Well this felt like being a teenager again... well at least until I looked around the beach and saw some real teenagers and then checked the lack of similarities in the construction of our bodies. That is where the feeling ended... But anyway… having grown up In Orange County, it felt like I was coming home again.I took many shots of not only both the beach and the pier, but also of the tourists (like me) and the surfers. Even though I did not get out there on a surfboard, I was still able to remember what it felt like (oh... ) all those many years ago.
Boasting a comfortable climate throughout the year with a temperature that rarely gets above 90 degrees and seldom sees rainfall, visitors can take part in the many outdoor activities Huntington Beach offers. Their community features one of the largest recreational piers in the world, public parks, riding stables and equestrian trails, a marina, a wildlife preserve, and an even an eight-mile biking, in-line skating, jogging, and walking trail along the ocean. The crown jewel of their recreation system is the 8.5 miles of wide, spacious beaches where in the summer, large crowds gather to watch the U.S Open of Surfing, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball, Van's World Championship of Skateboarding and other sporting events.
As opposed to the days when I was a kid hanging out down here, the visitors to Huntington Beach now have a wide variety of to things to choose from when vacationing here. Huntington Beach has a variety of hotel accommodations ranging from dazzling, deluxe oceanfront resort properties to budget motels. There is also a wide range of dining options, with hundreds of restaurants offering everything from casual to fine dining here too.
Shoppers will find paradise in stores that range from local shops and boutiques to national chains and department stores. Huntington (as we always called it) is centrally located to relatively close to all major attractions in Orange County including Disney Resorts, the Orange County Performing Arts Center and Repertory Theater, and the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific.
Los Angeles is located 35 miles to the northwest (in case you either want to see the Getty Villa or the Getty Museum) and San Diego is only 95 miles to the southeast. Huntington Beach is conveniently located near three airports: John Wayne/Orange County (SNA), Long Beach (LGB), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Huntington Beach has consistently received recognition for being one of the best vacation spots in the U.S. ~ It has even been dubbed; "Number One Family Surf Beach in the U.S." - Dr. Stephen "Dr. Beach" Leatherman (2004), "One of the Top Five Destinations for Teenagers and Their Parents"- the New York Post (2004), “One of the Top Five Permanent Vacation Spots in the United States of America"- Location Inc.
With miles of pristine beaches, ideal weather, a welcoming attitude, and a wide variety of entertainment options, Huntington Beach draws over 11 million visitors to the city each year. Huntington Beach, known as Surf City, due to its abundance of beaches; sunny, warm Mediterranean climate; local surfing; and casual lifestyle, is a perfect vacation experience for both young and old.
Even though there is so much for visitors to do there now, the one thing I was really disappointed to see torn down was "The Golden Bear". It was a coffee house (as they were known then). They usually charge you to get in there, and then there was a two drink minimum which is where they made their money.
I can remember seeing Hoyt Axton but the club presented hundreds of performances by a wide swath of entertainers, including Jimmy Buffett, Jerry Garcia, B.B. King, Steve Martin, Dave Mason, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits, Robin Williams, Neil Young and the band Van Halen. Orange County home grown stars who used to play there when they were just starting out in their careers were names like, Jackson Brown, and Steve Martin. But as if those weren't enough, the Golden Bear's steady diet of old folkies, rockers and blues greats mixed with those of a younger generation to help establish Orange County's identity in the Los Angeles-based music industry. It contributed to a burgeoning underground scene that exploded in the 1990s with the commercial breakthrough of such Orange County-bred bands as No Doubt, the Offspring and Sugar Ray.
After our day relaxing and sunning on the beach, we decided to have some burgers, fries and milk-shakes at the “Ruby's Café” restaurant out of the end of this pier. After waiting a good deal of time (just to get inside the place), we decided we would take two tables close to each other instead of waiting "Who Knows?" how long to get a table large enough to accommodate the size of our group. The food was great (well considering it is a 60's styled Diner). Great shakes and fries, but we really did enjoy it and our whole day in Huntington Beach.
(once again as with all my photo posts, you can click on it to see a larger version!)
Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow. ~ Lawrence Clark Powell, American Librarian
