HB is a whole vibe. The people are laid back, the waves are impeccable, and everything moves with that signature SoCal ease. The city is most known for its surf culture, hosting a ton of competitions and tourists every year. What you might not know is why it’s been named (and trademarked!) as Surf City. The legendary waves are due to a combination of factors. The first is that the ocean currents in HB build up along either side of the pear in the shape of a fan, making waves higher as they approach the shore. The second is that the city lies in the center of a “bay” between Dana Point and Long Beach, which takes the majority of waves from South Pacific storms. If you’re looking for a great spot to surf, check out the Cliffs, Dog Beach, Bolsa Chica, and the Southside of the Pier!

Huntington Beach is, unfortunately, a tourist town. It’s not just the great surfing that brings people here from all over the world, but also the amazing nightlife. Weekends downtown can find you back to front with people you do not know in a bar that reeks of spilled vodka Red Bulls. The good news is that if you’re a local, you can get insider info on the best places to go on the weekends and the surf spots that won’t be crawling with people every weekend morning!

Surf City USA

LookyLOO Review of Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach is, first and foremost, a beach town. There is a huge surf culture here, and that life is alive and well. Locals are so protective of their beachfront that construction is prohibited without a vote by current homeowners. There are a ton of beach events year-round, including the US Open of Surfing, the Pacific Air Show, and a famous Fourth of July parade every year. Besides being protective of the beach, residents are also always fighting for the state parks, protected wetlands, and marshes within city limits. This can cause tension at times when you find out that Huntington Beach is also known for its offshore drilling. A spill in October 2021 caused irreparable damage to wetlands and instilled once again how happy residents will be when that underwater well finally runs dry, which, according to local sources, is sooner than you’d think. 

If you want to know everything happening in Huntington Beach, check out the [**calendar of events**](https://www.surfcityusa.com/events/).

We highly recommend visiting Huntington Beach and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.


Lifestyle 

The economy of Huntington Beach has historically relied heavily on oil. HB sits above a large natural fault structure that contains plenty of it. Residents are thankful, though, that oil production will cease eventually, and tourism will replace oil as the main source of revenue for the city, along with technology. The city is home to over 650 industrial businesses, including Boeing (the city’s top employer), [**Quicksilver**](https://www.quiksilver.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq7Mrl9dGOlu9q1yUBA2XvYHKVmjSwqea7ki2asokvoh-knzKIt), and [**Cambro Manufacturing**](https://www.cambro.com/). Besides manufacturing, tourism leads the economy, and there are several businesses, including shopping and restaurants, that thrive due to the city’s history of being a vacation destination.


Worklife

Huntington Beach is the perfect place if you’re a burnt out millennial looking for some respite from crowded cities and swapping air with strangers on the subway. The relaxed vibe of the city plus the amazing schools, parks, and public spaces, also attracts families from California and beyond who want to soak up the sun, enjoy the beaches and the Cali weather!


A Respite from the Madness

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**ChiefFun**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Downtown hb has lots of shops, restaurants and bars to choose from. Definitely nicer compared to Venice Beach and even Santa Monica. Has a pedestrian friendly strip of shopping just off the beach. many good opportunities for dining, shopping, and walking are among the highlights of strolling this stretch of Main Street.

Weekends are very congested and in the summer the beach is packed.

As a place to live, it is very chill, a little far from the freeway but the weather is great. you could get around on bicycle if you live within a few miles from the beach. there are many parks and a golf course. even has a few night life places.

downside: politics and protesters and every once in a while traffic

For more reviews of what living in Huntington Beach is like from locals, check out [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/huntington-beach/reviews).




Reviews of Huntington Beach from Locals

Huntington Beach is a remote work paradise. You’ll find yourself getting less and less stressed about last minute meetings when you know the beach is just a stone’s throw away when you’re finally able to log off. If dog beaches and great restaurants are your thing, check out these neighborhoods:
- Golden West
- Bolsa Chica
- Downtown


Young Professionals

Golden West

Young Families are going to love Huntington Beach because it’s laid back. It has the perfect atmosphere for over-tired first-time parents in need of a quiet neighborhood and great amenities. 
- Fountain Valley
- Golden West
- Bolsa Chica


Young Families

Fountain Valley

Huntington Beach is far enough away from LA that you won’t have the same mind-numbing traffic or overcrowded streets. If you have older families, you’ll want to stay in the neighborhoods away from the craziness of downtown. There are a ton of areas with large homes and even larger yards.
- Edwards Hill
- Huntington Harbor
- Sunset Beach


Established Families

Edwards Hill

Huntington Beach

**ChiefFun**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Downtown hb has lots of shops, restaurants and bars to choose from. Definitely nicer compared to Venice Beach and even Santa Monica. Has a pedestrian friendly strip of shopping just off the beach. many good opportunities for dining, shopping, and walking are among the highlights of strolling this stretch of Main Street.

Weekends are very congested and in the summer the beach is packed.

As a place to live, it is very chill, a little far from the freeway but the weather is great. you could get around on bicycle if you live within a few miles from the beach. there are many parks and a golf course. even has a few night life places.

downside: politics and protesters and every once in a while traffic

**number1000928**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

When people talk about Huntington Beach, they immediately start talking about the downtown and pier area (ie the area that draws the most tourists/visitors). Which is fine as it’s what the city is known for, but there is so much more to Huntington Beach than that. I personally enjoy the diverse mix of restaurants and food available, being able to run and bike ride by the ocean, and the overall availability of outdoor activities. Also I have dark skin, have lived in HB for almost 20 years, have lived both downtown and now in the northern part of the city, and have never experienced racism first hand. My experience doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, but everyone seems to say you’ll immediately experience racism by stepping foot in the city and to me that just sounds silly.

**thaughtless**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

As someone who did the same move, have some handy hints for you ;)

Try to find a place about 2mi from the beach. Otherwise you will have the marine layer more often. More north/NW is better also. Just dont live within 1mi of DT HB or beach and slater area (specifically) and you will be fine.

The trump insanity will blow your mind. Doesnt matter that the dude is literally espousing nazi ideology. The fandom of this man here is nuts. If you are liberal or moderate even; just do like many do here, giggle at the dumb people and let them be.

Noone can drive without selfishness here. No turn signals, people swing wide at every turn signal. Crazy.

If you are single then dating is vastly better than Seattle. No weird Seattle chill. No wondering who the hell the person is for the first 3 months. People are generally straight up here. Generally.

Other than that welcome to mostly year round 73 and sunny. You wont regret it.

Anonymous
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

HB just has a loud few but I’ve never felt uncomfortable there. In all honesty, South OC probably has more of it but just arent as loud. Theres been a few bars and restaurants I’ve gone to in South OC as a minority and did feel a type of way even tho I grew up in South OC. Hb is literally a city over from the biggest viet population in the country and also has multiple hispanic communities around it too so you really get at least a racial diversity. South OC is literally just white with a few small hispanic communities. Went to hs in south OC and my experience was fine but there definitely was the few wannabe rednecks but the majority was pretty chill. Most people in OC are pretty accustomed to being around a variety of cultures and peoples so its pretty much not a problem besides a few shit heads but I’m sure that exists everywhere in the country.

Huntington Beach, California

Surf City USA

Looklyloo Score: 93