Huntington Beach, Calif., aka Surf City, is best known for its surf-friendly waves and 10 miles of broad sand beaches. The SoCal city welcomes more than 16 million beach visitors a year and offers them plenty to do during their stay. If you happen to find yourself in or around the city, make sure to try one of these five beach activities before dining in one of the metropolis’s award-winning restaurants.
Walk the pier
The world famous Huntington Beach Pier is a tourist favorite. One of the West Coast’s longest piers, it stretches 1,850 feet into the Pacific Ocean and offers a close-up view of nearby surfers. You can also rent a pole and go fishing (no license necessary!), shop for souvenirs or dine with an ocean view at Ruby’s Surf City Diner.
Fly kites
This is a simple yet fun beach activity. Buy an acrobatic kite (starting at $20) available for purchase on the pier and join the handful of others taking advantage of windy weather.
Learn how to surf
Huntington Beach provides the perfect waves for surfing and for that reason the water is always teeming with grateful surfing professionals and novices. Get in on the fun by taking a lesson provided by one of several nearby surf schools and see what it’s like to surf the waters used to host the biggest surf competitions in the world.
Visit the dog beach
Whether you brought your pooch along and want him to be part of the fun or you just want to witness some playing and frolicking while getting a better view of the more experienced surfers (the dog beach has better waves), this is the place for you. Close-by restaurants welcome your furry friend and if you’re visiting in September, you might get a view of some canine surfing.
Yoga on the beach
Huntington Beach is a laid-back city so it’s no surprise a favorite pastime of the locals is enjoying yoga on the beach. If you’re an old pro then you’ll have no trouble finding a private spot on the 10-mile long beach, but there are plenty of classes (some of them free!) for beginners and experts to enjoy.
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