27 Fun Things to Do in Huntington Beach, California

There are so many fun things to do in Huntington Beach, California, especially if you love outdoor activities and laid back, small town vibes. Also known as “HB”, “The Soul of SoCal”, and “Surf City USA”, Huntington Beach has 100 years of surfing history and hosts over 50 surf contests each year from its 10 miles of sandy beaches.

If you’re not into surfing, don’t fret. There are a wide array of activities and attractions in Huntington Beach. Located in Southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego, it’s the perfect destination where it never feels like winter. I’m going to show you the most fun things to do in Huntington Beach that will keep you wanting more.

Getting There

The closest airport to Huntington Beach is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Here’s where you can find flights to LAX, comparing airlines and flights to find the best rate. Once you arrive at the airport, the easiest way to get from LAX to downtown Huntington Beach is by taking Uber.

Please note that you cannot get an Uber directly from the airport at LAX. Instead, you will walk outside on the arrivals level (downstairs) and take the LAX-it shuttle to the Uber pickup point. The shuttle bus arrives every five minutes and it’s free to use. Once you arrive at the Uber pickup point, call your Uber and wait at one of the designated spots.

However, many items on this itinerary are not within walking distance of Main Street, Huntington Beach. Rather than taking Uber wherever you go, it might be more cost effective to rent a car. Then, you can drive from the airport to Huntington Beach and visit all of the attractions in this itinerary with ease. Compare car rental prices and find the best rates here.

Stay at a Cool Hotel in Huntington Beach, California

When I traveled to Huntington Beach, I spent three nights at a hip boutique property downtown, just steps from Main Street and the Huntington Beach Pier. Not only does the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel have the ideal location, it’s a whole destination in itself. Even though there are so many fun things to do in Huntington Beach, you’ll be tempted to stay awhile right within the accommodation grounds themselves.

The casual yet stylish beach vibes of my hotel room were a warm welcome to Southern California. Imagery of waves, surfers and sunsets compliment the earthy tones and shades of blue throughout the suite. Each room comes with its own record player and record (a larger library is available by the front desk), and my balcony offered brilliant views of beach. The bathroom has a shower and a large bathtub with soothing eucalyptus bath salts for a luxurious soak.

There’s always something happening at this beach-chic hotel. Hang out in the lobby for a complimentary Happy Hour every day between 5:00 and 6:00pm (free beer and wine!). Take one of the complimentary cruiser bikes out for a spin. Play a game of foosball or ping pong. Attend a free yoga class every Sunday morning (you can use the yoga mat in your room).

Huntington Beach Pier

The Huntington Beach Pier is the centerpiece of the city and perhaps the structure that comes to mind when you think of Huntington Beach. It dominates the beach and the skyline from the downtown core, and it’s the most photographed spot in town. In fact, it’s one of the longest piers on the west coast of the USA, measuring 1850 feet in length.

The pier opens daily from 5:00am to midnight. Going for a walk on the pier is one of the most fun things to do in Huntington Beach. There are a couple of little souvenir shops on the pier itself, but admiring the scenery is the best aspect of walking here. You can watch the surfers from up above, plus it’s one of the best spots in town to watch the sunset.

Gaze out to the long expanses of beach and you’ll be able to see views of Long Beach and San Pedro to Newport Beach. On a really clear day, you’ll be able to look back at the town and even see mountains off in the distance.

Staying at the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel is a fantastic choice while visiting Huntington Beach. You can walk straight from the hotel to the pier in moments. Plus, as I described above, I could enjoy views of the Huntington Beach Pier anytime from my hotel room’s balcony.

Fun Things to Do in Huntington Beach: Mayu Silk Art

Mayu Silk Art is one of the most unique and fun things to do in Huntington Beach, California. I’ve never attended a workshop quite like this one, and it’s definitely one reason to visit Huntington Beach! Even if you don’t consider yourself crafty or artsy, it’s easy for anyone to create their own handmade, one-of-a-kind silk scarf. And for the vegans in the crowd like myself or those who don’t wear silk, they offer beautiful silk alternatives.

This is an ancient technique called water marbling, which has been around for over 1200 years. Similar art forms around the world include Suminagashi from Japan (dating to the 10th century) and Ebru from Turkey (dating to the 13th century). Marbling spread throughout Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, in places like Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

The owners, Phil and Star, will guide you through the experience of creating your own scarf. Essentially, there’s a special water bath in a custom-built water marbling tray. You will drop acrylic paint onto the surface of the water, and it will float at the top. You can manipulate the paint using various tools or brushes to create designs. From there, you’ll transfer your colorful designs to a material (fabric, paper, other materials) like magic.

