The Best Things to Do in Huntington Beach, California

No list about things to do in Huntington Beach would be complete without mentioning its famous sands. Among the top surfing spots in the world, Huntington City Beach is a must-visit for anyone heading into the area. It routinely hosts the US Open of Surfing competition and has plenty of clean waves if you’re a beginner. If it is your first time in the water, there are several surf academies that will get you up on the board in no time.

Purposefully built to make you feel like you’re stepping into another time, Old World Village is a charming way to spend a day. Styled after old European villages, complete with cobbled streets, it has been delighting guests since 1976. The village itself is home to several independently run businesses, with a variety of handcrafted items on offer. One must-see event is the village’s annual Oktoberfest celebrations, with musical entertainment provided by oompah bands from Germany.

The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum is a great place to brush up on some of the sport’s history, with exhibitions filled with meticulously restored surfboards, classic surfing gear and even the Guinness World Records biggest surfboard in the world. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday and is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Built in 1904, the Huntington Beach Pier is one of the city’s definitive landmarks. Spanning 1,850ft (564m) into the Pacific Ocean, the pier offers some of the best views of the surf and surrounding seascapes. Popular with local surfers, it’s the perfect spot for them to catch up and discuss the day’s waves. Right at the end of the pier, you will find Ruby’s Diner, which has some of the best milkshakes in the city.

Covering a massive 1,300 acres (526ha) of California coastal wetlands, the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is an essential part of the area’s conservation efforts. Home to nearly 200 species of endangered birds and animals, the park has about 5mi (8km) of walking routes that are perfect for guests to explore. If you want to find out more about the reserve and how you can help, drop by the Interpretive Center nearby to learn about its latest work in preserving the area.

You don’t get the nickname Surf City USA for nothing. Every Tuesday at 5pm, Huntington Beach hosts Surf City Nights, a party spanning three of the city’s blocks and encompassing everything from market stalls selling locally made crafts to food trucks serving some of SoCal’s tastiest cuisine. Make sure to stick around until after the sun goes down when the party really gets going with live music on every street corner.