Top 15 Things To Do In Huntington Beach, California

1. Take a nice walk around Shipley Nature Center

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Invigorate yourself with the soothing sights and sounds of Shipley Nature Center. This 18-acre (7.2-hectare) nature preserve features a wonderful mix of native plants and animals that you can observe through the preserve’s walking trail.

Take in the wonderful sights of nature as you walk through the landscape that was made with through the efforts of the Friends of Shipley Nature Center. This group maintains the preserve and conducts regular maintenance of the area every second Saturday of the month alongside volunteers. If you’re interested in getting some California native plants, Shipley Nature Center has them available for sale.

Shipley Nature Center

Address: 17851 Goldenwest St, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, United States

Website: Shipley Nature Center

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 9am - 1pm (closed from Sun - Thu)

2. See the wonderful art at Huntington Beach Art Center

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Huntington Beach Art Center showcases wonderful pieces of art created by various artists. From exhibits to performances to video screenings, this community art center is one of the places to visit in Huntington Beach if you love films, artworks, sculptures, and so much more.

The center also hosts many events. There are also art classes taught by professional artists that you can avail, divided into adult and teen classes and youth classes.

Huntington Beach Art Center

Address: 538 Main St #98, Huntington Beach, CA 92648, United States

Website: Huntington Beach Art Center

Opening hours: Tue - Wed: 12pm - 6pm; Thu: 12pm - 8pm; Fri: 12pm - 6pm; Sat: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

3. Take a breather at Huntington Central Park East's open fields

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Huntington Central Park East is a 350-acre (141-hectare) park that offers the peaceful sight of open fields complemented by verdant trees and flowers. These grassy fields are a great place for biking, playing sports, and having a nice picnic.

There are also paved paths you can take a stroll along and enjoy the serene fields. The park also hosts several events throughout the year, so check the park’s website and social media to keep yourself updated.

Huntington Central Park East

Address: 18000 Goldenwest St, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, United States

Website: Huntington Central Park East

Opening hours: 5am - 10pm (daily)

4. See amazing surfers immortalized at Surfing Walk of Fame

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Travelers who love surfing are in for a treat at Surfing Walk of Fame. Emulating the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this attraction has been showcasing some of the surfing world’s best surfers since 1994.

The East Coast Surfing Hall Of Fame has set some categories such as Surf Pioneer, Surf Champion, Woman of the Year, Surf Culture, Local Hero, and many more. This walk of fame immortalizes the names of these surfers on the streets of Huntington Beach and is a must-go place for surfers and surf lovers, alike.

Surfing Walk of Fame

Address: 101 Main St, Huntington Beach, CA 92648, United States

Website: Surfing Walk of Fame

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

5. Go shopping at Old World Village

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

It’s not a village but rather a mall–Old World Village is an outdoor shopping and dining complex that features German-style buildings and cobblestone streets. This venue offers a unique aesthetic and evokes German architecture of yore including old red phone booths.

Fitting with this aesthetic, this complex is filled with restaurants that serve German cuisine. It is also a great venue for events and live music, including Oktoberfest. There are also farmers’ markets open in the complex on select days so keep an eye out for them when you go or check out the website to see when they’re available.

Old World Village

Address: 7561 Center Ave #50, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, United States

Website: Old World Village

Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 9am - 6pm; Wed - Sun: 9am - 8pm

6. Enjoy some good beer at Riip Beer Co

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Located in a historic sub-district in Huntington Beach, Riip Beer Co is an award-winning brewery that serves a variety of craft beers you can enjoy. These top-quality beers are then complemented by the brewery’s cool atmosphere and ambiance. Being located right across the beach, this makes it a great place to simply sit back, relax, and just drink to your heart’s content.

This Huntington Beach go-to was established by Ryan Rasmussen and Ryan Hopkins, brothers-in-law who began brewing in their very own backyard. Don’t miss their thoughtfully crafted IPAs and microbrews. And, if you have a hankering for food to go along with your beers, you can get some grub from neighboring restaurants delivered right to your table!

Riip Beer Co

Address: 17214 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, United States

Website: Riip Beer Co

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 10pm; Sun: 11am - 8pm

7. Catch a show at Golden West College Theater

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Golden West College’s theater offers a wide variety of theater, dance, and music shows that are sure to entertain people of various ages. Enjoy the very best that Golden West College has to offer as the theater holds a regular schedule for shows.

If you want to try your hand at theater, Golden West College offers theater auditions that are open to both GWC students and the general public. Check the theater’s website and the Facebook page for any updates on the shows’ schedules and the auditions.

Golden West College Theater

Address: 15751 Gothard St, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, United States

Website: Golden West College Theater

8. Sink your teeth into a good meal at Sandy's Beach Shack

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

While you’re enjoying yourself at the beach, why not drop by Sandy’s Beach Shack for a bite to eat? This casual eatery boasts wonderful views of the beach and offers stylish plates of lip-smacking food. The menu is composed of a variety of starters, soups, snacks, cocktails, and main dishes. Some of these dishes include shrimp kebabs, burgers, steakhouse tacos, shrimp cocktails, and many more.

You surely won’t be disappointed as the food quality is superb and the wonderful atmosphere of being near the beach and next to a pier enhances the ambiance, which makes for an incredibly enjoyable dining experience.