After a demonstration by Phil and Star, I chose my own colors for my scarf. Then, under a bit of guidance, I started gently dropping splashes of the paint into the water. Phil and Star are there for advice and help along the way. After using one of the rakes to make some different patterns, I had completed my design. Once we carefully place the scarf onto the surface of the water, the paint and patterns transfer to the scarf like magic.

By visiting Mayu Silk Art, you can participate in a workshop to create your own scarf. I made a beautiful bamboo rayon scarf to bring home. You can wear your scarf or even use it as a table runner. Their studio is open for individuals, families, and groups up to 30 people. It’s suitable for all ages and abilities. This is one of the most fun things to do in Huntington Beach, whether you’re a solo traveler or looking to book a private party.

Spa Day at Aarna Spa (Pasea Hotel)

Aarna Spa at Pasea Hotel is one of the “Top Spas in the US” (by American Spa Magazine) and it’s the ultimate place for relaxation in Huntington Beach. After a morning of surfing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, why not “get lost into the blue” at Aarna Spa? There’s 5800 square feet of tranquility at Aarna Spa, perfect for locals and visitors alike.

Aarna Spa is a Balinese-inspired spa in Orange County. Relax in one of eight beautifully designed treatment rooms, enjoy the peaceful relaxation lounge with a cup of tea, or treat yourself to a spa day within the sauna, eucalyptus steam room and saltwater whirlpool.

I enjoyed an Ocean Devotion massage, which uses restorative techniques of Balinese and Polynesian-influenced massage combined with the power of the ocean. It was the perfect way to unwind and one of the best massages I’ve ever received.

Visit the International Surfing Museum

Visiting the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum (HBISM) is one of the best things to do in Huntington Beach. It’s dedicated to preserving surfing culture worldwide, including local history, surfboards, and memorabilia collections. It contains some of the most significant artifacts from surfing history, like Duke Kahanamoku’s surfboard. You can visit the museum from Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm. There’s free admission, donations are accepted (pay what you can).

See the World’s Largest Surfboard

You’ll find the World’s Largest Surfboard directly beside the International Surfing Museum, so it’s easy to visit both spots at the same time. Verified by Guinness World Records, Visit Huntington Beach and Epic Big Board Ride claimed the title for the World’s Largest Surfboard as part of their “100 Years of Surfing” celebration in 2015.

In total, 66 people balanced on this massive surfboard for 13 seconds, which included local and professional surfers and a local congressman, aged 15 to 79. This mega surfboard is proudly on display in Huntington Beach as a tribute to surfing here.

Check out Murals and Public Art

As I walked around downtown Huntington Beach, I noticed many murals, statues, and works of public art. You’ll be able to see a few murals and artworks both indoors and outdoors at the shopping center, Pacific City. There’s more street art, public art, and sculptures dotted all over town.

While it’s fun to walk around and randomly stumble upon them yourself, there’s also a listing on the City of Huntington Beach California website. The city has welcomed public art since the 1970s and there are over 40 site specific works at businesses, beaches and parks. Check out the list here.

Fun Things to Do in Huntington Beach: Shop at Pacific City

Speaking of Pacific City, you need to check out this high end shopping mall when you travel to Huntington Beach. There are many shops, restaurants and cafes on site, and I’m sure you’ll end up frequenting at least a few of them during your stay. It’s a two-level open air shopping mall decorated with plants and trees. There are great views of the beach and the pier from the mall. Don’t miss the special events and live music events at Pacific City, too.

Lot 579 at Pacific City is a modern food hall with celebrated culinary experiences from award-winning eateries in Orange County. There are eight restaurants serving comfort food, Vietnamese food, handcrafted gelato and ice cream, and craft olive oil and vinegar. Notably, Bella Sophia Chocolates makes hand painted, luxury confections using the very best cacao from small family farms in the Caribbean and South America. Their chocolates are stunning and there are several vegan varieties.

Fun Things to Do in Huntington Beach: Visit Dog Beach

Whether you have a dog or you’re visiting Huntington Beach and would like to see dogs, head directly to Huntington Dog Beach. You can easily walk or bike there from downtown HB. This sandy beach sits along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) between Seapoint Avenue and 21st Street. Dogs are welcome to stretch their legs and play in the sand.

Amenities at Dog Beach include public restrooms, picnic tables, and doggie waste bags. This is also the location for the popular So Cal Corgi Beach Day, a biannual event and largest bash of its kind that celebrates all things corgi.

Go for a Bike Ride on the Beach Trail

The Huntington Beach Bike Trail is one of the best ways to explore the region and cruise the coast. The trail is lined with palm trees, with the Pacific Coast Highway on one side and the beautiful ocean on the other side. It’s possible to ride north up to the Bolsa Chica State Beach or south down to the Newport Beach Pier.

