What springs to mind when you think of Southern California? Wide-open beaches? Streets lined with palm trees? Surfers, bikers, and rollerbladers mingling about? How about picture-perfect sunsets by the shore? An hour south of LA, Huntington Beach ticks all those boxes with panache. With its all-season sunshine and enormous sandy expanse of Pacific coastline, Huntington Beach sets the stage for a very leisurely layover. Nicknamed Surf City USA, what was once a sleepy surf town is now a hopping vacation hub. It’s a great place to stopover in the greater LA area. It’s the quintessential SoCal beach break and in easy reach to Orange County’s banner attractions, like Disneyland.  

Resting in the heart of Southern California’s Orange County, its historic pier juts out 1,850 feet into the Pacific Ocean. That’s a whopping 560 metres – nearly twice as long as Australasia’s longest ocean pier at Christchurch’s New Brighton Beach. First built over 120 years ago and crowned with a red-roofed café at its far end, the pier is considered the birthplace of California’s surfing culture. Broad Street Oyster Co. is based at the end of the pier, a go-to for fresh lobster rolls and oysters.  

Huntington Beach Pier. Photo / Surf City USA

And come summertime, HB becomes the centre of the surfing universe, staging the US Open of Surfing, the world’s largest surfing competition. It’s dubbed Surf City USA for good reason. Duke Kahanamoku shaped the surf culture here, first surfing in the area during the dedication ceremony for the rebuilt pier in 1914, after severe storm damage. As a regular visitor, in 1925, he made national headlines by paddling out on his surfboard in heavy surf to rescue eight men from a capsized fishing boat, proving the life-saving value of surfboards. 

After admiring the hordes of surfers riding HB’s consistently strong breaks, grab a rental bike and soak up the full sweep of this scenic coastline. Covering the full eight-mile span of the city’s shoreline, the Huntington Beach Bike Trail is a splendid coastal greenway.  Come twilight, why not pair a classic Huntington sunset with a bonfire on the beach? There are over 500 fire pits at Huntington’s beaches, freely available on a first come, first serve basis. Dial up the ambience by sitting by a fire and savouring s'mores as you watch the sun set. Most hotels will happily get your sorted with firewood and s’mores kits (marshmallows, chocolate, and biscuits). 

Sunset at Huntington Beach Pier. Photo / Surf City USA

Right across the road from the beach, Pacific City is a lively outdoor retail and dining complex. Here, you’ll find stylish shops, local brands, and restaurants, all with sweeping ocean views, with a focus on surfer-chic boutiques carrying everything from graphic tees to handcrafted jewellery to help you bring the spirit of Huntington Beach home with you. It’s home to one of the hottest hospo spots in town – Bear Flag Fish Co. Their poke bowls and fish tacos justify the line out the door. 

Just a short walk away, Main Street is lined with independent boutiques, surf stores, and casual cafés that encapsulate the city’s laid-back spirit. Head down to Main Street on Tuesdays for Surf City Nights, when street food vendors congregate from all over the city to serve Southern California–quality cuisine. They certainly love their tacos in HB and a top stop is Primecut Taqueria for tacos topped with fried cheese. 

For sit-down dining, you can’t go wrong with BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. Leave room for their iconic dessert – a “pizzookie” (a hot, fresh-baked cookie served in a deep-dish skillet and topped with ice cream). 

At the foot of the pier, Duke’s Huntington is a wildly popular spot. Named after legendary Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku—and part of the same beloved restaurant group found throughout Hawaii—the oceanfront spot channels a laid-back island vibe with Hawaiian-inspired, seafood-focused fare (think poke tacos and crispy coconut shrimp), Mai Tais, Hula Pie, and unbeatable pier views. Since it gets crowded, especially around sunset, arrive early to snag a prime spot. 

Duke's Barefoot Bar. Photo / Mike Yardley

After dark, head to Treehouse on PCH, beloved for its treehouse theme and super cool atmosphere. With $10 cocktails during happy hour, cabanas and plush lounge seating, and live DJ sets, it’s the perfect place to kick back and soak in the views – and go people-watching. 

On the cultural front, the International Surfing Museum houses collections of surfing memorabilia and culture including some of surfing history's most significant artifacts such as Duke Kahanamoku's surfboard and the Guinness World Records breaking World's Largest Surfboard. Ten years ago, over 60 surfing legends piled onto a custom-built 42-foot-long surfboard to ride one epic wave on the south side of the famed Huntington Beach Pier. Just outside, stroll along the Surfing Walk of Fame on Main Street, where plaques celebrate icons who’ve made their mark here. 

The International Surfing Museum. Photo / Surf City USA

Where to stay? Gracing PCH, Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa stands out for its Spanish-inspired architecture and prime oceanfront location. When they’re not out exploring, guests can often be found lounging in one of the property's plush cabanas or unwinding at the colossal Pacific Waters Spa, which has tranquil treatment rooms, therapeutic soaking tubs, and a serene outdoor courtyard. The property also has multiple pools with slides, lush courtyards, frothy fountains and sublime gardens, plus an array of upscale accommodations with private balconies or ocean views. 

The resort sprawls in that assertive way big California coastal hotels do, all low-slung buildings and terracotta paths, but the property’s unexpected bonus is its landmark pedestrian bridge. It arcs over PCH and drops you onto the sand in about three minutes. No shuttle or car parking hassles. You're in your room, you grab a towel, and then you're standing on Huntington Beach with your feet in the ocean. That emblematic bridge soon became my best friend. 

Beachside vibes at Hyatt Regency Huntington. Photo / Mike Yardley 

For signature dining, snag a reservation at Watertable, an award-winning venue, acclaimed for its locally sourced, seasonally curated menu and artisanal cocktails. Their sangria is particularly good. The setting is seductive, a rustic dining space that showcases hand-painted tiles, a communal farmhouse and firewall seating, backed by the ocean breakers. After catching a salty breeze all day, Neptune’s bounty was calling, so I plumped for the Pan-seared Sea Bream. The melt-in-your-mouth texture is divine, and it was accompanied with spring pea puree, pancetta, trumpet mushrooms, blistered sea asparagus and lemon butter. 

Explore the world with the trusted name in travel insurance, Cover-More Travel Insurance, which has you covered with added safeguards, over and above the typical travel cover, for the likes of medical treatment. In addition to single-trip cover, multi-trip annual cover is another great option, wherever you want to go. Check out the full range of protections and tailor the level of cover to your requirements. Cover-More’s 24-hour global assistance centre is just a phone call away. 

Mike Yardley is Newstalk ZB’s resident traveller and talks travel every week on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame.