"My partner and I recently returned from a wonderful car-free holiday in Southern California, and we had such a fabulous time that I couldn’t wait to share our experience."
We were looking for an authentic taste of SoCal – you know, the kind you grow up seeing on television and in the movies – and somewhere that was a little different to the typical paths well-travelled.
I’d visited Huntington Beach (also known as Surf City USA) on a Visit California SuperFAM some years ago and remembered just how much I'd loved it then. I’d always wanted to go back, so this felt like the perfect opportunity.
We love a good road trip, but we were keen to avoid the general hassle and associated costs of having a car this time, so Huntington Beach’s proximity to one of California's key gateways was a huge
selling point for us.
We landed at LAX, cleared security, and hopped in an Uber. In less than an hour we had our toes in the sand. Dreamy!
There are a handful of fabulous branded resort hotels to pick from here, including a Hilton, Hyatt and Kimpton, but on this occasion, we chose the Paséa Hotel & Spa. I'm pleased to say that it did not disappoint! The Pasea positively exudes ocean vibes and was in an ideal location; right on the PCH, across from the beach and only a short walk from Huntington Beach's iconic pier and Main Street.
Pasea Hotel & Spa (credit Visit Huntington Beach)
It was also adjacent to Pacific City, which is Huntington Beach's upscale shopping and dining destination (which is also amazing, by the way), so a super convenient spot for everything. The icing on the cake being the incredible views of the Pacific Ocean that we got to enjoy from our balcony every morning and evening.
Among my favourite parts of the day, were the jet lag-assisted sunrises and, of course, those wonderful sunsets. Each morning we’d mooch down to Main Street and pick up a coffee and acai bowl/avo bagel (live like a local, right?), and head over to the pier to watch the surfers. Seeing them catch perfect wave after perfect wave, right next to the pier was just so awesome. Talk about living the dream.
Surfers alongside the Pier (credit Visit Huntington Beach)
We hired bikes one morning and rode up and down coastal path that hugs the beach, before stopping in at a craft brewery for a well-earned California IPA. With miles of golden coastline to explore – and safe, quiet roads in and around the downtown area – it really felt like the perfect place for getting around on two wheels. And whilst the beachfront resort-style hotels all seem to provide bikes, there were still plenty of locations downtown to hire your ride.
Other worthwhile experiences downtown were the Surfing Walk of Fame, which you'll find at the intersection of Main Street and the PCH and the International Surfing Museum, which was free to enter and showcased loads of cool memorabilia from surfing through the ages. Oh, and the biggest surfboard you've ever seen, which 66 people caught a wave on to break a world record here in 2015. It's little wonder they call it Surf City USA!
Surfing Walk of Fame (credit Visit Huntington Beach)
Wellness is obviously big business in California, so it goes without saying that we also road-tested some relaxing treatments at the hotel’s gorgeous Aarna Spa - I highly recommend the Mineral Ready Massage, complete with CBD oil; still thinking about how wonderful that was.
We also indulged in some retail therapy at Pacific City and nearby Bella Terra, and just generally enjoyed wandering around and soaking up the healthy, laidback SoCal atmosphere. There is so much to do here – particularly for those of an active disposition – but the people watching is amazing too.
Pacific City (credit Visit Huntington Beach)
The food options are fabulous, with very few fast-food chains - which was a big plus from our perspective - healthy bowls and coffee were our breakfast staples, lunch was fish tacos (or similar) from an independent restaurant (accompanied by a California IPA, of course) and dinner was either Asian or Mexican – both of which you’ll find an abundance here. We also loved the hotel restaurant, Tanners, which has a rooftop bar with daily happy hours and live DJ’s. One of the places to be seen in HB!
Neighbouring Newport Beach (credit Shutterstock)
Just for a change of scenery, we jumped in an Uber and headed over to Newport Beach one afternoon. But we could have quite easily visited Disneyland, Laguna Beach, Knotts Berry Farm, the Outlets at Orange, Legoland or Catalina Island, all of which are easily accessible from here – with or without a rental car.
We spent four nights in Surf City USA, but would have probably preferred another few days. Our Ubers cost less than a rental car would have been - particularly when you consider fuel and local parking charges - yet we were still able to see and do everything we wanted to locally. And once you're here, the whole downtown area is walkable, so there's really no need for a car anyway.
I would highly recommend Huntington Beach for couples and families with teenagers - they, in particular, will absolutely adore the outdoor activities, surf shops and general vibe here. It's a destination that fully embraces that authentic Southern Californian way of life, with amazing food and a fantastic beach scene less than an hour from LAX. Perfect!
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