If you didn’t bring your own bike, there are many places in downtown HB to rent a bike, as well as oceanfront resorts that provide free bike rentals to guests. As a guest of the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel, I rented one of their cruiser bikes at no charge. I went for a brief bike ride from the Huntington Beach Pier up to Dog Beach and back.

Hike at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is a 1,300 acre coastal estuary with more than 200 bird species and an array of local wildlife. There are a variety of habitats to explore, including pen water, mudflats, salt marsh, coastal dunes, seabird nesting islands, riparian, and freshwater marsh. The Bolsa Chica Wetlands is the largest saltwater marsh between Monterey Bay and the Tijuana River Estuary.

There’s a five mile network of interconnected public hiking trails with many opportunities to see birds along the way. It’s free to visit and parking is free, too. This is an easy walk on a flat path across wooden boardwalks and dirt trails. Seeing all of the species of birds is definitely a highlight. The trail is very quiet and never too busy.

Bolsa Chica State Beach, once called Tin Can Beach, is located across the Pacific Coast Highway from Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. While the beaches right within downtown HB are spectacular, here’s one more option for a beach day.

Best Things to Do in Huntington Beach: Dawn Patrol Yoga

Start your day off right with an invigorating yoga session at Dawn Petrol Yoga. There are a variety of 30 and 45 minute yoga classes like Power Flow, Restorative, Hatha, Vinyasa, and a Dawn Petrol yoga class (30 minutes before surfing or working). They also have yoga mats available in case you didn’t bring your own.

The vibes are very warm and welcoming, and your instructor makes you feel relaxed and at ease no matter your skill level. Beginners and advanced attendees will love yoga classes here. Your instructor will make necessary modifications for any issues, and will offer easy and more advanced versions of poses. There are several pricing options and monthly packages for every budget.

Watch the Sunrise and Sunset

Watching the sunset and the sunrise in Huntington Beach is a must. Yes, you need to see both! It’s hard to choose whether the sunrise or the sunset is more epic, so I suggest waking up early enough to see the sunrise at least one day during your stay.

Viewing the sunrise and the sunset is best from the Huntington Beach Pier. When the sun rises, you’ll have the opportunity to see the early morning surfers riding the waves around the pier. Walk to the end of the pier for the best views. It’s fascinating to watch them bob around the water, waiting to catch the perfect wave.

Fun Things to Do in Huntington Beach: Go Surfing (or Watch the Surfers)

Surfs up! Surfing is one of the most popular and fun things to do in Huntington Beach, California. After all, it’s called Surf City USA for a reason. Professional and experienced surfers flock to HB to experience these massive waves along the 10-mile coastline. As I have only surfed a couple of times in the past, I really enjoyed watching the surfers from the pier. It’s really entertaining to watch them practicing the sport.

Each of the five beaches in Huntington Beach is ideal for various levels of expertise, from beginner to advanced. If you want to go surfing, you can rent a surfboard at several surf shops in town. Need a surf lesson? There are many surf schools offering private and group lessons.

Justin and I have tried surfing in Bermuda and surfing in Auckland, New Zealand in the past. Since we live in Toronto for most of the year (away from any oceans or places to go surfing), we’d love to try surfing again with some awesome surf lessons in Huntington Beach.

Things to Do in Huntington Beach: Pier Summit Ski Lodge

For a limited time only, the Pier Summit Ski Lodge is a pop-up 80s themed bar inside the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel. See it this winter while you still can! You’ll find the bar within the second floor courtyard of the hotel, but you can stay cozy by the firepits. The ski lodge is all decked out in neon lights, colorful decor, and the servers wear kitschy onesies.

The eighties is alive and well at the Pier Summit Ski Lodge. View menu items through retro viewfinders, enjoy vintage games and try your hand at a game of Pacman. Of course, there are craft cocktails with names like “Big Foot” and “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow”. When you spot the life-sized Yeti at the front door, you’ll know you’re at the right place.

Fun Things to Do in Huntington Beach: Meet Friendly Squirrels

This is a silly entry to this list of the most fun things to do in Huntington Beach, but it’s a must for animal lovers. When I rode my bike from downtown HB to Dog Beach on the bike trail along the Pacific Coast Highway, I came across many friendly squirrels. As you approach Dog Beach from up above, you’ll notice many squirrels darting across the path.

These squirrels have no fear! I was taking some pictures of Dog Beach and the squirrels were quite interested in me. Many of them ran right up to me, even attempting to climb up my leg! I never recommend feeding wildlife (please don’t), but if you love cute little animals, you can venture over to Dog Beach / the Huntington Beach Bike Trail to see a whole gang of cute squirrels.

