With the recent launch of a new direct flight between Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, CA, Air Canada teamed up with the folks at Disneyland and the tourism boards of Orange County, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach to send a select group of Toronto-based media to tour the West Coast paradise in order to get a feel of what there is to do and see over the course of a week. And there is something for everyone.
If Disneyland is for families and Laguna Beach and Newport Beach are for couples and boomers looking for a relaxing getaway, than Huntington Beach (AKA Surf City, U.S.A) is for the twenty-something guys and girls looking to party on the beach, surf, and let loose for a weekend (or a week, depending on your stamina).
Getting there
We took the direct flight to the John Wayne Airport from Toronto which departed at 5:50 p.m. EST and landed at 8 p.m. PST. You are allowed to check one bag per person for free on this flight and carry on one bag each. If you wish to purchase food or beverages you must use a credit card as they will not accept cash. Round trip ticket, per person, runs about $550 CDN to $650 CDN, depending how long you book in advance and where you book your flight from (Expedia, Air Canada, etc.).
From the airport I recommend using a shuttle service, such as Karmel, to get to the Huntington Beach area since you don’t want to have to worry about parking or driving (cause that’s a buzz kill). For a van with four passengers you’re looking at $55 USD one way. Of course if you want to explore the area during the day you may want to rent a car. John Wayne Airport offers many car rental choices all with different fleets of vehicles. Check what’s available on their website and book in advance. Another option is to use the Orange County Transit Authority which services a large area with regular fares costing $1.50 USD. You can use their website to plan your route in advance.
Where to stay
The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort is in the perfect location for easy access to all the hot spots, across the street from the beach, and is a super classy joint. A room with two double beds runs about $251 USD per night without an ocean view, and about $271 USD per night with an ocean view (you can also choose an ocean view with a sunrise or sunset). If that is too rich for your blood there are many other lower-priced hotels in the area if you don’t mind being a few blocks away from the water.
Keep in mind: Huntington Beach hotel rates are higher during the annual U.S. Open of Surfing each summer. On the flip-side, you also have a much better chance of bumping into celebrities hanging out at places like the Hilton. We ran into NBA star Chris ‘Birdman’ Anderson of the Denver Nuggets (pictured below) multiple times and members of the band Weezer were reportedly spotted around the hotel too.
Where to eat
The fast food and pub options are endless along the main stretch of road near the beach, and Ruby’s Diner located at the end of the pier can make for a fun lunch. If you want something a bit more polished, eat at Shades, located inside the Hilton. They serve an amazing steak dinner that comes with the most scrumptious sweet potato fries and coleslaw, and they have a great selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. If you can score a spot on their patio, you will also have an amazing view of the ocean. The patio also hosts a nightly fire show performed by three belly dancers in quintessential Southern California style.
A more unique (and less expensive) experience is to have a cookout or a picnic on the beach. They have designated fire pits available at both state and city beaches, and the state beach also has picnic tables available. Alcohol is not allowed on the beach so plan to bring non-alcoholic drinks along.
Keep in mind: During the U.S. Open of Surfing, the beaches are usually too packed to have a cookout on the beach so don’t expect to be able to if you’re visiting at that time.
What to do
You’re in Surf City, U.S.A and you need to immerse yourself in the surf culture. Whether you sit back and check out the surfers’ gnarly moves, take lessons, or stroll through a museum dedicated to the sport, you cannot escape Huntington Beach without some sort of surfing moment.
U.S. Open of Surfing: Our visit brought us to Huntington Beach smack dab in the middle of the U.S. Open of Surfing and I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Buff dudes and hot babes were everywhere I looked, plus some of the best surfers from around the world were showing off their skills. Regular concerts feature big-name bands during the week-long event (Green Day and Weezer highlighted 2010).
International Surfing Museum: If you want a break from the beach or just want to learn about the history of surfing, check out the International Surfing Museum. They have some pretty awesome items on display including an old surfboard made out of a solid Redwood, the camera used to shoot the 1966 surfing film The Endless Summer, and a life-size sculpture of the Marvel superhero Silver Surfer. The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and the entire experience was a hit with our group.
The Pier: The Huntington Beach Pier is over 1,800 feet long and offers great views of the ocean and the beach; it’s a must-visit place for photographers. More adventurous travelers can also rent a rod and fish off the pier (a license is required and can be purchased from numerous area shops). Find out more about the Pier at surfcityusa.com.
See a baseball or hockey game: Okay, so there’s only so much surfing and lounging on the beach one can take. If you want to catch a baseball game instead, head to Angel Stadium (home of the California Angels), which is only 30 minutes from Huntington Beach. If you’re visiting during hockey season, the Honda Center (home of the Anaheim Ducks) is about the same distance away.
Keep in mind: If you feel like supporting a Toronto team on the road, you should know that the Angels don’t play the Blue Jays, but the Ducks play the Maple Leafs.
Toronto connection
If you do visit the International Surfing Museum, you’ll be interested to know it was founded by Natalie Kotsch, a real estate agent who moved to Huntington Beach from Toronto. She was not a surfer but saw the need for a museum.
Final Verdict
Although Huntington Beach does offer exciting things for families and boomers, the vibe I got was that this is a place to party and surf -- and would make an excellent March Break or summer vacation destination.
Have you been to Huntington Beach? Share your stories and favourite moments with us in the comments below, on our Facebook page, or via email at brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com.
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