Huntington Beach is a cute vacation spot for both adults and families. Granted, every time I’ve been to Huntington Beach, California I’ve had a family event to attend. However, I’ve managed to squeeze in plenty of extra curricular activities (and food) in between. As a tourist myself, here are my top recommended things to do in Huntington Beach.
How to Travel to Huntington Beach
Hands down, the best way to fly into Huntington Beach, California is through the Long Beach Airport (LGB). It’s a smaller airport with only 11 gates in a single open-air terminal. Even the airport is a cute little slice of paradise.
It’s also the only airport I’ve ever boarded or de-planed from the rear exit. They allow entry and exit from both ends of the aircraft and it really keeps things moving.
If you have time in the morning there’s a place down the terminal to the right after security that makes AMAZING breakfast burritos. Highly recommend that place if you’re looking for an in-airport breakfast option.
Things to Do in Huntington Beach
There’s no shortage of things to do in Huntington Beach, and most all of them are outside because the weather is always incredible! Even the mall is more fun in Surf City.
Walk the Huntington Beach Pier
The Huntington Beach Pier is an iconic part of the area. It’s a little over 1/3 mile long, sitting 30 feet above the water and features a restaurant at the end. There’s no license required to fish off the pier so that’s one of the pier’s most common activities, along with walking and amateur photography.
If you’re looking to shoot photos for commercial or professional business use on the pier the city requires a permit. Family photos or other photos only intended for personal use do not require a permit.
Explore the Huntington Beach Bike Path
There’s SO much to do along this stretch of land. It’s certainly one of the most bustling parts of the town. However, there’s so many things to do here that I’m giving the bike path it’s own section in this post.
Keep reading, because I’m sharing all the many things to do in Huntington Beach on-or-along the bike path in a few sections.
Shop & Dine at Pacific City Mall
One of my guilty pleasures on vacation is definitely shopping. Sometimes even at stores I literally have in my local mall at home. Something about vacation where the money just doesn’t spend the same… that’s probably girl math speaking.
On my last trip here I bought my first pair of Rainbow Sandals (a local rite of passage). The girls have had these cute pink Rainbow Sandals for over a year so I thought it was time I got some too.
Shop at Jack’s Surfboards Flagship Store
Jack’s is the premier name is surfing. The US Open of Surfing is held right across Pacific Coast Highway from Jack’s Surfboards in Huntington Beach every summer. If you’re looking for absolutely anything surfing or surfing-core, this is a must-visit for you.
They also carry outdoor brands like Birkenstock and Stanley. But there’s also tons of other retail worth shopping, even if you’re not looking to catch a wave. This is also an easy stop if you need a new swimsuit while in town.
Visit the Selling the OC Office
While the office is actually in Newport Beach, it’s only a quick drive away and was cool to see as a fan of the show. One of the agents (Naomi, not featured on the show) let us look around the office and even gave us mugs the very first time we were in town.
It’s such a well-appointed space! It’s cool to now watch the show knowing the look-and-feel of the exact office they’re filming in!
Where to Eat in Huntington Beach
There’s no shortage of good food in Huntington Beach, especially if you love seafood. These were my favorite places I’ve tried when I’ve been in town.
Coffee: Coffee Dose
My sister-in-law is our connection to the area, having grown up here, and she recommended Coffee Dose on my first trip. We love it and come every time we’re out here! I’m a matcha girly through and through and they make a really great matcha latte that keeps me coming back.
I also tried their McMelty 2.0 Sando last time I was in town and it was SO good. The portions are large enough to keep you full well into your day.
📍2675 Irvine Ave, Suite E
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Breakfast: Haute Cakes Caffe
Technically a Newport Beach spot, but this was also recommended by my sister-in-law and it did not disappoint. I got the chorizo scramble and it was incredible!
The menu is expansive with both breakfast and lunch. While it’s located in a strip mall, the lush greenery that adorns the inlet makes it feel like you’re in a lush, secluded hideaway. There’s also a few cute little boutiques to shop in the mall to walk off your meal afterwards!
📍1807 Westcliff Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Lunch: In ‘N’ Out Burger
I don’t care what the haters say, when I’m near an In ‘N’ Out Burger, I’m eating there!
We usually make this our first stop after the airport. If you’re in town for a few days try some local non-fast food places when you’re not so jet lagged.
📍 multiple locations, open maps and pick the one most on your way to your first destination
Dinner: Ola Mexican Kitchen
Ola is delicious, but the real headline is the view of the sunset you have right from your dinner table. They have rotating tacos of the month and below on the right was their buffalo chicken taco I ordered. It might sound unconventional but it was excellent! Definitely ask your server what the current taco of the month is and don’t be shy to try it!
Check sunset times and book your dinner about 30 minutes beforehand to enjoy a beautiful view over guac and drinks.
📍 21040 Pacific Coast Hwy (upstairs in Pacific City Mall)
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Dessert: Salt & Straw
When I tell you this was some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had… that is no joke. I take my ice cream very seriously! I did a small cup with two scoops: Double Fold Vanilla and Chocolate Gooey Brownie and it was INCREDIBLE! Worth the wait, and there definitely was a line when we got there on Friday night after dinner.
I didn’t even get a decent photo because I was too excited to eat this. Salt & Straw has multiple locations but the one closest to Huntington Beach is in Newport Beach below.
