Cruising Huntington Beach by Bike

Known as “Surf City,” Huntington Beach (travel guide) is one of several smaller towns just south of Los Angeles that make up what are known as the “beach cities.”  They’re pocket-sized communities built along the Pacific shore.  Most people zoom by on their drive down Route 1, the coastal road that takes them from LA down to San Diego.  But I’d like you to consider a stop, or even an entire visit, where you can relax and enjoy Huntington Beach’s sunny disposition while wandering around on your beach cruiser.  Yes, that’s right – even in car-clogged California, there still areas where you can enjoy a quiet bike ride, hassle free.

Start the Day Right

If you’re going to be cruising all day, even at low speeds, you’re going to need some carbohydrates to get you through the day.  And where better to start than the nominee and award-winning “best breakfast in Orange County,” Sugar Shack (travel guide).  It’s right in downtown Huntington on the main street – though be prepared for a wait if it’s Saturday or Sunday morning!  (It’s a bigger venue than it looks – in the back is a large outdoor terrace.)

They serve up perfectly-sized portions of all the stuff you probably don’t want to eat every day:  bacon and eggs, french toast, yummy pancakes, all topped off with always-full mugs of coffee. Don’t be shy – you’ll burn it off later today.

From main street, it’s a short walk down to the main pier in Huntington Beach (believe me – you can’t miss it).  This is the best place to pick up your rental beach cruiser bike – there are several providers here, and while I used a bike from a friend I was staying with, I found that the prices, choice, and friendliness seemed consistent across all of the shops.  So perhaps a good place is to have a look at the bike styles and head for the shop that has bikes that look like a comfortable fit for you.

Where to Cruise?

So the invariable question now is where to pedal, right?  The bike/running/walking path goes as far as the eye can see along the coastline, in both directions.  You can also ride in the streets of Huntington Beach, though I would say that the further you get from the beach the less bike-friendly traffic becomes.  Having said that, you’ll see people biking all over the place – a lot more than you’d expect in California where people drive everywhere.  But, for the most enjoyment, I’d stick to downtown and the beach.

To the South

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From Huntington Beach, the path heads south unencumbered with food huts and parking areas to your left, sunbathers and beach volleyball courts to your right.   Heading this direction will take you a few miles to the next beach city, Newport Beach.   You can cycle all the way there if you’d like, though Newport Beach is larger than Huntington Beach and not all of the things to do are along the beach.

I’d also caution that while the path has  a nice relaxed run along the ocean, there is a small bit of traffic as you enter the city limits of Newport where the trail merges back into traffic.  You can still ride along the sidewalk, but it’s a fair warning to those who are feeling a little unstable on two wheels.  The south is probably best if you’re wanting just a short ride.

To the North

Heading north is nothing but blue ocean and clear skies.  There’s a sort of “swamp” type area a few miles up, as well as several parking areas where folks can stop off and head to the other beaches (though these aren’t as nice I’d say as the ones in Huntington Beach).   I went for hours to the North without ever hitting a stop light, traffic crossing, or anything – I finally had to turn around for fear of riding home in the dark!  If you want a long, breezy ride, then head north.

Coffee Break

A big shout out goes to the nice folks at Cafe Enchante (travel guide), the only coffee shop in Huntington Beach that really has that European cafe culture feel.  They’ve got snacks and treats, like bagels and croissants, if your hearty breakfast has worn off.  You can sit and enjoy your coffee (available in several blends/roasts) on tables with a clear glass cover and beach scene underneath.  It’s the classiest way I’ve seen to pull off the ‘kitsch beach’ look.  There’s also a small outdoor patio if it’s nice out, though during my two visits they had all of the side doors open, so it was nice and airy in there – good for those entrepreneurs furiously typing away on their laptops no doubt.

Enchante is on Orange between 10th and 11th – it’s a few blocks off the beaten path, but just a couple minutes on your bike.  Well worth the trip.

Downtown Huntington Beach has  a lot going on for it.  Tons of restaurants, a few fun and funky bars, ice cream shops, and of course some surf gear if you’re into that.  Come and visit – you’ll love it.

Photo Credit: JP3