I’ve been to California many times and seen many beaches… All up and down the coast! There is something special about Huntington. Not only does it have close to 10 miles of beach, but the city has a buzz that is hard to explain…. better to personally experience. Aptly named Surf City you can see why, The locals are proud of the surf culture. Shops and restaurants and hotels lean into it too. You can see it in the decor and the vibe.

My visit was short but I experienced a lot of what it has to offer! Our first day started with picking up e-bikes and exploring the coast line. Scattered across the 8.5 miles of beach are over 10 beach concessions offering a wide range of dining and entertainment. From SeaSalt, the world’s first honky tonk on a beach to Sea Legs, a live music bar at Bolsa Chica, the choice of entertainment means you’ll always have something new to experience! 

The highlight was on the second day where I had my first surfing lesson with the legendary Rocky McKinnon. Rocky runs McKinnon Surf and SUP Lessons where he and his team provide premium surf and stand up paddle board lessons. Rocky has also created a 14 ft. chair board specifically for adaptive surfing as he believes everyone should be able to enjoy surfing! You can’t stay in Huntington Beach without giving surfing a go and I can’t recommend Rocky and his team enough.

Finally, I stayed at the Pasea Hotel and Spa, where the sun meets the sea! Perched overlooking the beach on the Pacific Coastal Highway, It’s bright and fresh! Every room has the most breathtaking ocean views! Right next door is the Pacific City Mall for all of your shopping and dining needs. Kai Lounge and Ola Mexican Kitchen are just a couple of fantastic dining options offering that fresh California style food!

Huntington Beach is the perfect location for that end of road trip beach break and for all of you Disney lovers it’s super close to the parks. I’ll definitely be going back for a longer stay!