Things to do in Huntington Beach

" It sits roughly 45 minutes to an hour and a half from central Los Angeles by car, depending on traffic, and there is no direct Metro line to town, so a rental car or rideshare is the practical way in.

It is a different mood from its coastal neighbours: Newport Beach, just south, is built around a harbour and yacht life, while Laguna Beach further down the coast trades sand for cliffs and art galleries.

Surf conditions and crowds shift with the season, mornings can be overcast through late spring into early summer, and summer weekends bring heavy crowds, so booking paddleboard or kayak rental ahead is worth doing in high season.