Visit the Farmers Market

If you love local produce and lively markets, check out the Huntington Beach Farmers Market. It takes place ever Tuesday from 5:00pm – 9:00pm on Main Street in downtown Huntington Beach. You’ll find seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh flowers, gourmet spices, baked goods, handmade wares and more. Sadly, the market was closed when I visited due to some rare rainy weather, but I’m sure you’ll have the chance to taste products from top farmers and shop from amazing artisans in Southern California.

Craft Beer Tasting at Green Cheek Beer

Green Cheek Beer is one of the best breweries in Huntington Beach and Orange County, CA. They have three locations throughout Southern California. Stop by for a pint, a flight, and some food from the kitchen. There are many tables indoors, as well as an expansive rooftop patio.

If beer and breweries are your jam, you may want to embark on a beer tour around Huntington Beach. If you don’t have a driver to take you from place to place, taking a beer tour is the easiest way to sample beer from several breweries at once. This beer and brewery tour takes you to three breweries around Orange County to sample several brews around the region.

Fun Things to Do in Huntington Beach: Coffee Shop Hop

Huntington Beach is home to many fantastic coffee shops and cafes, and they’re all unique and special in their own way. Philz Coffee specializes in brewing custom creations for every customer that walks through their door, and it was one of the best cups of coffee I’ve ever had!

Able Coffee Roasters is a coffee shop in Huntington Beach that employs individuals with disabilities, providing those with autism and other special needs with paying jobs. Other coffee shops in town that I really enjoyed were 602 Coffee House, Milk + Honey, and Java Point.

Eat an Acai Bowl

Acai bowls are all the rage in Huntington Beach. They’re nutritious and delicious, created from the antioxidant-rich Brazilian acai berry. I went for breakfast at Banzai Bowls where you can order an acai bowl, pitaya bowl or fruit smoothie. They’re topped with granola and fresh fruit, making for a satisfying treat after surfing or biking.

Some other places in town where you can find acai bowls include Blue Bowl, Pur Bowl, Jan’s Health Bar, Acai Republic, Pacific Hideaway and Aosa Coffee.

Dine at Vegan and Vegan-Friendly Restaurants

Huntington Beach is a wonderful place for those who follow a vegan lifestyle, as well as those who love vegetarian and plant forward meals. Even the veg-curious will adore the vegan offerings in Huntington Beach. Southern California is an amazing place to go vegan, and I frequented many restaurants with incredible veggie eats.

Check out the entirely vegan cafe, Good Vibes, right in downtown Huntington Beach. For more delicious plant-based meals, check out Jan’s Health Bar, Pacific Hideaway, Lemonade, Watertable, and Green Tomato Grill. Looking for more vegan food? Check out my ultimate vegan guide to Huntington Beach, California.

Eat a Donut from the 24 Hour Donut Shop

Ever crave a doughnut at three in the morning? The Donuttery is a 24-hour donut shop in Huntington Beach! Yes, they’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can have a donut anytime you like. There are so many flavors that it’s difficult to choose, but I’m sure you can return again and again to try more. There have a huge selection of vegan donuts, as well as gluten-free and keto, so everyone can enjoy one of their tasty treats.

Attend a Special Event or Festival

There’s always something exciting happening in HB. Some of the best things to do in Huntington Beach are visiting during an event or festival. Here are a few of their standout festivities that may make you want to plan your trip around these special events.

Surf City USA Marathon

The Surf City USA Marathon takes place at the beginning of February and it is a popular oceanfront marathon for runners. There’s a beach mile, 5K, half marathon, and marathon where racers will frequent some of the most beautiful spaces of HB.

So Cal Corgi Beach Day

Corgi Beach Day happens twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. It’s a celebration of all things Corgi! Corgi owners and Corgi enthusiasts gather at Dog Beach to participate in themed contests and activities, photo stations, a dog-centric vendor village, a Corgi kissing booth and more.

US Open of Surfing

The US Open of Surfing is the world’s largest surfing competition, and it takes place in July in Huntington Beach. There’s a full event schedule with surf, skate, and BMX competitions. Top athletes from around the world compete at the US Open of Surfing, and it’s free for the public to attend.

Kowabunga Huntington Beach Van Car Show

In May, you can check out the Kowabunga Huntington Beach Van Car Show to see 110 vintage Volkswagen vans on the Huntington Beach Pier. The vans come in a rainbow of colors and there are many decked out and modified vintage rides. This is another fun and free event.

Oktoberfest

From the middle of September to the beginning of November, Old World Village in Huntington Beach hosts Oktoberfest. Enjoy imported German beers, authentic German food, live entertainment and bands from Germany, as well as other fun festivities.

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