of gas and drive four hours to Huntington Beach, arriving at sunrise to watch surfers do dawn patrol. From there, it was just a five-minute walk up Main Street to Sugar Shack Cafe, where Lola would order an egg salad sandwich every time.
The egg salad is top-notch, and Sugar Shack’s breakfast is even better. And no matter what you order, you’ll get one of the best bargains around from some of the quickest servers in the biz.
You can pretty easily nab a table on weekdays, but weekends can get very busy. The Goldilocks zone is roughly 6:15 am – 8:45 am.
Old World Village
Browse a whimsical collection of shops, pubs, and eateries styled to resemble a European village.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 895-8020 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm Mon – Tue; 9 am – 8 pm Wed – Sun
While any time is the right time for freshly made crêpes and craft coffee, Oktoberfest is when the cobblestone streets of Old World Village shine brightest. It’s billed as Orange County’s Biggest Party, and the annual beer & brat festival takes place from mid-September through the first week of November.
Old World Village is only one of four spots on this list located more than a mile from the shore. But its abundant charm makes the trip 5 miles inland worthwhile.
To taste the less touristy side of HB year-round, pick up picnic provisions at German Deli and head to Huntington Central Park.
Duke’s Huntington Beach
Dine on Hawaiian-style cuisine at the foot of the Huntington Beach Pier.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 374-6446 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 8:30 pm Mon-Fri; 10 am – 8:30 pm Sat & Sun
Duke’s Huntington Beach is named for surf and sea legend Duke Kahanamoku. Duke’s mango BBQ ribs and hula pie are longstanding faves of local foodies. Located directly across from Pacific City and right next to the pier, the dining room & deck feature ocean-view seating.
Though not as exclusive as some of LA’s best restaurants, this restaurant is very in demand. You may be able to get in at the bar, but dinner reservations are recommended.
Non-Beach Activities
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Wander footbridges and trails through marshes, coastal dunes, and fields of wildflowers teeming with animal life.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 846-1114 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 8 pm daily | Entrance: Free
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is a wonderland for bird-watching and photography. It’s directly across the Pacific Coast Highway from the main entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach.
This coastal estuary is a refuge for local wildlife and home to more than 200 avian species. Pelicans, egrets, and sandpipers are commonly spotted. Others are remarkably scarce, such as the endangered Least Tern.
Look for stingrays and turtles in the waters below the bridge. A variety of reptiles and a few furry land critters can also be seen here. Check out the Bolsa Chica Conservancy’s Interpretive Center to learn more about the wildlife you’ve spotted out on the hiking trails. (Located at the corner of PCH and Warner Ave.)
Huntington Central Park
Romp and play in a spacious recreation area with plentiful activities, public concert venues, and an urban forest.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 536-5486 | Website | Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free
So many are drawn to the dazzle of beachside attractions that even the largest city-owned park in Orange County qualifies as a largely undiscovered gem. You’ll have all the space you need to escape your worries along miles of trails winding around the ponds and meadows of Huntington Central Park East.
Fun activities & amenities here include a disc golf course, four playgrounds, Shipley Nature Center, fishing, horseshoes, viewpoints, lakes, and equestrian trails. There’s also a dog park, picnic tables, an exercise course, newly renovated restrooms, three restaurants, and the Huntington Beach Central Library.
Love Music? Huntington Central Park features an amphitheater and bandstand, which hosts a summer concert series. The Central Library Theater hosts performances by the Huntington Beach Symphony Orchestra.
Shipley Nature Center
Glimpse the natural wonders of early California in habitats designed to be a microcosm of the area’s natural state.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 842-4772 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 1 pm Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat | Entrance: $3 suggested donation
Every time I drive over Cajon Pass in the San Bernardino Mountains, I can’t help but wonder what the land here looked like once upon a time, before the advent of tract homes, shopping plazas, and freeways. Apparently, former Huntington Beach Mayor Donald Shipley had a similar yearning. Thu,s Shipley Nature Center was born.
The center was created with assistance from members of the Acjachemen Nation and aims to preserve a reflection of what this land looked like in the mid-19th century.
You can meander 4,000 feet of well-maintained trails in this wildest section of Huntington Central Park, all leading through the Eight Habitats of Shipley Nature Center. These are oak & southern oak woodlands, meadows, redwood groves, coastal sage scrub, riparian woodland, Torrey Pines, and a natural freshwater wetland, Blackbird Pond.
⚠️ Safety Tip: Keep an eye out for noxious local flora Stinging Nettle in the riparian woodland habitat. It’s not likely to send you to the hospital, but it causes a nasty rash.
Huntington Beach Art Center
Pause for creative contemplation in a vibrant yet tranquil Main Street art center showcasing local and national artists.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (714) 374-1650 | Website | Hours: 12 – 8 pm Tue, 12 – 6 pm Wed-Thu; 12 – 5 pm Fri-Sat; Closed Sun & Mon | Entrance: Free
Only a five-minute walk from the busiest section of downtown, visits to Huntington Beach Art Center are a two-fer. It’s both a lovely cultural enrichment moment, and it’s a clean, quiet, thoroughly air-conditioned respite from the summertime heat & crowds. All free of charge, no less!
That said, many of the works on display at the art center are available for purchase. So now you’re also getting a one-of-a-kind souvenir or gift and becoming a supporter of the arts, thereby upgrading your two-fer to a four-fer. Prices range from accessible (around $100) to investment ($10,000+).
🎨 Love Art? Add an LA day trip to your Huntington Beach travel plans with the help of my guide to the best museums in Los Angeles. The Getty and LACMA are just two of the world-class art institutions you can reach in under two hours by car.
Huntington Beach Symphony Orchestra
Enjoy a performance by a beloved HB musical institution.
📍 Multiple Locations | Phone: (714) 274-5524 | Website
Led by internationally accomplished maestro Grant Sevdayan, the annual concert series performed by the Huntington Beach Symphony Orchestra is a highlight of the local cultural calendar.
Classical music lovers are sure to love this one. The Huntington Beach Symphony Orchestra performs at various venues, so the easiest way to find upcoming performances is on its website.
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You’re on board with all the things you can’t miss in Huntington Beach! I hope your next visit is totally rad.
Planning a SoCal trip? L.A. is less than an hour north of Huntington, and we’ve got you covered with all the best Los Angeles places to stay during your visit.
