48 Hours in Huntington Beach

First things first – if you’re ONLY spending 48 hours in Huntington Beach, you’re doing it all wrong.
With 10 miles of pristine uninterrupted beaches, family-friendly activities and a vibrant nightlife, it’s the perfect destination all year round – worthy of at least seven days of your vacation allotment! On our recent #kidifornia adventure we spent two days in Surf City USA (too short!), and today, I’m here with a recap of all the fun – and what we’ll look forward to when we return. 

(Of course we’ll return.) Here’s how we spent 48 hours in Huntington Beach.

The Beach.

Huntington Beach sands are so inviting, they’ve won awards! Accolades include America’s Best Beach by Time Magazine, Best Beach in California by USA Today’s Readers Choice and Best West Coast Beach by Coastal Living Magazine. And is it any wonder? The beaches are large and expansive, safe and clean, and – most important for families – equipped with amenities at every stop, including parking, restrooms, cold water showers, beach volleyball courts and fire rings.

During the day, take advantage of a surfer’s paradise; the year-round swell and calm, glistening waters offer perfect conditions for both experts and novices alike. Convenient for vacationing families, board rentals and surf lessons are available for all skill levels – or, simply spread out on the sand and watch the locals from the sidelines. My boys were enthralled with their raw surfing talent (they put on quite a show!). And of course, be sure to take a walk on top and below the Huntington Beach Pier.
The Lodgings.

I added a new hotel to my Top 10; the Hyatt Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. Perfectly situated oceanfront and a convenient walk to many activities and attractions, this contemporary, family-focused hotel offers all the amenities you’ll need for a memorable vacation. Watertable for breakfast and Pete’s Sunset Grille for dinner have become new traditions for my brood; the cuisine is vibrant and fresh. In addition to its enviable proximity to everything fun in Huntington Beach, it also boasts Slyder’s Water Playground, which features three water slides, two splash pools, jacuzzi, poolside cafe and fire pits. And when it’s time to wind down, the rooms at Hyatt Huntington Beach are spacious, clean and comfortable.
Parents, want a little kid-free time? Camp Hyatt is an activity program exclusively for guests ages 3-12. Campers spend their days doing arts & crafts, frolicking on the beach, in the pool and all around the Hyatt’s extensive resort, with each day designed around a specific theme. (Additional fees apply.)

The Food.

Staahhp. You don’t really think I can fit all that delicious food in one paragraph, do you? Read my Huntington Beach food diary.

The Recreation.

There’s no shortage of activities in Surf City USA. Take a 2-hour whale watching adventure cruise in beautiful Dana Point Harbor. Plan a day trip to Disneyland or Legoland California. Hit Main Street to partake in a little retail therapy. Or get a little workout in with a family bicycle ride along the famed Ocean Strand. We rented from Zack’s Pier Plaza; after we worked up an appetite we indulged in Mahi Mahi tacos. Only in Huntington Beach can you rent bicycles from the same dude who fries your fish taco!
Schedule a Duffy boat rental to explore Huntington Harbor. In a Duffy electric boat, you don’t boat – you cruise. It’s a little slower, a little more deliberate and the best part? There’s no boating experience required. Spending a day on the water in beautiful Huntington Harbor is my kind of heaven.

The #kidifornia Connection.

There’s no doubt about it; kids adore Surf City USA. Beach life, bonfires after sunset and boat rides on the harbour. Plus, proximity to theme parks and local attractions, whale watching and fishing off the pier (number one on my boys’ wish list for our next visit). What’s not to love?

We’ve been trying to carve out a few days in September for a return visit. I’m very motivated by the idea of lying on the beach, soaking up the sun while the boys do a little fishing. (Live bait? Colour me uninterested.) Let’s see if we can make it happen!

To plan your family vacation to Huntington Beach, visit surfcityusa.com.