California - Huntington Beach Area Attractions & Activities
Huntington Beach, California is a year round tropical paradise that offers 8.5 miles of soft, sandy beaches and approximately 70 parks where sports activities and play await. Many things to do in Huntington Beach are available every day of the year, in fact. At the beach you can surf, watch birds at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands nature trails, jog, bicycle or skate on the 8.5 mile exercise path along the beach, ride horse trails in Central Park, Frisbee Disc Golf, Meadowlark (public) Golf Club, Dog Beach, Dog Park, Huntington Beach Sports Complex with baseball and soccer fields, Huntington Beach Playhouse, go fishing, build a bonfire, fly a kite, kite surf and shop. Weekly events at the beach and beyond include swap meets, art fairs, Farmer's Market every Friday at the Huntington Beach Pier, car shows every Saturday and visits to the Nature Center at Central Park open regularly. With so much to see and do, it's hard to stay inside. Duke Kahanamoku made Huntington Beach famous when he first surfed here, marking it as the birthplace of American surfing. Since then, as Surf City it has become a center of surf culture and beach lifestyle. It is home to some of the world's leading companies in the surf industry and the International Surf Museum, as well as host of the U.S. Open of Surfing. Huntington Beach is just a quick, scenic 45 minute drive southeast of the Portofino Hotel.
Huntington Beach Pier
Huntington Beach Pier, approximately 35 miles down the coast from the Portofino is the longest municipal pier of its type in California. The pier has cement benches to sit and watch the waves, is wheelchair accessible and has pay scopes for viewing the surrounding region. The pier is most popular for watching surfing and taking souvenir photos of friends, family and the ocean. The pier celebrated 100 years in 2004. Not allowed on the pier are pets, skating, bicycling, skateboarding, or jumping off the pier.
Farmer's Market
The Farmer’s Market and Art Fair happens every Friday afternoon from Noon to dusk. It can be found near the Huntington Beach Pier at Pier Plaza. The weekly event (except during special events such as the US Open of Surfing and Beach Games) was rated one of the most popular and scenic open air markets in Southern California. It includes certified California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables, plus cut flowers. The craft fair features over 50 vendors selling unique, hand-made items such as clothing, rugs shaped like surfboards, tropical print items, children and baby clothes and gifts, mirrors, vases, soaps, statues, artwork, photography and more.
Huntington Beach Central Park
Spend the day in this beautiful 350-acre park that boasts six miles of hiking trails, two lakes and a nature center. The Huntington Beach Library is also located in the park, if you need to avoid the overwhelming beauty of nature. Everything that nature has to offer is here for your enjoyment, from fragrant trees and flowers to ducks swimming in the lakes. You really can stop and smell the roses in this fragrant park, located approximately 45 minutes from the Portofino Hotel.
Saturday Sunrise Car Cruisers
Taking place every Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., this event has been billed as the "Best Free Car Show in the World" and it has been a tradition for over 15 years. Classic auto owners, known as the Donut Derelicts, meet at the parking lot on the corner of Magnolia and Adams to share stories and admire their classic beauties.
International Surfing Museum
Huntington Beach does indeed live up to its "Surf City" title as the most surfed beach in the west. Appropriately enough, this is a shrine to all those who have mastered the long board. Surfboards, surfing films, surfing music and plenty of memorabilia can be found here. The main attractions, however, are the items related to the great Duke Kahanamoku. This Olympic swimmer popularized surfing back in the 1920s, and both a bronze bust and one of his original hardwood boards can be found in the museum. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for students and free for children six years and younger. www.surfingmuseum.org
Oceanview Promenade
Oceanview Promenade is a must-see in Huntington Beach. Directly across from the picturesque Huntington Beach Pier and on the street filled with eye-catching posters and colorful surfers, the very cool Surf City USA culture is defined right here. Starting from the PCH end, a number of famous sportswear stores offer the latest fashion to surfers, beach-goers and anyone who wants to look cool. If these are not unique enough, the vendors along the sidewalk are guaranteed to add a more personalized touch. The street is also loaded with popular bars and restaurants. Once through is not enough—come back for more. www.panoramio.com/photo/7508871
Sunset Gondola
Sunset Gondola brings the romance and tradition of Venice, Italy to the canals of Huntington Harbor and Sunset Beach. Our commitment to service and the thousand year old rowing tradition from Venice ensures that your cruise will be unforgettable. Our gondolas are works of art, hand-made in the oldest boat yards in Venice, Squero San Travaso and the Tremontin Squero. The gondolas can hold up to six passengers and are always private, only you and your guests aboard. www.sunsetgondola.com
Skin Deep- The Body Spa
At Skin Deep, we have woven the ancient, time honored principles of the Eastern healing arts with modern-day treatments and techniques. We are proud of our staff's intensive training and knowledge on the connection of the spiritual being and the physical body. Skin Deep in Huntington Beach offers massage, body treatments, and the most intensive skin care program found anywhere in the area. www.e-skindeep.com
Perqs
Come and enjoy a relaxed, casual atmosphere in the oldest Rock & Blues house in Orange County. Just steps away from the sand and across the street from the Huntington Beach Pier, Perqs is located in one of the oldest buildings in Huntington Beach. Perqs Nightclub features some of the hottest bands in Southern California and is home to the legendary Walter Trout. www.perqs.com