📍 2001 Westcliff Dr #102
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Late Night Snack: Sushi on Fire
Had to give this place a shout out because the Philadelphia roll salmon was SO fresh, it was insane! The service was also wonderful. There was an issue with my online order, so when I got there I had to re-submit.
Despite being packed they still had my two rolls ready in five minutes since I was already there waiting. Huge kudos to their service for this reason! Ate my rolls happily back in my hotel room to wind down for the evening.
📍 301 Main St #103
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Things to do at the Huntington Beach Bike Path
The Huntington Beach Bike Trail is a great way to spend a morning with your coffee. Nestled between Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean, it also features a little path (below) to get almost all the way to the water more easily. Amenities aside, the simple public beach access itself is incredible. It’s clean, well-kept and available to anyone – local or tourist alike.
Pack a lunch, snacks, sand toys, sunscreen and enjoy a whole day along this beautiful stretch of land. Below are some of the activities and features I took notice of on my morning walk.
Rent a Surrey or Bicycle for the Day
The surreys really caught my eye. I’m not sure we have these in the Midwest (or at least Chicagoland area). They look fun and the people I saw on them seemed to be having a really great time. If the whole family was with me I’d absolutely have insisted we spent a few hours on these!
If you’re planning to sight see quite a bit of the oceanfront I suggest renting a cute bicycle to get around. There’s miles and miles to cover, 16 miles roundtrip on the bike path to be exact!
Biking is one of mine and my whole family’s favorite vacation activities. We don’t get to do it much at home so we love buckling the kids into a carrier and pedaling for miles. These bikes are also picture perfect and have spacious baskets for all your beach day cargo.
Play Sand Volleyball, Surf or Tan at the Beach
Other activities included beach volleyball and of course, surfing. All the typical beach activities and then some are options in Huntington Beach. The difference is the lively vibe of the area with pedestrians and bikers right on the path next to you.
There’s plenty of room for kid-friendly activities like sand toys, building sand castles, beach games and more as well. And if you have a car, the lot is right off the beach (more on that next) so you can bring as many fun activities as your heart desires!
For handy travel gadgets and beach essentials check out my beach and travel Amazon list.
Things to Do in Huntington Beach: Watch the Sunrise at the Beach
One of the cooler things I saw were locals’ cars backed up to the beach in the parking lot. The lot is right off the beach bike path, just a few feet from the sand. Some appeared to have griddles, coffee makers, etc. like they were having. a lovely morning tailgate at the beach. What a wonderful idea to spend the morning parked at the ocean, grilling and watching the water so peacefully!
Everyone there is just happy to be in paradise. Locals also take great pride in maintaining their beaches. If you drove to the area, a sunrise coffee and breakfast tailgate at the ocean is an awesome idea!
Being able to park right off the beach is also a phenomenal convenience if you have kids. It’s super easy to run things to-and-from the car throughout the day! Not to mention diaper changes in the back of the SUV versus in a public bathroom or sand.
Eat or Drink at a Local Bar & Grill Along the Huntington Beach Path
Who doesn’t love an ice cold beverage sitting along side the ocean? There were a few small eateries along the path on my walk. They weren’t open because it was quite early, but they looked like they were a fun spot when open. Didn’t get any photos of these but they’re full on structures along the path, you can’t miss them.
Wash Up in the Huntington Beach Public Restrooms
Funnily enough, I did remember to snap a picture of the bathrooms. These public restrooms were SO CLEAN. As a Chicagoland native, this blew my mind. The City of Chicago’s restrooms could never.
There are plenty of well-maintained looking public restrooms along the path. This is a very underrated feature of public parks and beaches, especially if you’re at the beach for an extended period of time.
Where We Stayed in Huntington Beach
Over my three trips I’ve stayed at The Pasea, The Waterfront Beach Resort by Hilton and an Airbnb. By far, my favorite was The Hilton property. It was incredibly clean, comfortable and had amazing ocean views. Not to mention, it’s right off PCH with ocean views!
The room itself was immaculate. It was spacious, comfortable and had a pool-and-ocean view balcony with seating. This picture does it no justice. We were frantically getting ready for an event so our room was disheveled, but the space was truly everything I could ask for on vacation.
As for the pools (yes, there are multiple), both were incredible. This first pool was the more exciting area with a play structure (not pictured, just off to the left). The top floor of that building is also a rooftop lounge that turned into a club with music and strobe lights after dark!
This photo was taken from our balcony, we had the most spectacular view! Most rooms seemingly have a balcony so you have a private outdoor space of your own.
The second pool gave a much more ‘adults only’ vibe, but there were also giant yard games off to the side. This area is also kid friendly but maybe not quite as wild if you’re looking for slightly quieter pool time.
In addition to the pools there were also a variety of places to eat and activities throughout the day. You could truly spend a majority of your time right on property but wandering off is super easy too given the centralized location.
Huntington Beach Hair Salon Recommendation
This may sound random, but hear me out.
The last time I was in town I felt like treating myself to a blow out ahead of the event I was attending. Having someone else wash and style my hair is one of my highest forms of self care. The place I found – The Blow Down – was walking distance (0.4 miles) from my hotel. It’s a lovely walk to the salon, but plan to take an Uber home once you have freshly done hair!
I scheduled an appointment online ahead of time, but they also accept walk-ins. Shout out to Michelle for doing a perfect job and being a delight to chat with for the hour!
This was all just the tip of what you can find in Huntington Beach. What did I miss? If you’re a local or familiar with the area let me know what else needs to go on this roundup. Happy travels! ✈️
