Things to do in Huntington Beach

Sunset Dream Homes

From Sunset Dream Homes's guidebook

Bolsa Chica is one of the premier birding locations in southern California. This list includes 186 regularly occurring species. Beginning in 2004, more than 500 acres of the Bolsa Chica Lowlands was reconstructed to its original conditions in the 1800s. The reserve has two parking lots, one on Warner Avenue just east of Pacific Coast Highway and another on Pacific Coast Highway about 1.5 miles south of Warner Avenue. Take a quick drive over and enjoy these beautiful trails through this picturesque nature preserve!

Toan

From Toan's guidebook

A haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is the largest saltwater marsh along the coast of California. The 1,300-acre wetlands with five miles of trails, provide visitors a chance to spot nearly 200 resident and transient bird species that use the wetlands as a critical stopover while migrating along the Pacific Flyway. Nature lovers can also enjoy seeing nearly over 100 plants and trees found in the wetlands. Come camera-ready and stop by the Bolsa Chica Wetlands Interpretive Center off Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway to learn more about the wetlands, and for trail access into the 1,400-acre reserve. You'll also find trail access from a parking lot on the inland side of Pacific Coast Highway, a mile south of Warner Avenue across from the entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach. Both locations offer free limited parking for nature enthusiasts.

Janice Lori

From Janice Lori's guidebook

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is an approximately 1,300 acre coastal estuary. Habitats include open water, mudflats, salt marsh, coastal dunes, seabird nesting islands, riparian, and freshwater marsh. More than 200 avian species have been identified at Bolsa Chica and the reserve is very popular with birders and photographers.

Kris

From Kris's guidebook

The best local surfing is just 25 minutes south of us. One of the best surf spots in Huntington Beach is the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier. On the south side of the pier, the waves are super fun for shortboards. With decent swells, expect a nice, open, rippable wave face. Do keep in mind, this is not a beginner wave, and the lineup can be pretty intense. This is a fairly localized break. The best time to surf here is the winter, although the fall and spring can be pretty good. During the summer, the south side of the Huntington Pier gets blackballed by the lifeguards, and you can’t surf here. This happens because there are too many tourists in the water swimming. When that happens, you can just head over to the northside of the pier. Huntington Beach Pier North On the north side of the pier, the waves break fast, and often barrel depending on the tide and sandbars. If you want to spend some time in the green room, this is the place to be. The north side of the pier is open all year long, so it’s the place to be surfing in Huntington Beach when the south side is closed.

Michael

From Michael's guidebook

The pier is the center of the city's prominent beach culture. A popular meeting place for surfers, the ocean waves here are enhanced by a natural effect caused by the edge-diffraction of open ocean swells around Catalina Island, creating consistent surf year-round.

Flor

From Flor's guidebook

Walk the pier, people watch, shop, dine, and check out the surfers next to the pier. I don’t recommend you go in the water at this location, the waves crash on top of each other and there are always rip currents. If you decide to go into the water stay away from the pier and swim close to a lifeguard station.