Not
just for beginners, the city’s 8.5 miles of white sandy
beaches offer some of the best surf around, for both experts
and novices. In fact, the most prestigious surfing competition
in the world, the U.S. Open of Surfing and Beach Games, is held
on its famous waves every summer. Wannabe surfers can take lessons
at one of several surf schools in Huntington Beach. To find
a surf school, visit www.hbvisit.com/visitorinfo/press/press1.html.
For
teens that like to do more water sports, Huntington’s
8.5 miles of paved bike path is just the place for skateboarding,
bicycling or rollerblading. This fitness-friendly beach boardwalk
has several bike and skate rental shops, as well as frequent
drinking fountains, benches, bathrooms and snack stands. At
the pier, try Zack’s Pier Plaza at 714-536-0215 or www.beachfoodfun.com
and at Bolsa Chica State Beach, call Wheel Fun Rentals (which
also serves guests at the Hilton Waterfront Huntington Beach)
at 805-650-7770 www.wheelfunrentals.com.
The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa also provides
on-site rentals through Toes on the Nose at 714-845-4638.
Your
teens also will appreciate HB’s reputation as an extreme
sports venue, where the top jocks in BMX bike, skateboard and
in-line skating competitions gather each September for the Core
Tour extreme sports competition (www.coretour.com). Tell your
teens to bring their wheels and practice some radical moves
at one of two free public skate parks just five minutes from
the beach. These ledges, ramps, flattened pyramids and curved
plateaus are popular with a very laid-back local skating crowd.
Call 714-536-5486 or search for “skate” at www.hbvisit.com.
Looking
for something different? Huntington Beach’s sprawling
Central Park is home to the offbeat Huntington Central Park
Disc Golf Course. Also known as Frisbee golf, the 18-hole course
lets teens hurl a Frisbee through a series of targets. Designed
in 1976 by Wham-O's then marketing director, it is one of the
world's original disc golf courses and contains patented Pole
Hole targets. Call 949-837-3618 or visit www.radsports.com.
If
your teens are into horses, check out the Huntington Central
Park Equestrian Center. The center offers serious instruction
or you can take your kids on a one-hour guided trail ride around
the park’s perimeter and into the city’s rural hills.
You can also walk the grounds and see all styles of riding from
jumpers to hunters to dressage. Reservations are required by
calling 714-848-9695 or visit http://www.hcpec.com.
For
parents who want to keep siblings 12 and under occupied, the
Hyatt Regency offers Camp Hyatt www.huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com.
The right-on-the-beach supervised program offers activities
such as on-land surf lessons, spa treatments, adobe brick making,
coconut bowling, Hawaiian lei making as well as a clown and
balloon artist. The Hilton also offers the Vacation Station
program that allows guests to check out popular toys, games
and even boogie boards for children ages one to 12 at no cost
www.waterfrontbeachresort.hilton.com.
In
addition to these two four-star resorts, there are more than
a dozen other accommodations in town at every price range, all
within 15 minutes of the beach, including the Comfort Suites,
Hotel Huntington Beach, Howard Johnson Express Inn & Suites,
Sun n’ Sands (a favorite with surfers) and Colonial Inn
Hostel.
For More Information on Huntington Beach,
Visit www.hbvisit.com (...BACK)