Sandy's Beach Shack

Address: 315 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92648, United States

Website: Sandy’s Beach Shack

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri: 11am - 10pm; Sat: 9am - 10pm; Sun: 9am - 9pm

9. Spend the day in Pacific City

Located across from the Huntington Beach Pier, this 12-hectare (31-acre) expanse provides visitors with nearly unending entertainment. Shoppers can browse 19,000 square meters (191,000 square feet) of retails shops, from big names like Tommy Bahama to small boutiques specializing in local items. The section of Pacific City, dubbed “Lot 579,” is an entire area dedicated to local businesses, specializing in everything from creative floral arrangements to customizable popsicles.

Craving a more pampered experience? Not a problem. Book a blowout at the Drybar or a nail lounge experience at Holly and Hudson Lounge. Want to be more active? Play games such as foosball and ping pong outdoors on their lower levels, or visit the Equinox, a state of the art fitness facility, including a spa, with a fantastic view of the Pacific Ocean.

Be sure to check out their events page before you visit – live music and pop-up art shows are weekly if not a daily occurrence that you will not want to miss. And don’t worry about missing the beach while you’re in Pacific City – breathtaking views of the ocean can be found around every corner.

Pacific City

Address: 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy, 92648 Huntington Beach, CA

Website: Pacific City

10. Have a beach bonfire

After a long day in the city, walk outside to the beach directly across from it to find 500 fire rings just waiting for company. This Huntington Beach activity is totally free and open to public use on a first come, first serve basis. Bring blankets, chairs, and smores, and settle in to have a relaxing evening, listening to soft music and enjoying the night sky above the ocean. These fire rings go fast during peak season, so arrive early to stake your claim. Visitors who would rather have a guaranteed spot in a more remote location can also reserve a picnic area at either Huntington or Bolsa Chica State Beach.

11. Visit the Huntington Beach Pier

Any trip to this area would be incomplete without a walk along the iconic Huntington Beach Pier. This landmark, included on the National Register of Historic Places, dates back to 1904 and is the longest pier on the West Coast. Open nearly all day (5 a.m. to midnight), stop in to enjoy an outstanding view of the sunrise or sunset or spend some time watching the surfers dance on the waves. Observe “Lifeguard Tower Zero,” a structure that looks like Air Traffic Control, set up to give year round protection to beach-goers below. Additional activities on the pier include shopping, dining at upscale restaurants, and of course fishing, which is permitted here without a license.

Huntington Beach Pier

Address: Main St. and Pacific Coast Highway; Huntington Beach, California

Website: Huntington Beach Pier Cam

12. Explore Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Craving some nature and outdoors after a couple of days experiencing life in the beach town? Stop by the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. This park includes 8 kilometers (5 miles) of trails and hosts around 200 species of regularly-spotted birds.

The wetlands also house 80 species of sea life, including leopard sharks and stingrays, as well as many small rodents and reptiles. Conservationist groups and volunteers provide countless educational programs and activities for kids ages 5 and up, but you don’t need to be a kid to enjoy it here. Public and private tours are also available, ensuring this place to be a fun and educational day trip for the entire family.

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Address: 92648 Huntington Beach, CA

Website: Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

13. Become immersed in surf and skate culture

Two of the many fun things to do in Huntington Beach are surfing and skating. Take at least one afternoon to experience what made this beach famous – its surf and skate scene. Start by viewing all the greats of past and present immortalized in the Surfing Walk of Fame. Continue your journey of learning and admiration with the International Surfing Museum. For the low price of 2 USD, you can see the World’s Largest Surfboard and the surfboard of the famous Duke Kahanamoku.

If you are feeling appropriately inspired, there are numerous ways to start the adventure yourself. Continue into Jack’s Surfboards to purchase top of the line surfing gear (rentals also available for the less permanently inspired), or visit Van’s Off the Wall Skatepark. This skate park has over 3,300 meters (35,000 feet) of rails, stair sets, and more, all free. Equipment rentals are available to anyone 18 or over.

International Surfing Museum

Address: 411 Olive Ave, 92648 Huntington Beach, CA

Website: International Surfing Museum

Van's Off the Wall Skatepark

Address: 7471 Center Ave, 92647 Huntington Beach, CA

Website: Van’s Off the Wall Skatepark

14. Drop by Downtown Huntington Beach

If you’re wondering what to do in Huntington Beach, why not drop by downtown? The downtown Huntington Beach area was cultivated specifically to improve local businesses and the area’s economy. Here you can find a variety of unbeatable dining choices and unique shopping experiences. Rent a bike to explore the city, or go on an exciting Segway tour. This area also hosts several events such as scavenger hunts, sandcastle building, art in the park, and chili at the beach. Stop by to enjoy some local customs, make new friends, and have fun with the whole family.

Downtown Huntington Beach

Website: Huntington Beach Downtown

15. Go to the beach

This one is obvious, but worth mentioning. With 16 kilometers (10 miles) of coastline, you can spend the day having tons of fun playing in the ocean. Rent a boogie board, paddle board, surf board, skim board, or nearly any other kind of board you can think of from local vendors.

Ride a bicycle along the beach. Or, join a game of volleyball at one of the many nets. If you’ve had enough activity, spend some time lying on the sand and soaking up the sun and the beauty around you.

One vacation is all you need

One vacation to Huntington Beach will show you why it was chosen as Time Magazine’s 2015 Best Beach of the Year. You can enjoy warm weather, consistent beach conditions, local attractions, and views of unblocked coastline stretching off into the horizon at any time of year. When will you book your trip?