|
|
Huntington Beach, California
is located alongside the Pacific Ocean, just 35 miles south of Los Angeles in Orange County. The city of Huntington Beach has a population of approximately 200,000 and is often ranked among the Top Ten Safest Cities by the City Crime Rankings. Known around the world as “Surf City,” Huntington Beach has 8.5 miles of gorgeous white sand beach, the largest stretch of uninterrupted beachfront on the West Coast and the longest recreational pier in California. The town covers 28 square miles of land, 26 square miles of water and is one of the twenty largest cities in California. It is also host to as many as 14 million visitors each year, with the greatest attendance during summer, special events and weekends. It was founded in 1895 when the Southern Pacific Railroad built a line to Huntington Beach to connect the farming community with the Holly Sugar Plant in Santa Ana. In 1901, Philip A. Stanton and Colonial H.S. Finley visited the area and saw the potential as a West Coast resort rivaling Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Huntington Beach as we know it today was born. With an ideal Mediterranean type climate, visitors flock to Huntington Beach for sunning, swimming, surfing, fishing, and to watch professional sporting events such as volleyball and skateboarding. For an overall image of Huntington Beach, just think “Beach Boys” and “Surf City USA” – it’s the quintessential California beach community. There’s never a shortage of things to do here. The city also has other parks and recreational spots besides the beach, a wildlife preserve, and an eight-mile walking, jogging, biking and inline skating trail that runs alongside the ocean.
Main Street in Huntington Beach is a five-block stretch of outdoor cafes, fine restaurants, unique shops and boutiques, where visitors wander around town in their swimsuits and even the finest restaurants do not require a dress code. The city’s downtown commercial hub, Main Street is just steps from the beach, and offers everything from quaint shops to large shopping complexes with everything from seashells to designer clothes. There are also numerous shopping malls within a 15-mile radius of the city. Free concerts and a weekly arts and crafts/farmer’s market is held on the pier. Whatever your culinary preferences, Huntington Beach has it. From fast food to caviar, the city offers a wide range of dining options. For nightlife, there are several hot spots located along Main Street, enjoy a night at the theater or dancing – or maybe a romantic walk on the beach is all the nightlife you desire.
Huntington Beach provides easy access to Long Beach and other Orange County attractions. Its’ central location makes it easy to visit Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of The Pacific. Catalina Island is just about thirty miles off the coast of Huntington Beach and is reached by the Catalina Flyer Ferry, which takes approximately an hour and a half. The Ferry departs from nearby Newport Beach.
|
|
|
