Goldenwest - Huntington Beach, CA

Huntington beach has many past lives – a land of the native Tongva people, the destination of Spanish settlers in 1784 and home to ranching industries in the 1800s, for instance. The city was established in 1909 among dreams of creating a west coast version of Atlantic City.

For some time, Huntington Beach was a dreary town with little activity. The massive oil boom of the 1920s, however, transformed the city into a hub of commerce and tourism.

In accordance with its Surf City moniker, Huntington Beach also carries a rich surf history. The popularity of surfing exploded in Huntington Beach after legendary Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku imported the activity to the town. Gordie’s Surf Boards opened in 1953, and by 1969, the first U.S. Surfing Championship was held in HB. Since 2005 Huntington Beach has housed the USA Surf Team and the Association of Surfing Professionals-North America.

A day of surf and sand revs up your appetite, so head to The Seafood Zone off of McFadden to take in murals of the Sea of Cortez on the patio while savoring zesty fish and shrimp tacos. Find Slapfish in the heart of Goldenwest, part of a local chain of seafood shacks with famous clam chowder-drenched French fries.

Perhaps you crave an intimate, flirty dinner for a reasonable price. Try The Black Trumpet Bistro with its Mediterranean-inspired tapas plates, including the addictive truffle fries and crispy Brussels sprouts with chorizo.

On Friday or Saturday nights, follow to locals to a sports bar, such as Slater's 50/50 Burgers by Design. Nosh on the Peanut Butter and Jellousy Burger while you yell at your team for disappointing you.

At Marlin Bar & Grill on Edinger Avenue, you can play billiards while listening to live music. Tucked away in a shopping center, similar to most Goldenwest haunts, the bar turns out to be spacious and inviting.

For more excitement, look for Don the Beachcomber, a little outside the area but directly on the water. Every night provides a distinct kind of fun, from regular karaoke nights to Sunday night reggae. Get in a festive mood by sipping tiki craft cocktails while enjoying the live music. You might find yourself out of your seat for a dance lesson with pretty Polynesian dancers.

Commuting around Goldenwest, you can choose from bike, car or public bus, though given the sprawling city blocks, you may prefer motorized transport to get from one side of the area to the other, and especially to leave. To accommodate its car culture, you'll find that parking remains plentiful in Goldenwest, even near the beach. Most everyone who lives here relies on a car for regular transportation, but people who live by the beach tend to commute by bicycle when visiting friends or local establishments.

In fact, given the landscape of Goldenwest, it should be no surprise that many who live downtown prefer beach cruisers as the preferred mode of short-distance transport. A few bike lanes exist, however, so be cautious.

As for the main thoroughfares, a hands-down favorite remains Pacific Coast Highway through which one can accomplish a serene cruise via automobile or bike. Then there's Goldenwest, a long avenue full of intercity traffic, which begins at PCH and serves as the main inland road for the neighborhood. At the northern end of the neighborhood, Goldenwest meets the 405, an interstate highway that connects much of Los Angeles and Orange County, and serves as the target of unabashed hatred for rush-hour drivers.

As for hailing a cab, you definitely want to call one. Uber services the area as well, but service remains spotty at best.

Goldenwest’s main attraction, the beautiful shoreline comprises part of the Huntington State Beach. Visitors from around Los Angeles and Orange County frequent Huntington Beach for its clear water, perfectly sized waves and relentless sunshine.

Surfing remains an extremely popular activity in Goldenwest; surfers wake alongside the sun to catch the best morning tides and can be seen riding bikes while hauling surfboards.

The scene at the beach always brims with activity. Joggers, bikers and skateboarders come in steady flows of traffic alongside the people path of the Surf City beach. Volleyball players rise early in the morning to catch a court on the sand, and play on it until the sun sets behind them.

If you love your pooch, you have to take it to the Huntington Dog Beach, where Goldenwest Street meets the water. It’s the only section of the Huntington Beach State Park where you can take your furry love out to frolic in the sand and doggie paddle into the ocean.

Goldenwest encompasses a diverse neighborhood with two polar opposite housing scenes: imposing mansion-style houses stand in gated communities with golf courses near the beach, while more affordable and modest apartments dominate the northern and more inland areas of the neighborhood.

Given its diversity of income and residents, Goldenwest costs measure at roughly average of those one would find in Huntington Beach, a very prosperous city relative to the national average. With one-bedroom rentals averaging at $1,535 per month, Goldenwest lies at the median of Orange County housing costs.

Gas prices hit 11 percent above the national average. While housing can be expensive, food and drinks are not necessarily; a beer at a pub typically costs about $4.

Enjoy an eclectic assortment of finds while exploring Goldenwest. The major shopping centers include the city's main indoor mall, Westminster Mall, and its nearby competitor, Bella Terra, an outdoor shopping center with trendy apparel shops and restaurants. While most of the shops here are recognizable chains, drop into the local chain No Rest for Bridget, a sassy clothing and accessory boutique that will channel your inner fashionista.

To check out cool collectibles, head to Baseball Cards Plus. Here you will find tons of old and valuable sports paraphernalia as well as strategy game cards like Magic the Gathering, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh.

For boutique finds, Gramma’s Attic stocks a more quirky collection of vintage clothes and knick knacks, along with monthly late-night shopping events.

If digging around old crates for hidden gems sounds like your thing, the weekend swap meet at Golden West College should be on your list. Re-up on crafting supplies and tools as you take down a Mexican-inspired grilled corn on the cob from the parking lot food truck.

Shopping centers that house grocery chains Vons, Albertsons and Whole Foods dot the area as well.