Main St, Huntington Beach

For the Orange County beach goers Main St. in Huntington Beach is the central hub for everything fun under the sun. You can expect a young crowd of people during the summer swarming the surf hops, swimsuit stores and bars lining both side of Main St. I remember my first time visiting here and to be honest it was overwhelming. During the day it was great for people watching and picking up a quick bite to eat. I had one of the BEST pizza slice I’ve had in a long time at this small pizzeria near the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The ocean, the pier and the sand are only a street light away so the foot traffic is definitely heavy here. I have also visited Main St. for the nightlife, checking out a few different bars while I was there. I can’t say any of them stood out as my favorite. They all seemed similarly crowded, moderately priced and the crowds didn’t vary much from bar to bar. The action going on Main Street seems to attract many singles looking to party or couples looking to have a good time. Families can find fun things to see as well but may find it a little daunting maneuvering through the crowds with kids and strollers at the end of the day.

Main Street is a 3 mile street that runs from Beach Blvd to the Pacific Coast Highway and the Huntington Beach Pier. Most Huntington Beach residents view it as the heart of the city and refer to it as “downtown.” Huntington Beach High School, City Hall and Police Department headquarters are located on Main. It also contains shops and restaurants located a few blocks from the beach. Throughout most of the year it’s a magnet for beachgoers from all over Southern California.

Many of the homes located a few blocks from the ocean are older and give the area a small town America feel. However, there has been quite a bit of development over the past two decades and many older homes have been replaced with new, larger houses. The area around the pier has also been redeveloped. Surfing is still hugely popular in this area, but the small town funky vibe has been replaced with a more upscale look.

I lived on Main Street for several years in a rental house (real estate prices are sky high in this area). There were many great things about Main Street, including being able to easily walk, skate or ride a bike to the beach and to the downtown restaurants and shops. The downside was the traffic and noise, especially in summer. The Huntington Beach police use helicopters to patrol the beach and surrounding neighborhoods at night. There was also a lot of partying in the area. It’s a great place for young people, but when it came time to raise a family we were happy to move a couple of miles inland.