Huntington Beach skating, roller blading and skateboarding tell
you one thing. HB's got wheels! A beach city on the move in fast
paced Southern California and The OC just can't slow down to let
the blades of grass grow under these roller blading feet.
There's plenty of cement and concrete in Huntington Beach and
that makes the perfect ingredients a skate session. From
the weekly Fun Roll that
meets at the Huntington Beach Pier Plaza Saturday mornings (funroll.com)
to the do-it-yourself exploration, skaters of all kinds are out
in force and nothing's going to slow them down.
There's a good reason for
this, too! One of the most popular sports along the
coast is inline roller blading. Well
paved paths stretch from Sunset Beach (1
mile in length), through Huntington
Beach (8.5 miles) and onto Newport
Peninsula (nearly 3 miles). It is
possible to get in nearly a 12 mile
workout, one direction or 24 miles round
trip. Blades can be rented at several
shops along the beach path on the
Newport Beach Peninsula, Balboa Island
and in Huntington Beach along the sandy
beach at concession shops. Think about
that. You can skate all day if you like. In fact, we have
friends who hit the concrete an skate the entire Southern
California coast from Pacific Palisades south for miles. There
are portions on these trails that just stop so in reality,
you'll find that Huntington Beach does not connect to the
northern Orange County city of Seal Beach because of the Pacific
Coast Highway bridge over the Anaheim Bay.
When you arrive in town,
it's not very likely that you'll have a pair of skates with you
on your travels. For that reason, you can rent a pair at the
beach near the Huntington Beach Pier. Our friends at Zacks Beach
Rentals are the folks to meet for you skating needs. They have
all sizes, but you might remember to bring some socks!
While skating can really
get you rolling, you should be aware that are local posted speed
limits and advisory cautions such as dogs and people crossing
the skate bath. Believe it or not, there are actually bicycle
police officers who can cite you for going to fast in the summer
months when traffic becomes quite heavy on the paths. It
doesn't happen often but just know that it may.
There is a parking lot
next to the pier that charges per hour
fees but free parking can be found a few
blocks away, up any street from 6th to
17th, where there are no meters.
Huntington Beach, California is
known not only for its great roads but also for the
well-maintained 8.5 mile cement path that runs parallel to
Pacific Coast Highway. Located on the ocean side of the highway,
this path sees thousands of bicyclists, joggers and walkers on a
daily basis. The scenic paved path some prefer to call a
promenade, boardwalk or road stretches from Sunset Beach (1 mile
in length), through Huntington Beach (8.5 miles) and through
Newport Peninsula (nearly 3 miles). It is possible to get a 12
mile workout one direction or 24 miles total. For the distance
workouts, you can take the underpass that connects to the Santa
Ana River Trail near the bridge beyond Brookhurst Street. That
trail goes all the way through Orange County to Yorba Linda and
Featherly Park for an estimated additional 32 miles one
direction.
Huntington Beach
weekly fun
roll is an informal group (all are
invited) to take an exercise journey
16 miles round trip. All ages and levels are welcome
to ride bikes, roller skates and even jog if you can keep up. Several
stops along the way allow for people to catch up with the bulk
of the crowd, in fact. Wear
protective gear - at least wrist guards
and a helmet. It's a fantastic way for
tourists to meet locals, newcomers to make new friends and for
all to get acquainted, get sunshine and get healthy.
