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Things to do in Huntington Beach

Our most recommended things to do in Huntington Beach

Newport Beach: Ultimate Whale Watching Adventure

1. Newport Beach: Ultimate Whale Watching Adventure

Take a 2-hour dolphin and whale watching tour from Newport Beach. Cruise in an open boat that offers 360-degree views from anywhere onboard, allowing everyone a to have close encounter with nature. Admire the stunning coastal landscape and look out for whales, dolphins, and other marine wildlife.   Board a custom-built RIB, perfect for whale watching. The boat has a maximum capacity of 15 people, giving each passenger a piece of the action. See dolphins come almost close enough to touch. The boat can travel at speed and cruises up to 14 miles from port to ensure the highest success rate of animal sightings.

Newport Beach: 2-Hour Whale Watching Tour

2. Newport Beach: 2-Hour Whale Watching Tour

Embark on a whale-watching adventure off Newport Beach, CA and look out for a variety of whales, including humpback whales and blue whales. Observe marine life in the wild and admire the Newport-Laguna coastline. On these year-round cruises off Newport Beach, many whale varieties are regularly seen including the giant blue whale (summer and fall), finback whale, grey whale (winter and spring), minke whale, and humpback whale. Several types of dolphin, seals, and all sorts of other marine life are typically spotted on the excursions as well. The cruises depart from Newport Harbor, located in the heart of Orange County, which is just a short drive from both Los Angeles and San Diego. Each cruise is a unique experience as you may never know what you might encounter. A recent cruise encountered a pod of more than 30 killer whales, including adults and their young, making for a whale watching adventure of a lifetime. The cruises enjoy a 96 percent success rate viewing whales and/or dolphin.

Newport Beach: Year-Round Whale Watching Cruise

3. Newport Beach: Year-Round Whale Watching Cruise

The waters surrounding Newport Harbor are deep and nutrient-rich, attracting all types of marine creatures. Cruises typically see a variety of whales including giant blue whales (during the summer and fall), finback whales, grey whales (in the winter and spring), minke whales, and humpback whales, as well as several types of dolphin, seals, and all sorts of other marine life. Each cruise is a unique experience in that you never know what you might encounter. The Laguna Beach coastline lies just to the south of Newport Harbor and is some of Southern California’s most beautiful coast. The grey whales are commonly seen in this area. Most whale watching cruises take in the scenic backdrops of Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach, while viewing the gentle giants just a few hundred yards from shore. Due to the geography of the Orange County coastline that surrounds Newport Harbor, ocean conditions are very calm allowing whale watchers to fully enjoy the amazing viewings. Our primary whale watching ship is 65 feet long, and has a large upstairs sundeck, wrap-around outside seating, snack bar, and indoor seating with large windows. The ship was purpose-built for viewing marine life. Plenty of other amenities guarantee a very comfortable and exciting trip. Captains and crew members are well-versed in marine biology and are incredibly knowledgeable about marine creatures, environment, and eco systems.

Orange County: Coastal Beach and Highlights Tour by Van

4. Orange County: Coastal Beach and Highlights Tour by Van

Visit Orange County's striking coastline beach cities, beaches, and iconic landmarks on a van tour. Stop at multiple locations to enjoy some free time to stroll around, buy a snack, and simply relax. See coastal landmarks like Newport Beach and the Balboa Island Ferry crossing. Listen to your local guide narrate and identify coastal landmarks and locations as you drive from point to point along the tranquil coastline. See what this world-famous beach destination is all about. Take your time at multiple locations for photos, snack breaks, and some exploration without your guide to truly feel like a local. See iconic spots including Dana Point Harbor, Laguna Beach, Hiesler Park, Newport Beach, Balboa Island Ferry crossing, Huntington Beach Pier, and Main Street.

Pacific Coast Highway: Audio Tour Between LA & San Diego

5. Pacific Coast Highway: Audio Tour Between LA & San Diego

Connect your smartphone to your vehicle's stereo and make your drive come alive on this self-guided driving tour along the Pacific Coast Highway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Simply download your personal audio guide and tour to get started. Let your audio guide transform your scenic drive into a sight-seeing, fact-finding, trivia-answering, family-friendly adventure as you pass through and learn about some of the cities and small towns nestled along the coast. Along the tour, you’ll pass Oceanside, Carlsbad, Long Beach, Dana Point, San Onofre, San Clemente, and more. Your audio guide will point out must-see sights, parks, historical sites, tourist attractions, recreation areas, and more. Explore the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, the Batiquitos Lagoon, and look for dolphins at Dana Point. Walk along some of the world’s most famous beaches. Other tour highlights include Las Flores Estancia, Crystal Cove State Park, Sunset Beach, Torrey Pines, and the San Elijo Lagoon. Feel free to visit as many sights and attractions as you want: you have complete freedom to take as much time as you like to complete the tour. As you drive, get a historical overview of the area, including its original inhabitants, the Tongva. Hear about Louis Zamperini, the RMS Queen Mary, the Rise of Long Beach, Huntington Beach Oil Fields, and Crystal Cove's 1930 era beach cottages. This tour works in either direction and you can stop anywhere while you discover this incredibly scenic and historic drive.

