Huntington Beach, California was recently named by the New York Post as one of the top five destinations for teenagers and their parents. Children make great travel companions. One in four household trips in the U.S. (26%) include children under 18. Surf City is a favorite place for kids to not only eat and shop, but participate in many recreational sports. Most popular are surfing camps that specialize in teaching beginners to get into the water and onto a board.

Children make great travel companions. One in four household trips in the U.S. (26%) include children under 18, or 170.1 million trips in total. 91% of trips with kids are for leisure with 44% including overnight trips with children in a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast establishment. Popular activities on trips with children include shopping (32%), attending a social/family event (31%), engaging in an outdoor activity (14%), going to the beach (12%), and going to a theme/amusement park (12%). More than 55% of trips with children are taken by households headed by Baby Boomers age 35 to 54.

While there are all sorts of things for children and teens to do in Huntington Beach, often their favorite activities are simple. Pre-teens like to kick around in the sand, build castles, let the sand sift through their fingers and romp in the Huntington Beach surf. Teenagers typically like watching other teens. They go to Main Street and eat, shop and sit to watch other kids go by. 

For the active youth, however, Huntington Beach has a reputation as an extreme sports venue and in the past several years, has been home to competitions such as Core Tour BMX and King of the Dirt Hill, US Open of Surfing and Beach Games ASP 6 Star Rating qualifier, ESPN X-Games surf competition with East meets the West, National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) Competition, Association of Volleyball Professional (AVP) Pro Beach Volleyball Competition, Hello Kitty Boardfest with Holly Beck, Serena Brooke Surf Camp and Van's Triple Crown of Skating. There are over 50 surfing competitions throughout the year, as well.

Two free public skate parks just five to 10 minutes from the beach include Murdy Park on Golden West Street near Warner Avenue and Huntington Skate Park near Huntington Beach High School on Main Street. The parks include ledges, ramps and banks. You can actually skateboard from many hotels to the Huntington Beach High School Skate Park, too.

Huntington Beach's 8.5 mile paved bike path is a great place for the family and kids to skateboard, ride a bike, rollerblade, jog, walk and have fun.

Huntington Central Park Disc (Frisbee) Golf Course is an 18-hole course located in a scenic, tree-lined setting with hills and a lake providing obstacles and traps. Designed in 1976 by Wham-O's then marketing director, it is one of the world's original disc golf courses and contains patented Pole Hole targets. Call: 714-425-9931.

While you play disc golf, you can watch horses and riders next door at Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center. The center offers instruction or you can take kids 8 years and older on hour-long guided trail rides. Reservations: 714-848-9695. Huntington Central Park Disc (Frisbee) Golf Course is an 18-hole course located in a scenic, tree-lined setting with hills and a lake providing obstacles and traps. Designed in 1976 by Wham-O's then marketing director, it is one of the world's original disc golf courses and contains patented Pole Hole targets. Call: 714-425-9931. While you play disc golf, you can watch horses and riders next door at Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center. The center offers instruction or you can take kids 8 years and older on hour-long guided trail rides. Reservations: 714-848-9695.

Camp Hyatt at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa features games, surf lessons, swimming, crafts and many uniquely-Huntington Beach activities such as coconut bowling and Hawaiian lei making. The camp is offered to resort guests' children. The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort features Vacation Station program that allows guests to check out popular toys, games and even boogie boards for children ages one to 12 at no cost.

The KITES FOR KIDS' assembly offered from Kite Connection's Dave Shenkman is consists of kite information, education, kite building and a professional demonstration (weather and facilities permitting). The visual presentation and discussion is grade specific, and is usually divided into two or three separate assemblies, lasting between 25 and 40 minutes, depending on grade level. Call: (800) 431-3339.

Huntington Beach has a commercial indoor rock climbing facility on Gothard Street near Ellis Avenue. Classes and public use are available daily. 
Two roller hockey and one ice rink are open to public The side by side rinks are located on Gothard Street between Edinger and Heil. The team roller hockey courts are are on McFadden near Graham Street. 
Scuba lessons are taught at Sports Chalet on Beach Boulevard near McDonald Street.
Tennis courts and outdoor basketball hoops are available at public parks such as Murdy Park on Golden West Street near Warner Ave., at Graham Street and Edinger and several other locations
Outdoor handball courts are available to Golden West College on Golden West Street near McFadden.
There are numerous playgrounds throughout the city for tots, plus at least one commercial toddler gym near Springdale and Warner. 
Free play lands at restaurants include: McDonalds on Edinger near Edwards, McDonalds on Golden West near Yorktown, Carls Jr. on Golden West near Garfield and Burger King on Beach Blvd. near Utica. Huntington Beach also has a Chuck E. Cheese for kids on Edwards near McFadden.
A SCATS facility on McFadden near Graham offers youth gymnastics training. Several commercial dance studios are located in the city. 

Camp Hyatt at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa features games, surf lessons, swimming, crafts and many uniquely-Huntington Beach activities such as coconut bowling and Hawaiian lei making. The camp is offered to resort guests' children. The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort features Vacation Station program that allows guests to check out popular toys, games and even boogie boards for children ages one to 12 at no cost.

• Adventure City  Theme park for kids; rides, petting zoo, children's theater, puppet shows and game room. Anaheim. 714-236-9300.

• Adventure Playground - Tree houses construction area, rafting pond, rope bridge, tire swings and mud slide. Huntington Beach. 714-842-7442 (summer only).

• Boomers Park - Boomers is full of fun. It has miniature golf, extreme skateboarding park, arcades, go-cart races, laser tag and lots more. Located in Irvine.

• Bowers Kidseum - Interactive experiences including special activities. Santa Ana. 714/480-1520.

• Carousels at South Coast Plaza - Treat your children to one of the exquisitely painted carousel rides. Costa Mesa. 800-782-8888.

• Children's Museum at La Habra Hands-on exhibits, science center, theater and nature walks. La Habra. 562/905-9793.

• Chuck E. Cheese - The Game Place for kids, it's an indoor fun extravaganza with romp and play rooms, coin operated video games, kiddie car rides, kid's favorite foods and lots of soda! Huntington Beach - 15511 Edwards St. Huntington Beach CA 92647 (714) 891-4391
  Garden Grove - 13101 Harbor Blvd. Garden Grove CA 92643 (714) 539-4332
  Costa Mesa - 2300 Harbor Blvd., Bldg. 25 Costa Mesa CA 92626  (949) 631-8160

• Discovery Science Center feature more than 120 hands-on science exhibits for all ages include Virtual Volleyball, an Indoor Geyser, Laser Beam Harp, Musical Floor and Bed of Nails. Santa Ana. 714-542-2823.

• Disneyland and California Adventure are two theme parks with universal appeal for all ages.

• Centennial Heritage Museum is the restored 1898 Kellogg House and Garden.  Santa Ana. 714-540-0404.

• Edward's IMAX 3-D Theater/Entertainment Center - 20-theater complex with futuristic IMAX 3-D theater, restaurants, shops and arcades. Irvine. 949-640-4600.

• Hobby City Doll and Toy Museum - 24 hobby and collectibles shops including toys, dolls, model railroads, coins, stamps, and baseball cards. Anaheim. 714-527-2323.

• Irvine Regional Park & Zoo  - Featuring a petting zoo. Orange. 714-633-2022.

• Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park is home to Camp Snoopy, Ghostrider Roller Coaster, Scream and more!

• Medieval Times Dinner ' & Tournament -  A dinner theater in a castle setting featuring jousting, sword fights and equestrian acts. Buena Park. 714-521-2342.

• Mission San Juan Capistrano - Built in 1776, one of Father Junipero Serra's historic missions known for the return of the swallows every March.  San Juan Capistrano.  949-234-1300.

• Movieland Wax Museum - Over 300 figures of movie, stage, and television in panoramic sets. Buena Park. 714-522-1154.

• Newport Bay/Balboa Pavilion - World-class small boat harbor with a ferry to the historic 1905 Balboa Pavilion. Amusement area, shops and restaurants. Newport Beach. 949-772-1611.

• Ocean Institute Dana Point.  949-496-2274.

• Ripley's Believe It ot Not Museum Buena Park. 714-522-7045.

• Santa Ana Zoo  Zoo attractions including a petting zoo, picnic area and playground. Santa Ana. 714-835-7484.

• Wild Rivers Park Over 40 attractions and water rides. Irvine. 949-768-9453.