Places to Play and Wander

HAD ENOUGH OF THE BEACH? WITH OVER 70 PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS, AS WELL AS BEAUTIFUL WETLANDS AND PRESERVED LANDS, THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH IS MORE THAN SANDCASTLES AND WAVES

GET BACK TO NATURE with a leisurely walk or challenging hike. Soak up the sun and help the kids get out their wiggles at a playground. Have a picturesque picnic followed by a well-deserved afternoon siesta in the park. Whatever activity you seek, the city’s magical outdoor spaces await.

Parks Galore

The largest city-owned park in Orange County, Huntington Beach Central Library, envisioned by Richard Neutra and his son, Dion, and completed in 1975. Think of it as a small slice of New York’s park of the same name. In the summer, theatregoers can enjoy a free outdoor concert series at the amphitheater while kids can get dirty playing throwback games in Adventure Playground.

Architecture buffs will take note of the stunning latemodern design of Huntington Beach Central Library, envisioned by Richard Neutra and his son, Dion, and completed in 1975. Tucked behind the library, take a meditative walk along the Secret Garden, which was built to showcase drought tolerant plants and provide a moment of serenity for those who visit. (It’s also a great spot for bird watching.)

At Central Park West, more adventure awaits: a dog park, disc golf course, equestrian center, a senior center, a lake for fishing, and Kathy May’s Lakeview Café. Kids will discover one of the best playground structures in the city and not your typical slide-and-swing combo. There are three-dimensional climbing structures, rope bridges, and zip lines. For younger children, there’s a toddler playground with baby swings and a teeter-totter with a nice view of the lake.

Another park for kids is the pirate-themed All-Inclusive Playground at the Beach, located just north of the pier. Designed to promote interactive play for children of all abilities, it features a rubber surface that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and equipment that allows wheelchairs. The playground can be accessed from existing pathways from parking areas and the beach path.

Named after Orange County’s first female supervisor, Harriett M. Weider Regional Park sits on four acres of land with nature trails and native plants abound. Get a view of the oil field and parts of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands with the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Playground equipment for older and younger kids, plus free workout equipment, is available.

Finally, relish the sights, smells, and sounds of countryside living at Shipley Nature Center, a charming place where you can imagine life in Huntington Beach over a century ago. Go bird watching and wander self-guided trails to find freshwater ponds, stately oak trees, and, come spring, brilliant orange California poppies.

Preserved Memories

Wetland habitats are important to the environment, serving essential functions in an ecosystem, including acting as water filters, providing flood and erosion control, and furnishing food and homes for fish and wildlife. Huntington Beach is home to several preserved wetlands ripe for exploration.

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is the largest saltwater marsh along the coast of California and the most well-known local wetlands. The 1,300-acre region includes five miles of trails and tons of bird watching opportunities. Make sure you stop off at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Interpretive Center to learn more about the area. You’ll find trail access from a parking lot on the inland side of Pacific Coast Highway, a mile south of Warner Avenue across from the entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach. Both locations offer free limited parking for nature enthusiasts. Tours of the wetlands are also given by different conservation groups: Amigos de Bolsa Chica and Bolsa Chica Land Trust.

The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center has a number of worthwhile programs that support the environment and native wildlife. Open seven days a week and 365 days a year, WWCC is dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of sick, injured, and orphaned animals in California, some of which are threatened or endangered species. The center cares for birds impacted by oil spills; it rears abandoned eggs from Western Snowy Plovers before releasing them into the wild; and it provides qualified home care for hummingbirds with the goal to re-nest or reunite fledglings. WWCC welcomes volunteers, which are essential to its operations.

Magnolia Marsh is located between Magnolia Street and the Huntington Beach Energy Project. Re-creation of the historical marsh channels and restoration of full tidal influence were completed in 2010, and a raised observation deck now extends out over a tidal pond. Talbert Marsh offers the public a multipurpose trail on approximately 25 acres from Brookhurst Street to the Santa Ana River Trail. Around 90 species of birds have been observed at Talbert Marsh. In addition to year-round residents, thousands of birds use the Huntington wetlands as a rest stop during their long migrations along the Pacific Flyway from their nesting grounds in the Arctic to their wintering grounds in South America.

Bolsa Chica By The Numbers

30,000 people visit each year

8,000 years ago, Native Americans first made the estuary their home

321 species of birds spotted in the past decade—a true birder’s paradise

100 or so plants and trees found in five ecological zones: salt marsh, coastal sand dunes, coastal sage scrub, freshwater wetlands, and riparian woodlands

18 rare species, including the California brown pelican, American bald eagle, and the appropriately named silvery legless lizard.

5 miles of public hiking trails with scenic overlooks