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For Immediate Release: March 3, 2006
OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN HUNTINGTON BEACH
A designer shop/florist, a mini scalp treatment, an experimental art gallery, an authentic country store and unusual restaurants
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. Some people like to travel by the book - a guidebook, that is. Others like to wander off the beaten path and explore the hidden gems of a travel destination. So, while the main draw of Huntington Beach is 8.5 miles of pristine shoreline and spectacular surf, take a little time to seek out the lesser-known surprises of this seaside town.
Downtown Main Street, across from the Huntington Beach Pier, is always packed with tourists and locals checking out the liveliest scene along the Orange County coast. However, take a few steps down a side street - 6th Street, to be exact - and you'll discover a designer store and florist called Petals on 6th in a beautiful house with white trim and black awning. Yes, you can pick up a fresh flower arrangement at Petals, along with pottery, baskets and other home décor items like glass-etched paintings. But, you also can browse for one-of-a-kind dressers, armoires, reading chairs, clothing and jewelry. The prices are quite affordable and start at just a few dollars.
Petals on 6th, 611 6th Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648,
(714)536-0025.
When you're ready for some pampering, drop in to see Meleesa, a native Costa Rican who owns a salon of the same name. She'll offer a consultation first, then prescribe a homemade treatment for your hair and scalp. Meleesa brings a native knowledge of the natural benefits of certain herbs, fruits and botanicals to her work, mixing up custom treatments in the back kitchen for her clients. In dry weather, she often recommends a natural hair masque to moisturize your locks. Before she applies her magic, she'll treat your scalp to a delicious massage with scented oils that stimulate and soothe the skin while it tickles your senses.
Meleesa, 221 Main St., Suite E, Huntington Beach, CA, 92648,
(714)969-7199.
If you're in the mood to have your mind expanded, there's no better place in Huntington Beach than The Office: An Art Space. This small art exhibition space in an industrial park on the west side of town features emerging artists, experimental techniques and performance art. The projects deal with everything from political satire, to the obsession with plastic surgery in Southern California, to "beauty in the decline and disintegration of life." One of its more famous featured artists is designer Paul Frank, who grew up in Huntington Beach.
The Office: An Art Space, 5122 Bolsa Ave., Suite 110, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, (714)767-5861, www.theofficeart.com.
On the other end of the cultural spectrum is the old-fashioned, straightforward Springdale Country store with its 1800s décor and fixtures. Family owned and operated since 1962, it is one of the oldest established stores in Huntington Beach. The owners, Harold and Karen Marcus, along with their five sons and their families, stock everything from taffy and hand-dipped chocolate to antiques and collectables to one-of-a-kind gifts that will take you down memory lane. This is where locals go for hard-to-find items such as Burt's Bees herbal remedies, a Reyn Spooner Traditional Hawaiian shirt or "Cookies With A Cause" by Immaculate Baking Co. that support the work regional folk artists. The store also stocks traditional clothing styles like Pendleton and Casey Coleman, as well as men and children's wear. There is even a full-service U.S. Postal substation inside.
Springdale Country, 15802 Springdale St., Huntington Beach, CA 92649, (714)893-6513, www.springdalecountry.com.
If you really like to get off the beaten path when you eat, try some of these restaurants with unusual offerings:
Good Mood Food Café serves all natural raw gourmet cuisine - very popular with the vegan set - and sometimes offers "uncooking" classes on natural food preparation or tips on living a healthier lifestyle, such as "The Importance of Enzymes." One of the owners, Ursula Horaitis, also offers personal coaching at your home or business.
Good Mood Food Café, 5930 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach, CA, 92649,
(714)377-2028.
The ying of Good Mood Food's yang is the Old World German Restaurant. This is where you come when you're hungry, nostalgic for the Old Country and definitely not on a diet. The specialties include sauerkraut, potato pancakes with applesauce and fully cooked schnitzel, bratwurst or roladen (stuffed beef roll with bacon, pickles, sautéed onions and gravy served with red cabbage & spaetzle). Afterwards, take a stroll around Old World Village on cobblestone streets with German shops offering European specialties including crystal, collectibles, cuckoo clocks and lederhosen. People come here from great distances to celebrate Oktoberfest and to race their dachshunds in the monthly Weiner Dog Races.
Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave. #49, Huntington Beach, CA 92647,
(714) 895-8020.
Part bistro, part American steakhouse, Scorpion Steakhouse offers a sophisticated menu, but that's not what draws in the young, fashionable crowds late at night. Maybe it's the live scorpions in glass tanks scattered around the interior, or the mechanical bull that never gets a rest once the nightlife action kicks in, or, perhaps, the gorgeous go-go dancers in skimpy bikinis who keep things lively at this extremely popular nightclub. After all, you can't say you've really experienced Southern California unless you have danced to hip-hop music next to a live shark - or a scorpion - at a swank club after midnight.
Scorpion Steakhouse, 8082 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92646,
(714)374-9600.
To learn more about Huntington Beach, visit www.surfcityusa.com or call 800-729-6232 and request a free visitors guide. Surf City USA™ is a trademark of the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved.