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 / 12 km). It's roughly 29 mi (47 km) from Downtown LA and 82 mi (132 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 a coastal wetland alive with herons, egrets, and stingrays — bring binoculars and let kids spot wildlife.
Free
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.
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.
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. The Magnolia and Brookhurst entrances are usually calmer than Beach Blvd.
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.
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
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 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
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.
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, Huntington Beach Pier & Pacific City, Huntington Central Park & Shipley Nature Center and Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, and more. Our guide lists 17 spots, sorted by distance from you with hours, prices and tips.
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. Use the "free only" filter in the finder above to see them all.
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 17 things to do, 9 local eats, 10 local shops and 1 farmers market — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.
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.