Orange County family guide
Things to Do in Huntington Beach with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Huntington Beach on the map
📍 Where Huntington Beach is
Huntington Beach sits in Orange County, Southern California. Nearest major airport: John Wayne / Orange County (~8 mi / 13 km). It's roughly 29 mi (47 km) from Downtown LA and 82 mi (133 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
Things to do in Huntington Beach
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Flat boardwalk loops over 1,400 acres of coastal wetland — the largest saltwater marsh remaining on the California coast — alive with herons, egrets, and more than 300 recorded bird species. The wooden footbridge is the best spot to look down and spot stingrays, sea turtles, and sea slugs gliding through the shallows, so bring binoculars and let kids scan for wildlife.
Free
Bolsa Chica State Beach
A 3-mile stretch of sand with an 8.5-mile paved beach path for walking, biking, or a stroll — calmer and less crowded than Huntington City Beach just south of it. The state acquired and cleaned up the land in 1961, and today the beach borders the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, one of the largest remaining coastal wetlands in Southern California. More than 200 fire rings line the sand for evening bonfires.
Free beach; $15 day-use parking (lower Oct–Mar)
Huntington Beach Pier & Pacific City
Walk the iconic pier to watch surfers, dig in the wide sand, and grab a bite at the bluff-top Pacific City shops. Today's 1,856-foot pier, rebuilt in 1992, is the longest recreational pier on the West Coast, following a line of piers here dating back to 1904. Hawaiian surf legend Duke Kahanamoku rode waves alongside an earlier version of it in the 1920s, helping cement Huntington's "Surf City" reputation.
Free (paid parking)
Huntington Central Park & Shipley Nature Center
The county's largest city park: a free nature center, a fairy-tale-themed Adventure Playground, dog park, and a lakeside cafe. At 356 acres it's the biggest city-owned park in Orange County, and the 18-acre Shipley Nature Center inside it has logged more than 200 bird species along its 4,000 feet of trails since opening in 1974. The seasonal Adventure Playground takes a hands-on approach kids don't get elsewhere in OC — real tools, scrap wood, treehouses, and a shallow mud pond for building and exploring.
Free
Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum
Surf-history museum with vintage boards, championship memorabilia and a World Surf League exhibit. It MOVED in July 2026 — it is now inside the Main Street Library at 525 Main St, not the old Olive Avenue building many listings still show.
Free (donations welcome)
Huntington Beach Art Center
City-run contemporary gallery on Main Street with rotating exhibitions and youth and teen art classes year-round. The centre does not publish a gallery admission price; ticketed prices you may see quoted are for events.
Gallery admission not published
Newland House Museum
An 1898 Queen Anne farmhouse, the city's oldest residence, shown by volunteer docents in period rooms. The hours are genuinely narrow — two weekends a month — so check before you drive over.
$2 adults, $1 childrenHuntington Beach Central Library & Cultural Center
A large library inside Central Park with its own children's wing and a story-time theatre. One of the most reliable wet-weather options in the city, and free.
Free
Bolsa Chica Conservancy Interpretive Center
A small indoor wetlands nature centre at the reserve's Warner Avenue edge, with coastal ecology exhibits, aquaria and free parking. A separate building from the reserve trails themselves.
Free
Fun For All Indoor Playground
Two-storey indoor play centre with a mega slide, obstacle course, trampoline zone and a separate toddler area away from the bigger kids.
$25 per child, $5 per adult; grip socks $1Get Air Surf City
Indoor trampoline park with foam pits, dodgeball and dedicated Toddler Time. Pricing only appears inside their booking flow, so budget before you go.
Price not published onlineHuntington Beach City Gym & Pool
A 1931 indoor pool and gymnasium on the National Register, running recreational swims, lessons and indoor basketball. Genuinely historic and still in daily use.
Drop-in fee not published
Old World Village
A cobblestoned Bavarian-style village of shops and restaurants with free parking, and host of Orange County's biggest Oktoberfest since 1977.
Free to visit; free parkingHuntington Dog Beach
A mile and a half of off-leash dog beach on PCH between Goldenwest and Seapoint. The two parking lots are card-only.
Free; metered beach parkingHuntington State Beach
Two miles of state beach with fire rings and a bike path, running from Beach Boulevard to the Santa Ana River. Parking is cashless — card only.
Free entry; parking $15 weekdays, $20 weekends and summer
Bella Terra
Open-air lifestyle centre with fountains, a bookshop, a cinema and a free kids club. Handy as a rain-adjacent option since much of the walking is covered.
Free to visit
Adventure Playground
A supervised mud-play park in Central Park with rafts on a shallow pond, treehouses, rope climbs and real tools. Children come home filthy, which is the point. Summer only — closed the rest of the year.
$4 per child; adults 16+ free with a childVans Off The Wall Skatepark
A free 35,000-square-foot outdoor skatepark with a street plaza, flow bowls and rails, attached to a Vans store. Helmet and pads are required, not suggested.
FreeFarmers markets in Huntington Beach
Surf City Nights Certified Farmers Market
Downtown Main Street closes for a free family street fair with a farmers market, live music, kids' games, and an international food court.
