Huntington Beach

With long stretches of sandy coastline and mild weather, life revolves around the shore in Huntington Beach. Families, dog lovers, and outdoor sports enthusiasts come to surf, play volleyball, kayak, swim, and bike year-round. Much of the action revolves around the iconic Huntington Beach Pier, one of the longest piers on the West Coast. The nearby downtown is lively and walkable, with restaurants, bars, and hotels.

Unlike in the surrounding cities, three of five beaches in Huntington Beach contain fire pits for evening bonfires. Dog lovers come to the city thanks to the Huntington Dog Beach, a rare spot to bring your dogs on the sand. Finally, bird watchers and nature lovers will enjoy the 1,400-acre Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, a wetland area just off the shore.

• Over 500 beach bonfire pits are available on a first-come, first-served basis, except at Bolsa Chica State Beach, where you can reserve fire pits through two local restaurants, SeaLegs and Seasalt.

• Access the deep-rooted surfing culture with a surf lesson, surfing event, surf shops, or the International Surfing Museum.

• The Huntington Beach Pier juts into the Pacific at Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway, offering excellent ocean fishing, strolling, on-pier dining, or watching the sunset.

• RV camping is available beachside from October to May or year-round at participating beaches.

Befitting its Surf City USA nickname, Huntington Beach lies right on the Pacific Coast Highway. The city can be accessed by many major freeways in the greater Los Angeles area, including I-5, I-405, and I-10. The city has Long Beach to the north and Newport Beach to the south.

While year-round weather is excellent, September to November offers pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower accommodation prices. This is also the time for the popular Great Pacific Airshow and Surf City Surf Dog. Thousands of gray whales migrate through the area from December through April, creating excellent whale-watching opportunities. While the weather warms by May, the early summer season is marked by cloudy coastal weather called "May Gray” and "June Gloom."

Huntington Beach may be known for surfing, but beach volleyball attracts many fans. All you need to participate is a beachside court, available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Balls can be rented at beach kiosks. You'll find two dozen nets on either side of the pier and more at Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach. Sometimes it is just as fun to watch the pros, especially at the annual AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.

Yes, Huntington Beach is worth a visit, especially if you love surfing. The Southern California city is known as Surf City, after all. It's also great for lounging on the beach, building a bonfire, or enjoying outdoor shopping and oceanfront dining, plus outdoor activities like kayaking and cycling.

If you’re a beach person, the best way to spend a day at Huntington Beach is—you guessed it—at the beach. From sunbathing or surfing in the sunshine to dining at the restaurants on the Huntington Beach Pier (including slurping those oysters), there’s plenty to do for the day.

Yes, you can swim at Huntington City Beach. It’s open daily from 5am to 10pm, with plenty of room to hangout on the sand. Lifeguards are on duty from 10am to sunset daily, so set up near a lifeguard tower if you plan on going into the water.

There are many types of tours offered in Huntington Beach, with whale-watching and dolphin-watching boat tours being among the most popular. Other tours options include taking bike, Segway, and side-car tours along the beachfront, following a guide on the Surf City USA Barrel Trail for craft breweries, and fishing tours.

The best time of year to visit Huntington Beach is in fall, September–October as the city and the beach aren’t as crowded as in summer and the water temperature is still warm. That said, it's popular in summer, and August is the busiest month with temps averaging 73°F (23°C).

Yes, Huntington Beach is worth it. The city is exactly what you’d imagine a West Coast beach vibe would be, complete with surfing, a lively pier, skate-park rollerbladers, beach volleyball courts, and taco eateries. It’s no wonder why Huntington City Beach is one of Southern California’s most popular spots.