• Huntington Beach Dog Beach, Orange County. This salty-dog paradise encompasses a 1.5-mile section of a 3.5-mile-long beach that seems plucked straight out of a surfer movie (no wonder Huntington Beach is nicknamed Surf City USA). You’ll find yourself humming a Beach Boys tune as you and your pup immerse yourselves in surf culture.
This is the only off-leash beach in the county, and it’s also home to the annual Surf City Surf Dog competition (Sept. 29 this year). You’ll watch in amazement as dozens of dogs from as far away as Australia and Brazil “hang 20” as they compete for top honors.
On a leash, you and yours can enjoy sandy walks on several other OC beaches, including Corona del Mar Main Beach, Main Beach in Laguna Beach, San Onofre State Beach and other strands. For a listing, click here.
