can catch up-close views
of daredevils barreling
through tubes. The surf
here may not be the ideal
place to test your newbie
skills, however – locals
can be territorial. In
summer, the US Open of
Surfing draws more than
600 world-class surfers
and 400,000 spectators
with a minivillage of
concerts, motocross
demos and skater jams.
As for Huntington City
Beach itself, it’s wide and
flat – a perfect place to
snooze on the sand on a
giant beach towel. Snag
a fire pit just south of the
pier to build an evening
bonfire with friends.
54 p281
The Drive » From the
Huntington Beach Pier at the
intersection of Main St, drive
south on Hwy 1 (PCH) alongside
the ocean for another 4 miles to
Newport Beach. Turn right onto
W Balboa Blvd, leading onto the
Balboa Peninsula, squeezed
between the ocean and Balboa
Island, off Newport Harbor.4 Newport Beach
As seen on Bravo’s Real
Housewives of Orange
County and Fox’s
The OC and Arrested
Development, in glitzy
Newport Beach wealthy
socialites, glamorous
teens and gorgeous
beaches all share the
spotlight. Bikini vixens
strut down the sandy
beach stretching between
the peninsula’s twin
piers, while boogie
boarders brave human-
eating waves at the^
Wedge and the ballet
of yachts in the harbormakes you dream of
being rich and famous.
From the harbor, hop
aboard a ferry over to
old-fashioned Balboa
Island or climb aboard
the carousel by the
landmark 1905 Balboa
Pavilion. The Ferris
wheel still spins at pint-
sized Balboa Fun Zone
(www.thebalboafunzone.com;
per ride $3; h11am-8pm Sun-
Thu, to 9pm Fri, to 10pm Sat;
c), nearby the Newport
Harbor Nautical Museum
(%949-675-8915; http://
explorocean.org; 600 E Bay
Ave; adult/child $4/2; h11am-
3pm Mon-Thu, to 6pm Fri &
Sat, to 5pm Sun; c). Just
inland, visit the cutting-
edge contemporary
Orange County Museum
of Art (%949-759-1122;
http://www.ocma.net; 850 San
Clemente Dr; adult/child $12/
free; h11am-5pm Wed-Sun, to
8pm Thu) to escape SoCal’s
vainglorious pop culture.54 p281
TRIP HIGHLIGHTStart: 1 Disneyland
Hear the screams? Got teens? Hello, Knott’s Berry Farm (%714-220-5200; http://www.
knotts.com; 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park; adult/child $58/29; hopen daily from 10am, closing
times vary; c), America’s first theme park, which opened in 1940. Today high-scream
coasters lure fast-track fanatics. Look up as you enter to see the bare feet of
riders who’ve removed their flip-flops for the Silver Bullet, the suspended coaster
careening past overhead, famed for its corkscrew, double spiral and outside loop. In
October, Knott’s hosts SoCal’s scariest after-dark Halloween party. Year-round, the
Peanuts gang keeps moppets happy in Camp Snoopy, while the next-door water
park Knott’s Soak City USA (%714-220-5200; http://www.soakcityoc.com; adult/child $26/23;
hopen mid-May–Sep, hr vary; c) keeps you cool on blazing-hot summer days. Knott’s
is a 20-minute drive from Disneyland via I-5 north to La Palma Ave west.KNOTT’S BERRY FARM
DETOUR: