Huntington Beach has long been known as the surf capital of the nation with the nickname "Surf City". The history of the sport in this town goes almost as far back as people have been riding waves on boards (almost). Now a bustling center of northern Orange County, Huntington Beach sees millions of tourists each year.

Getting around:

There are taxis at night for those of questionable driving ability. During the day however, it is a mad house of traffic and seemingly non-existent parking spots. There is a public bus system, which is super reliable but not very quick if you really need to be somewhere. We recommend bikes and skateboards for easy transit up and down the coast. Or "The Blue Water Pedi-Cabs"

Where to eat:

If you’re going to visit HB you will want to first stop at the world-famous Huntington Beach Pier. This is an icon of the city and also over looks the contest area for the U.S. Open. In the area there are several places to eat. On the end of the pier is the loved-by-all Ruby’s Diner serving up 50’s style aesthetics and deliciously traditional American food. If that’s not your thing you can just head inland up Main Street and there are more restaurants than you can count along the way. There is also Dukes, the Longboards, NoKaOi, Aloha Grill, Luigi's Italian and Coaches. Click here to go to our Videoguide.

Where to surf:

Well pretty much along the 8 miles of beach. To the South of the pier picks up the South Swells a bit better and North of the pier starting around 9th. street pick up the southwest to Northwest swells better. The tides can make it or break it for any stretch on the beach, HB is best with a mid to lower tide, unless we have a larger swell.

Where to stay:

Being a tourist town there are no shortages of places to hang your hat. Anything from the super lux Hyatt Regency, the new LA style Shorebreak Inn, to the Colonial Inn Youth Hostel, which boasts prices as low as $20 a night. It all depends on what you want to be near and how much loot you want to drop.

Need some surf gear?

You can’t throw a rock in HB without hitting a surf shop. There are branded stores and independent shops everywhere so no matter what you need to buy new, or even rent, it’s all here. Huntington Surf & Sport is my pick. Good selection and fair pricing. There is also Jack’s Surfboards, which is the "official" US Open sponsor and another great shop. But check out the true local shops such as Rockin Fig, Sakal, or 5th. Street surf Shop.

Beaches:

Huntington Beach's coastline spans eight miles, starting with the west-side Huntington State Beach, called Bolsa Chica State Beach, followed by Huntington City Beach near the downtown area and Huntington State Beach on the east side. All of the beaches open at 6 a.m. and close at 10 p.m.



Huntington Beach Pier:

Located at the intersection of the Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street, the pier is the longest concrete municipal pier in California. It was rebuilt and opened July, 1992.

Farmer's Market:

The Farmer's Market, open on Fridays from 1 p.m. to dusk, offers farm-fresh produce, flowers, arts and crafts. The markets located in the Pier Plaza, Main Street and Pacific Coast Hwy.


Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve:

Occupying 300 acres of preserved wetlands, this coastal salt marsh is home to a variety of birds and animal species, some of which are on the endangered list. The ecological reserve is free to the public during daylight hours and is located on the Pacific Coast Highway between Golden West and Warner Avenue. For more information, call (714) 846-1114.