Top 9 Things to Do in Huntington Beach, CA (2024)
Huntington Beach At-A-Glance
| Population | 196,652 |
|---|---|
| Best known for | Surf City, USA |
| Character | A place to surf or do a bar crawl |
Huntington Beach is one of Orange County’s most high-profile cities. It holds claim to the title “Surf City, USA” (sorry, Santa Cruz) and thousands of visitors descend for the US Open of Surfing during the summer.
Huntington Beach is frequently in the news media because it is a common place to gather for political demonstrations. That doesn’t stop thousands of tourists and locals from enjoying the view of the iconic pier and a variety of dining and shopping opportunities.
Although the city of Huntington Beach is over 28 square miles, most of the activity is concentrated near the downtown area. Read on to learn about the most popular things to do in HB.
Top 9 Things to Do in Huntington Beach
1. Main Street
2. Visit the International Surfing Museum
3. Huntington Beach Pier
4. Pacific City
5. Old World Village
6. Check out a Huntington Beach restaurant
7. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
8. Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park
9. Newland House Museum
1. Main Street
Main Street is the central hub of downtown Huntington Beach. There are a variety of restaurants and bars from sushi to Mexican, with a few retail stores selling beachwear scattered throughout.
PCH and Main Street intersection
Main Street, Huntington Beach
2. Visit the International Surfing Museum
Learn more about the city’s history of surfing at the International Surfing Museum.
3. Huntington Beach Pier
This iconic pier is right across Main Street and used to be home to a Ruby’s diner. The HB pier is open daily from 5am to midnight.
Huntington Beach Pier
4. Pacific City
Pacific City is one of several Orange County outdoor shopping malls with a number of trendy dining establishments and retail shops. Located just a short walk south of Main Street.
5. Old World Village
A few miles inland is Old World Village, a German shopping center that is popular with locals for Oktoberfest celebrations.
6. Check out a Huntington Beach restaurant
Rol Hand Roll Bar
Rol was named one of Orange County’s top 75 restaurants by the OC Register in 2022. It’s not located by the beach—you’ll have to drive a few miles inland—but the hand rolls and cocktails are worth the drive. An OC Insiders favorite!
7. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Learn more about this wildlife haven located next to Bolsa Chica State Beach.
8. Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park
Wieder Regional Park is 106 acres.
9. Newland House Museum
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Huntington Beach from Disneyland?
The downtown Huntington Beach area is about 20 miles or a 35-minute drive from the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.
What is the difference between Huntington State Beach and Huntington City Beach?
Huntington State Beach has paid parking available and is slightly less crowded because it is further from the pier. Huntington City Beach is closer to all the action downtown. A small strip of the city beach is home to Huntington dog beach.
