Skip to content
Search
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • Events
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • Podcast
  • More
    • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
    • Black Wineries
    • Videos
    • CN Review
    • Donate
Cuisine Noir Magazine
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • CN Review
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
  • Events
  • Black Wineries
  • Videos
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
Search
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • Events
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • Podcast
  • More
    • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
    • Black Wineries
    • Videos
    • CN Review
    • Donate
Cuisine Noir Magazine
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • CN Review
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
  • Events
  • Black Wineries
  • Videos
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate

Take in the Surf, Sand and Sun in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach
Pictured: Huntington Beach Surf and Pier | Photo credit: Visit Huntington Beach
February 7, 2022
Ruksana Hussain
Share this article
  4    
4
Shares

The coastal city offers myriad opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

It’s no secret that the California coastline has its charm, and every city along the ocean offers its unique brand of beach life. Huntington Beach might sound like just another city to drive by along the Pacific Coast Highway but stop here for a few days and you’ll be glad you visited. Apart from its worldwide fame as Surf City USA, there are many attractions and activities to indulge in.

Enjoy the Outdoors

Hard to miss if you are walking around or driving into Huntington Beach is the fact that the area is steeped in surfing history and culture. From the number of surfers you’ll see on any given day to surf shops and surf-themed references in local businesses, you’ll quickly learn it simply is a way of life here.

This is certainly a city you want to make plans to visit if water sports are your motivation. It’s no wonder that the US Open of Surfing—a seven-day celebration of surfing and surf culture attracting some of the biggest names in the sport today—has been held here annually since 1959.

People paddle boarding in Huntington Beach
Pictured: Friends paddle boarding in Huntington Beach | Photo credit: Visit Huntington Beach

The who’s who of surfing descends upon Huntington Bay each year for a chance to catch the waves and top honors. You can learn more about the history of the sport at The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, which displays a small but meaningful collection of surfing memorabilia that follows the rise of the sport.

Local travel enthusiast Nathan Fluellen is leading the way in promoting the Black surfing community, hosting the largest gathering of Black surfers in history at A Great Day in the Stoke scheduled for June 2022. The event includes a surfing competition and demos, free surf lessons and awards.

  • Exploring Southern Charm in Athens, GeorgiaCouple out and about in Athens, GA
  • Tampa Bay’s Rich Diverse Cultural Exchange and Bites

Aside from surfing, the natural landscape is an invitation to any visitor to enjoy the outdoors in any way they can. Surf City Marathon, held here in February, is an award-winning, Boston-qualifying course that is considered one of the best courses in the country. Add to that the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve – the largest saltwater marsh along the coast of California and a worthy playground for birders and photographers where plant and animal species unique to the area can be sighted through the year.

Support Local Businesses

“For pet lovers, Huntington Beach is truly dog friendly. Many of the local shops and restaurants are very welcoming of furry travelers, and they often have special offerings just for your pets,” says Omark Holmes, chief marketing officer for Visit Huntington Beach.

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa in Huntington Beach
Pictured: Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa in Huntington Beach | Photo credit: Visit Huntington Beach

“Huntington Central Park and Huntington Dog Beach are a must, or if you’re looking for accommodations, all four of our oceanfront resorts are pet-friendly.” Among the properties, he refers to is the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, an upscale venue set right on the beach with direct access for guests via a walkway. Located just 10 miles from the iconic pier, the hotel also features the Pacific Waters Spa and the on-site restaurant Watertable, where apart from the locally sourced fare, the communal ambiance and breathtaking views are a big hit.

“What I like as a resident is the access to the outdoors, the parks are amazing, the beach, everything is within reach,” says Key Hill, owner of AOSA Coffee, who lives in Huntington Beach with her husband. Located within the Huntington Harbour Mall, a neighborhood shopping area, AOSA Coffee serves acai bowls, coffee, vegan pastries, and other vegan goods.

Other Black-owned eateries in Huntington Beach include Beale’s Texas BBQ owned by Brett Beale, offering slowly smoked meats with a variety of sides, and Hambone’s Bar & Grill, where chef Keenan Handy’s secret blend of aromatic woods and spices highlights authentic California barbecue.