Huntington Beach: Smartphone Scavenger Hunt Adventure

6. Huntington Beach: Smartphone Scavenger Hunt Adventure

Turn Huntington Beach into a giant game board on this scavenger hunt tour played on your smart device. Enjoy solving clues and completing challenges during an interactive game that combines the fun of the Amazing Race with a sightseeing tour. With any smartphone as your tour and guide, gather your group, and get ready to make your way through both well-known and overlooked sites. For extra fun, break groups into teams and compete against each other. Starting at the Surfers’ Hall of Fame, then follow the route to discover hidden gems of the city including the International Surfing Museum, a famous pier, and historic buildings hidden in plain sight. As you decipher clues and explore, choose to stop for a bite to eat or a selfie at a popular spot. Enjoy the flexibility to start and stop when you want and play at your own pace. 

Huntington Beach: Public City Scavenger Hunt

7. Huntington Beach: Public City Scavenger Hunt

Explore Huntington Beach on a scavenger hunt. Drive around in your car. Use your phone to receive clues to solve and communicate with your remote interactive live guide. See Huntington Beach Art Center, famous for its art gallery. See the Duke Kahanamoku statue as you complete your digital quest. Choose whether to play as a single team or compete against other teams. Start your game at the Huntington Beach Art Center. Receive clues on your phone that guide you to various locations. Continue to The Beauty Bubble salon and museum, known for housing a collection of hair and beauty memorabilia. Go to the World Famous Crochet Museum, known for its handcrafts made from yarn.

California: Downloadable Audio Guide for Highway 1 and More

8. California: Downloadable Audio Guide for Highway 1 and More

Complete your road trip around California with an audio guide featuring 169 locations and 3 hours of audio in 1 app. Listen to the recordings as you take in views at Yosemite, Mt. Whitney, and Zabriskie Point, experience the unique cultures of Silicon Valley, Santa Monica, and Hollywood, and drive down Highway 1. Feel at ease taking in the views while the app uses GPS to find your location and suggest stops. From famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge to lesser-known gems like Moss Landing, appreciate the wealth of beauty and history in California with detailed audio descriptions.   Stop and start your journey as often as you please, there’s no constraints once you download the app and activate your audio guide. If there’s a specific site you’d like to visit, manually choose audio guides from the built-in map or from a list.

Santa Barbara: Shopping and Scenic Private Day Trip

9. Santa Barbara: Shopping and Scenic Private Day Trip

Discover the beautiful city of Santa Barbara on a private day trip. Take in scenic beach views, shop in the Camarillo outlet mall, and stroll around the city admiring the Mediterranean-style architecture. Begin your trip by departing from Los Angeles County or Orange County with your own driver. Make your first stop at the iconic Santa Monica Pier and have fun in the amusement park. Stay for about an hour to enjoy the attractions, take pictures, and do some shopping. From here, drive to the Camarillo Outlet Mall, via the Pacific Coast. Find brand-name retail at highly discounted prices and take a couple of hours to browse, shop, and dine. Finally arrive in Santa Barbara, a city on the central California coast. Explore the city and admire the red-tile roofs that reflect the city’s Spanish colonial heritage. Visit local shops, discover the outdoor dining or head to the golden sandy beaches.

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What people are saying about Huntington Beach

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 413 reviews

Mark and Delaney were the best guides I could imagine. They gave us a great tour where we saw many dolphins, pelikans, seelions and also a very shy gray whale, which was very lucky. Mark even did some photos and videos with his drone, which he then send us via Airdrop for free! Thank you guys!

Best whale watching tour Ive been on. was lucky to see 4 whales playing with a bunch of dolphins. Captain was knowledgable and kind. As was his co captain. Great value for the money!

Amazing! Although we did see whale, we were able to see other wildlife including dolphins and seals

definitely worth buying this tour. Even if you will not see any whales.

I liked everything, but there were no whales, not the season