Huntington Beach, CA

A surf-town taqueria a block from the pier doing fresh, simple fish and carne asada tacos beloved by locals and surfers. The quintessential post-session Surf City meal.

A Main Street breakfast institution since 1967, where surfers fuel up on big morning plates before paddling out, with sidewalk tables and a wait out the door. Pure Surf City tradition.

A warm, family-run Italian restaurant downtown doing house pastas and classic mains a step above the surf-town norm. The reliable go-to for a sit-down dinner off the beach.

A long-standing upscale steak-and-seafood restaurant in Sunset Beach with a clubby, old-school feel and a happy-hour crowd. The north end's special-occasion dinner.

A 24-hour Sunset Beach diner running since 1939, its walls papered with old film posters, slinging huge omelets and burgers at all hours. A timeless, only-in-California roadside institution.

A nautical-themed Sunset Beach seafood restaurant going since the 1960s, with steaks, fresh fish and a dim, ship's-cabin atmosphere. An old-school surf-and-turf throwback.

The coastal-California restaurant at the Kimpton Shorebreak by the pier, doing fresh seafood, ceviche and bright shareable plates with an ocean-adjacent patio. A polished downtown option steps from the sand.

A beloved local ice cream shop churning its own flavors for decades, a low-key institution a bit inland. The town's go-to scoop with a loyal following.

A sleek local coffee bar doing carefully pulled espresso and specialty drinks, a favorite of the surf-and-creative crowd. The town's third-wave caffeine stop.

A celebrated Vietnamese restaurant in nearby Little Saigon, famous nationwide for its nem nuong cuon (grilled-pork spring rolls) and their cult dipping sauce. Worth the short drive inland.

A family-run Mexican restaurant doing reliable, generous combination plates and margaritas in a festive room. The sit-down counterpart to the surf-taco shacks.

A breezy coastal-Mediterranean restaurant at the Kimpton Shorebreak with a fire-pit patio near the pier, doing bright, shareable plates and cocktails. A lively spot for a sunset drink and dinner.

A flat, paved beachfront path running roughly eight miles along the sand from Sunset Beach toward Newport, with constant ocean views. The town's coastal artery for walking, running and cycling.

An easy, flat loop through restored saltmarsh on boardwalks and levees, alive with herons, egrets and migrating shorebirds. The best nature walk in the city.

Miles of easy paths winding through the city's big inland park, past lakes, woodland and the Shipley Nature Center's wilder trails. A leafy escape from the beach.

A restored wetland-and-bluff preserve inland near the Santa Ana River, with flat trails through coastal sage and riparian habitat. A quieter, less-known nature walk.

An easy coastal stretch linking the mellow Sunset Beach community to the Bolsa Chica wetlands and state beach, mixing sand, greenbelt and marsh. A gentle, scenic north-end walk.

A small, fun museum off Main Street packed with vintage boards, surf memorabilia and the culture that made this Surf City. The best rainy-day stop and a quick dose of surf history.

The forgiving beach break beside the pier is one of the classic places to learn to surf, with lessons and board rentals lined up on the sand. The quintessential Surf City activity.

Guided kayak paddles and birding walks through the Bolsa Chica wetlands, gliding past nesting birds and tidal channels. A peaceful, family-friendly nature outing.

An open-air dining-and-shopping center on the bluff across from the pier, anchored by the Lot 579 food hall and ocean-view patios. The town's modern hangout for a bite and a drink with a view.

A Tuesday-evening street fair that closes the top of Main Street for a farmers market, food, kids' activities and live music. The town's weekly community block party.

A festive December boat tour through the Huntington Harbour canals to see the waterfront homes decked in holiday lights. A beloved seasonal tradition on the water.

A long-running Main Street brewpub pouring its own beers a block from the pier, with a casual surf-town vibe and a rooftop. The downtown go-to for a house pint after the beach.

The 1,850-foot concrete pier at the foot of Main Street, lined with anglers and surfers working the break beneath it — the symbol of Surf City. The best free vantage on the year-round wave scene.

The short, sunny downtown strip running up from the pier, packed with surf shops, bars and the Surfers' Walk of Fame handprints set in the sidewalk. The beating heart of the surf town.

A 1,300-acre restored coastal wetland threaded with flat trails and boardwalks, one of the largest saltmarsh refuges in the state and a major bird habitat. A wild contrast to the surf scene minutes away.

A mile of sand where dogs run leash-free in the surf, a famously joyful, only-in-Surf-City stretch of beach. Worth a stroll even without a dog, for the canine chaos alone.

A laid-back, low-rise beach community at the north end with a grassy greenbelt down its spine, old beach bars and a far mellower vibe than downtown. A slice of old surf-town California.

A network of residential canals and islands in the north of the city, lined with waterfront homes and boats, famous for its holiday boat parade. A calm, watery counterpoint to the open coast.

The city's big inland green space, larger than many city parks, with lakes, woodland trails, a nature center and a sprawling library. The local escape from the beach crowds.