Key Hill, owner of owner of AOSA Coffee in Huntington Beach
Pictured: Key Hill, owner of AOSA Coffee | Photo credit: AOSA Coffee

For dining options along the water, head to Duke’s (named after surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku), which serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes or Bluegold, located in the Pacific City mall, where chef Tin Vuong presents elegant seafood preparations in an intimate setting.

Events for Everyone

An oceanfront dining, shopping, and entertainment venue right along the beach, Pacific City also houses a modern food hall concept spotlighting several small businesses. A hidden gem here is Bella Sophia Chocolates, owned by self-taught husband and wife duo JD and Steph Shafer, specializing in award-winning luxury handcrafted chocolates.

You are sure to find a few other local treasures along the Pacific Coast Highway, especially during one of the many citywide events hosted. Taste of Huntington Beach in April showcases the best of the area’s culinary talents and the region’s top wineries and breweries.

RELATED: Baltimore: A City’s Greatness Through Food, Art and Culture

Oktoberfest at Old World Huntington Beach is held in the fall and features German food, music, beer and more. Surf City Nights, held every Tuesday, is a community street fair and farmer's market filled with local artisans and merchants.

“Visit Huntington Beach’s current #BeHere brand campaign amplifies its reputation as a welcoming beachside destination that embraces all travelers regardless of one’s background, and not because of it. As we look to target new opportunity markets, our message remains transparent and authentic while promoting destination experiences that are available for anyone to enjoy,” says Holmes, on efforts to attract a diverse tourism base to the area.

Huntington Beach pier at sunset
Pictured: Huntington Beach pier at sunset | Photo credit: Visit Huntington Beach

To that end, Huntington Beach has a Human Relations Task Force to promote and celebrate diversity in the community through education and understanding. The city also installed two Mobi-Mats in 2021 to improve beach access for visitors with disabilities, parents with strollers, and others with limited mobility. This stable, portable, non-slip walkway is made with recyclable materials that safely lead guests across the sand and to the water’s edge during high tide.

RELATED: Costa Mesa for a SoCal Travel Detour: A Weekend Getaway to the City of the Arts

As you can tell, though the beaches are a huge draw, there is a lot more that makes this a great destination to add to your plans if traveling to Southern California. From family-friendly and pet-friendly venues to diverse-owned eateries and global cuisine and a plethora of outdoor activities to choose from, putting together your itinerary to experience Huntington Beach is a breeze.

To plan your trip to Huntington Beach, visit www.surfcityusa.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.

  • under Etiquette Etiquette in Public Places
  • Aiyana Victoria Mathews in Japan
    under Travel Tips for African American Travelers in Japan
  • under Food & Drink Saluting the Vinous Odyssey of Zimbabwean Wine Whiz Job Jovo
  • under Food & Drink Biology and Science are Put to the Test with Twins That Cook
Share this article
Ruksana Hussain

Ruksana is an award-winning editor and writer, foodie and travel enthusiast who revels in eclectic cultural and culinary experiences near and far. She is the recipient of the inaugural Richard S Holden Diversity Fellowship from ACES: The Society of Copyediting, the inaugural diversity fellowship from The American Society of Business Publication Editors, and has received Los Angeles Press Club awards for her journalistic work. Born in India, raised in Oman and now calling the United States home, she shares the stories of people she meets and places she visits as a travel journalist and features writer, some of which you can also read on her digital magazine: TravelerandTourist.com.

Related Articles

Loading...
Denver Skyline
Food & Drink Travel

Denver Entices with Arts, Cuisine and Culture

Travel

Sisters of the Skies Mission to Increase Black Women Pilots

Greece
Travel

What You Need To Know About Traveling to Greece

Be the first to know about the latest online, industry updates, world news, events and promotions that connect the African diaspora through food, drink and travel.

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising

    #IAmCuisineNoir

    This site participates in affiliate programs. See our full disclosure for more information.

    © 2022 The Global Food and Drink Initiative d/b/a Cuisine Noir Magazine. Privacy
    Site by ACS Digital

    Any unauthorized duplication, download or reprint of images or content from this website for promotional or commercial use is strictly prohibited without written permission from The Global Food and Drink Initiative. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Trademark pending.

    YES!  We’re excited you are signing up too!  

    Get ready to receive our weekly newsletter about:

    • New articles online
    • World news and industry happenings throughout the African Diaspora
    • Mouthwatering recipes
    • Promotions and giveaways

    Right in your inbox!