Huntington Beach is a city popularly known as the Surf City due to its long (13.7 km) stretch of beach that is perfect for surfing. Because any construction on the beach should be approved by a vote from the people, the beach area was left as natural as possible. The city is also known as one of the friendliest to dogs - with a beach dedicated to dogs plus restaurants with purely dog-only menus and hotels that are dog-friendly.

The attractions of the city vary - from the modern structures in the downtown area to the natural beaches. The marshy wetlands have been converted into the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. The city also owns a very large Central Park that contains thick forests and native wildlife.

The city also has oil reserves which are slowly being depleted so that, soon, the city will not anymore rely on this for income but would rely on revenues from tourism and other sources. That is the reason why new hotels, restaurants, and attractions are being developed in the city in recent years.