Surf City Huntington Beach

Known for its miles of sandy beaches and waves made for watersports, Southern California’s quintessential coastal city offers so much more, says Steve Hartridge

Day 1: Life’s a beach

Morning: After breakfast in the Hyatt Regency, use the walkway to cross the Pacific Coast Highway and start the day with a stroll along the beach boardwalk, stopping off at the municipal pier.

Join a beach yoga class or rent an electric bike from Pedego Electric Bikes on Fifth Street and cruise the 10 miles of shoreline, stopping off to see Dog Beach, a flat expanse of sand where pups play and socialise. There’s even an annual Surf City Surf Dog competition held here.

After dropping off your rental bike, walk around the few blocks that make up the downtown area, with its 15 historic sites pubs, restaurants and surf shops.

Afternoon: Head down to the beach for a beginner’s surfing or stand-up paddle-boarding lesson. The waves are constant and on most days suitable for all levels of experience. There are several surfing schools but McKinnon Surf & SUP Lessons, run by former pro surfer Rocky Mckinnon, is the only one who caters for those with disabilities – he even has a 14-foot surfboard adapted for wheelchair users. To round off your experience of ‘Surf City’, pop into the International Surfing Museum downtown.

You won’t be able to miss it as outside is what the Guinness Book of Records says is the world’s largest surfboard.

Evening: Enjoy a barbecue and sunset picnic around one of the many beachside fire-pits, available on a first-come-first-served basis. Or enjoy a free outdoor summer concert at the amphitheatre in Huntington Beach Central Park. For kids, the park has threedimensional climbing structures, rope bridges, ziplines and a toddler playground.

Day 2: Harbour cruise and luxury shopping

Morning: Take a wander around the 1,300-acre Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, a large saltwater marsh and wetlands with numerous walking trails and bird-watching opportunities.

Or, for some upmarket retail therapy, head to South Coast Plaza in nearby Costa Mesa, the largest shopping centre on the U.S. west coast. The luxury brands include Dolce&Gabbana, Burberry and Prada.

Afternoon: Visit Huntington Beach Harbour for a serene couple of hours with Prince Charters on the Alexandria, a vintage wooden boat that cruises the calm waters, past homes of the rich and the occasional superyacht.

If you are in town on a Tuesday, visit the farmers market that is set up downtown. If you are lucky, you might see one of Huntington Beach’s numerous classic car rallies driving in formation.

Evening: Have dinner at Pacific City, where the dining options include Ola Mexican Kitchen which provides Mexican dining with an upmarket twist: try the grilled Agave salmon with a tequila agave glaze. The cocktails are generous and there are great views of the Pacific Ocean. For an after-dinner drink, The Bungalow is a lounge-style bar set around an al fresco patio. With DJs and designer drinks, it is the place to people watch. •

Six of the best / 27