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Family Fun: Surf City USA
By DesertMama | June 28, 2008
Greetings from Surf City USA! This is the first stop of our West Coast Swing Road Trip. I’m sitting on my 11th floor balcony directly overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort. It’s still early as I write this so the beach is deserted except for the occasional treasure hunter and hardcore surfer. By noon the town will be buzzing with surfboards, beach cruisers, motorcycles and seagulls scooping down from the sky. Until then, I’m enjoying a hot cup of coffee, a cool ocean breeze and quietness as the little ones sleep in.
Our first day here in Huntington Beach we checked into the hotel, lathered up the kids with sunscreen and crossed the street to the beach. The kids had a great time digging in the sand, splashing in the water and seeing their first sand crab. For dinner we cruised over to Fred’s Mexican Cafe, a hopping place where beach-goers, still dressed in beachwear, go for happy hour and a bite to eat. It’s a total beach joint with stretched out beer bottles lining the glass windows overhead and a tiki huts covering the inside and outside bars. They have a kids’ menu - so we were very happy. 
The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast at the Sugar Shack then returned to the beach for one of the highlights of the trip, a ride in a two-person surrey cycle from Zack’s - a shop that rents pretty much any beach item under the sun. DesertDaddy and I pedaled (although, I will admit he did most of the work being the avid cyclist he is). The kids sat in the basket in the front and had a blast waving at other kids and watching a varity of kites fly overhead.
Later in the day the MudslideFamily came down to meet us for lunch, pretzel making and root beer at Brewbakers and an afternoon of jumping waves (stay tuned for a photo of us and our little travelers).
For dinner DesertDaddy and I took the tots on a walk on the pier at sunset, stopping to watch surfers and fishers. We ate dinner at Ruby’s, a 40’s style diner with terrific ocean and coastline views. Our server recommended the Super Burger (burger with Swiss cheese and avocado on a parmesan bread). We took him up on it and were we glad we did - delish! The kids had mac ‘n cheese and grilled cheese and they ended their meal with yummy chocolate and strawberry shakes topped with whipped cream and a cherries.
When we arrived back to the Hilton my son said, “Mommy all of the people at this hotel sure have been nice to us.” And they had. My little guy and gal sure felt like royalty during our stay. The Hilton Waterfront gives children guests darling stuffed whales and the staff was so friendly and helpful. Even the housekeepers stopped to listen to their stories about getting mouths full of salty water during their ocean play and offered them the chocolates that are normally reserved for evening turn-down service each evening.
We’re leaving today and while I’m excited to see what the rest of the adventure holds I’m really sad to go. You can’t buy memories like these.
Topics: Family Travel, Luxury Travel, The Cookie Jar |
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