Unlocking Huntington Beach

Most of Huntington Beach has driven past SeaCliff's hedges and gates on Golden West. Far fewer have been inside. Lane Stone, who's sold HB homes for 14+ years, walks the neighborhood between Dog Beach and the Bolsa Chica Wetlands — and explains how one zip code can cost $1.7 million or $6.5 million. What you'll learn: - The three price tiers inside SeaCliff, and the first question L...

October in Huntington Beach means chili on Main Street, costumes in Central Park, and a Bavarian village next to the 405. Lane Stone lays out the three events worth planning your fall weekends around, then digs into how Old World ended up in Surf City in the first place. Plus: a family haunted house from 1990s HB that some longtime locals might still remember. What you'll learn: - When Chili...

Parking in Huntington Beach isn't one system — it's three, and they don't share rates or passes. Lane Stone, born and raised in HB, walks through where to park based on what you're actually coming to do, from Main Street to the sand at Bolsa Chica. What you'll learn: - Why the Main Promenade garage on Main Street is Lane's first recommendation for downtown HB - The ar...

The Huntington Beach bike trail runs about 8.5 paved miles from Bolsa Chica to Huntington State Beach — and you can ride the whole coastline without moving your car once. Lane Stone rides it end to end, from the Sunset Beach greenbelt down to the Santa Ana River Trail junction, and flags the rules, crowds, and turnaround points most riders find out the hard way. There's one thing you absolute...

Huntington Beach isn't one beach. It's five, and picking the wrong one can quietly wreck an otherwise good day. Lane Stone breaks down all eight-plus miles of coastline — City Beach, Huntington State Beach, Bolsa Chica, Dog Beach, and Sunset Beach — and matches each one to the kind of day you're actually trying to have. Born-and-raised local, 14 years running a real estate team here...

Living in Huntington Beach costs about 80% more than the national average — here's what that actually buys you, and what it doesn't. Lane Stone has been an HB resident for 35+ years and has sold real estate here for 14. He's talked people into this city and talked people out of it. This one runs heavier on the cons, because the pros you can already see from Google Maps. What you&apo...

Wodapalooza SoCal brings 30,000 people and 1,500 athletes to the Huntington Beach Pier this September — and Matt Banwart has a front-row seat to all of it. He's owned Red Wolf CrossFit on Beach Boulevard since 2012, and he breaks down what the festival actually looks like from the sand, plus why the gym everyone assumes is for hardcore competitors is mostly busy parents squeezing in an hour b...

Huntington Beach runs free movie nights, a traveling pump track, and a 95-year-old indoor pool most residents have never set foot in. Kaci Thol has spent 23 years building those programs — and she's here to tell you which ones you're sleeping on. Kaci is the Recreation Supervisor at Edison Community Center, and she oversees youth sports, city field reservations, and the events HB familie...

The Lexus US Open of Surfing returns to Huntington Beach July 25–Aug 2; half a million people, the world's best surfers, live music, and free entry. Here's how a born-and-raised local actually does the biggest week of the year in Surf City. What you'll learn: - The full US Open dates, format, and why it's been on the south side of HB Pier since 1959 - This year's music lin...

Huntington Beach has 10,000+ businesses, and most of them aren't on Main Street. Max Daffron, the HB Chamber's first CEO in eight years, is building five industry coalitions to fix that — and you don't need a membership to join. Max grew up here, worked in the City's Economic Development Office, then spent years in Colorado watching recruiters build trips around pulling Surf Ci...

The Pacific Air Show returns to Huntington Beach's sand October 2–4, 2026, and whether you pay or go free changes your whole day. Lane breaks down exactly where to stand, when to arrive, and how to skip the parking nightmare. What you'll learn: - Show Center sits on PCH between Twin Dolphin Street and Beach Boulevard, free beach viewing is legit, but the ticketed zone gets you closer - T...

Summer in Huntington Beach means camp drop-offs, bonfire nights, and bike rides down the Strand — here's the full parent playbook for filling the calendar through August. What you'll learn: - Camp HB pricing and schedule breakdown: 3-day ($135) vs. 5-day ($221) options at Murdy Community Center, plus the Teen LIT program for ages 13-17 - Where to find Junior Lifeguards and how to reserve...