Festivals & annual events in Huntington Beach
What Huntington Beach is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
SoCal Corgi Beach Day
Thousands of corgis and their people take over Huntington City Beach, with vendors and food trucks. Free and open to the public, and dogs of all kinds are welcome. Tip: park at Huntington Ave & PCH or Beach Blvd & PCH ($15/day) and arrive before lunch, since the 3,000-space lot fills.
Free (beach parking $15)
Old World Oktoberfest
A Bavarian-village celebration with German bands, dancing, and food — daytime family hours before the evening crowds arrive.
Free entry; some events ticketed
Huntington Harbour Boat Parade
A volunteer-run parade of decorated boats through Huntington Harbour, held to thank the residents who decorate their homes. It kicks off the Cruise of Lights fundraiser season. Tip: the site's older text still references 2025 dates, so confirm the evening start time and the live-stream option before you go.
Free to watch
Huntington Harbour Cruise of Lights
Narrated 45-minute boat tours through Huntington Harbour past decorated waterfront homes, run as a fundraiser by the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee. Boats are open-air and sell out early.
See site for ticket prices
Surf City Marathon Weekend (Beach Mile, 5K, Half, Full)
A race weekend along PCH past the Huntington Beach Pier with a Beach Mile on Saturday and the 5K, half and full marathon on Sunday. The Beach Mile and 5K are the family-friendly options, and spectating is free. Tip: PCH closes for the races, so park early or use a ride service.
Race registration required; spectating free
Surf City Nights
Downtown Main Street becomes a weekly farmers market and street fair with live music, kids' games, and food — an easy weeknight outing.
Free
Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade & Pier Festival
A Surf City tradition since 1904 — a parade down PCH and Main Street plus a multi-day Pier Plaza festival, carnival and fireworks. Attendance tops 500,000, so parking and traffic are genuinely hard with small kids.
The 122nd celebration ran Jul 3-5, 2026 and has passed; 2027 dates not yet posted
Lexus US Open of Surfing
The world's largest surf competition turns the sand south of the HB Pier into a free festival with skate ramps, music, and beach activities.
Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach
Three days of aerobatic jets, warbirds and demo teams over Huntington City Beach, roughly 10:30am–4:30pm daily; the organizers don't publish the flight schedule in advance. Free viewing spots exist along the sand, and general tickets start at $10. Tip: the show center is on PCH between Twin Dolphin Dr and Beach Blvd, so arrive early, bring ear protection for little ones, and expect heavy PCH traffic.
A Great Day in the Stoke
A community surf day on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier celebrating Black surfers, with a surf contest plus free surf lessons, beach yoga and Double Dutch. Spectating is free. Tip: the surf contest needs advance registration, but the lessons and games are drop-in, so check the schedule the week of the event.
Local restaurants in Huntington Beach
Tacos El Chavito
Beloved local taco truck since the late '90s serving cheap street tacos.
Primecut Taqueria
Mesquite-charcoal-grilled tacos right across from the HB Pier.
Bagels Tea Lounge
Local bagel-and-lox shop with Vietnamese iced coffee and big portions.
Taco Loco
Casual blackened-seafood taco stand — swordfish, shrimp, and veggie tacos.
Sugar Shack Cafe
Family-owned Main Street surf-town institution since 1967 with Mickey pancakes and an easygoing patio kids love.
The Hangout Restaurant & Beach Bar
Family-owned beachy spot with big shareable Southern-comfort plates and a casual come-as-you-are vibe.
Calico Fish House
Laid-back oceanfront shack serving fresh local seafood baskets the whole family can dig into.
The Donuttery
Beloved 24/7 surf-city donut shop with a huge selection including vegan and wild flavors like red velvet and PB&J.
Local shops in Huntington Beach
Beadology
Bead-and-jewelry-making shop with crystals, charms, and hands-on classes.
California Yarn Sales
Independent knitting and yarn shop with curated yarns and supplies.
The Salty B
Trendy women's boutique with HB flair near Main Street.
Model Citizen
Contemporary clothing and lifestyle shop downtown.
Absolutely Fabulous
Locally owned gift shop in the downtown HB shopping district.
West of Camden
California-style boutique for unique men's and women's clothing, steps from the HB pier.
Open Market OC
Blend of local art, crafts, and coastal goods spotlighting California makers.
Bella Sophia Chocolates
Hand-crafted small-batch chocolates and confections.
Houseplant Nation
Houseplant shop and coffee bar with common and rare plants plus a curated decor vibe.
Grim Garden Coffee and Plants
Coffee-and-plant shop with exotic houseplants, pottery, and local handmade goods.
Seasonal & outdoors near Huntington Beach
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Huntington Beach.
More Orange County family guides
Huntington Beach family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Huntington Beach with kids?
Family favorites in and around Huntington Beach include Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach Pier & Pacific City and Huntington Central Park & Shipley Nature Center, and more. Our guide lists 18 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Huntington Beach?
Yes — free family spots near Huntington Beach include Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach Pier & Pacific City, Huntington Central Park & Shipley Nature Center and Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Huntington Beach?
Local, family-friendly spots in Huntington Beach include Las Barcas, Tacos El Chavito, Primecut Taqueria and Bagels Tea Lounge, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Huntington Beach guide cover?
Our Huntington Beach family guide includes 18 things to do, 9 local eats, 10 local shops and 1 farmers market — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Huntington Beach
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Huntington Beach on one map — then book on your favorite site.