You might think that you don't know anything about Huntington Beach, California. Well, you would be wrong. When the Beach Boys sang about "Surf City", they were singing the praises of Huntington Beach. Decades later, the city is still internationally known by this name. Boasting a Mediterranean climate that provides nearly year round access to outdoor activities, life in Huntington Beach is centered around the outdoors. The area is a vacation hotspot, drawing over eleven million visitors from around the world to get a taste of the legendary southern California life.

Huntington Beach is located within a 26-mile section of Orange County. It supports nearly 195,000 residents, whose median age is 36. They have an above-average annual income of approximately $67,000 and live in an idyllic setting, with eight miles of beaches providing a wealth of activities. This is the largest stretch of uninterrupted beach front on the west coast, with one of the largest recreational piers in the world. The beaches are incredibly wide with fine sand, and residents can take advantage of the paved boardwalk area for biking or skating along the Pacific Ocean.

Adjacent to the Huntington Beach Pier is the outdoor Pier Plaza. This area hosts a variety of annual and even weekly events. City Beach itself draws huge crowds to watch top athletes from around the world compete in the U.S. Open of Surfing, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tournament and the Van's World Championship of Skateboarding. Every Friday, Pier Plaza is home to the Farmer's Market. Residents shop for produce, flowers and unique hand-made gifts in this organic outdoor market. On weekends you can catch Surfin' Sundays, when the Plaza becomes a live music venue. These free concerts feature authentic surf bands and vendor booths meant to highlight the wave riding culture of Huntington Beach.

The Parks Department offers something for every interest. They maintain riding stables and equestrian trails, wildlife preserve and marina. On the first Saturday of each month, curious onlookers and naturalists alike can take part in the free Bolsa Chica Foundation Wetlands Tour. Guides lead their groups along a ninety minute tour of the walking bridge and trails of the wetlands. For more insight into the culture of the area, the city is also home to the International Surfing Museum.

Huntington Beach is not only a fun and relaxed place to live, it is one of the safest. City Crime Rankings show that the city is one of the Top Ten Safest Cities in America. The area's public schools are excellent and its thirty five elementary schools and five high schools very well maintained. The area is additionally served by the presence of outstanding colleges and universities. Locals can choose to begin or continue their education at Golden West Community College, University of California-Irvine, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton.

Downtown Huntington Beach contains the city's commercial center, Main Street. This is a delightful area for shopping or browsing through the shops and specialty boutiques. During the day, it's a great place to take a casual stroll or enjoy a cup of coffee in an outdoor cafe. At night, the strip changes into its party clothes for exciting evening entertainment. There are a number of bistros and hot spots to take advantage of, or stop in to see what's being offered at the local theater.

Huntington Beach is a casual yet lively community. Its residents enjoy a simple life centered around the beach and as-perfect-as-it-gets weather. And while the city offers a busy calender of offerings for visitors and residents, it maintains one of the safest environments in the nation.


If you're thinking of moving to Huntington Beach, California, our relocation packet is yours for the asking.