The Huntington Beach 4th of July draws half a million people for the largest Independence Day parade west of the Mississippi — and Lane Stone has the 35-year local playbook for doing it right. From the Surf City 5K to fireworks launched straight off the pier, this is the hour-by-hour guide to Surf City's biggest day. What you'll learn: - Where to claim a parade spot along PCH (and why lo...

Huntington Beach's cost of living runs 80% above the national average — but that headline number alone won't help you budget. Lane Stone has spent 14 years in this market, and in this episode he breaks down every real expense: rent by neighborhood, what buying actually pencils out to right now, groceries, utilities, the California income tax hit, and the lifestyle costs no calculator inc...

A million people are expected to flood Southern California for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and Lane Stone thinks Huntington Beach is the smartest place to set up camp. The games are at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, but 35 miles of Pacific Coast beats the LA hotel surge any day. What you'll learn: - Why OC is a better base than LA for World Cup visitors — and how to make the 405N/105W run to SoFi w...

HB's summer forecast just got complicated: shark detections are earlier than usual, Mendocino Farms is finally landing at Pacific City, and dozens of local homeowners are losing backyards — and in some cases, parts of their homes — to a sewer easement they didn't see coming. Lane covers five Surf City stories in this one, from a 100-year milestone at Huntington Beach High School to pump...

A Huntington Beach local who played pro beach volleyball — and completed 233 escape rooms — just opened Surf City Escapes inside Pacific City. Ben Vaught built rooms around the HB vibe on purpose: the surf theme fits here in a way it wouldn't in an Irvine industrial park. Lane's team tried them out, and spoiler: they escaped with 27 seconds to spare. What you'll learn: - Why Ben cho...

Episode 20 is a full Huntington Beach food and drink audit — where we've been, where we're headed, and what we should never have lost. Lane Stone covers four top-five lists: the HB spots he misses most (Ruby's on the Pier, Ruby Palace, Bravo Burger on Beach Blvd, the downtown movie theater), five places coming soon to Surf City — including Champagne's Kitchen taking over the ol...

The Surf City USA Foodie Awards just dropped — and Lane's got receipts on where the list got it right, where it missed, and which local spots deserved a spot they didn't get. Plus: rattlesnakes are showing up in force at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands, the Great Pacific Air Show is back for its 10th anniversary, and HB's new MyMeter utility tool could save homeowners real money. What you&...

Stephanie Schaefer spent 40 years doing sports therapy for Olympic athletes before pivoting to something sweeter — and Bella Sophia Chocolates is now one of Huntington Beach's most beloved artisan brands. This one has a live unboxing, a 20% discount code, and a free chocolate shoe giveaway. Don't say we didn't warn you. What you'll learn: - The difference between a chocolate ma...

Corner Market has been an HB institution for over a century — and owner Suzanne has spent the last decade turning it into something the neighborhood didn't know it needed. She sat down with Lane and Amber to talk about what it actually takes to run a community hub that locals call "The Cheers of Huntington Beach." What you'll learn: - How Suzanne bought Corner Market on pure gu...

Huntington Beach is booming! In this episode, Lane Stone breaks down the massive influx of over 20 new businesses hitting Surf City, from gourmet donuts to veteran ERs. We also dive into the major safety overhaul coming to the PCH bike lanes and a heart-tugging story of a local resident receiving a life-saving "miracle" gift. What You’ll Learn: Support Local: A rundown of 20+ new busines...

Looking for ways to get involved in the Huntington Beach community this spring? In this episode, Lane Stone breaks down the best local activities for all ages—from toddler art classes at the Edison Community Center to oil painting for adults on Main Street. We also dive into a massive free resource for financial literacy and how local organizations can start applying for 4th of July firework permi...

St. Patrick’s Day is taking over Huntington Beach, and whether you’re looking for a traditional pint of Guinness or a wild 9-day festival, Lane Stone has the inside scoop. From the authentic vibes of The Irishman to the high-energy block parties on Main Street, we’re "unlocking" exactly where you need to be this March. What You’ll Learn: The Best Guinness in OC: Why The Irishman on Olive...

In this episode, I dive deep into the heart of Surf City to celebrate some incredible local milestones. From a world-class "bean-to-bar" chocolate shop that's putting Huntington Beach on the international map to the induction of a true surf culture pioneer into the Hall of Fame, we are uncovering the people and places that make this city home. Plus, I share a crucial parking tip for...