If your vacation plans include a Huntington Beach resort, then you need to have something to do while you're there. Here are 5 top spots for nature lovers. If you love spending time in the great outdoors, then this list has some things you may enjoy while staying at your Huntington Beach vacation home. Huntington Beach, California is just the place to experience your adventures. This lovely California beach is rich with life, especially birds. Over 70 different kinds of birds come to the beach area for nesting and mating.
1. Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve
Huntington Beach offers numerous ways to enjoy nature. Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve offers 1,700 acres of salt marshes, birds and wildlife. Before embarking on your visit to the reserve, stop by the Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center. The center has exhibits, historical information and souvenirs available for visitors. Grab a map of the reserve for your adventure. Many endangered species of bird are found at the reserve. Bald eagles, peregrine falcons, brown pelicans and least terns are some of the birds living in the reserve. There are also coyotes, snakes, lizards and crabs in the area. You may be lucky enough to see a shark cruising around in Bolsa Chica.
2. Shipley Nature Center/Huntington Central Park
The Shipley Nature Center is a great place to see wildlife near your Huntington Beach vacation home. It's located in Huntington Central Park. Although the center is a mere 18 acres, it is full of life. You can also hike over 4,000 feet of trails that wind their way through woodlands, pines and meadow. It's also where you'll see ducks, geese and small ponds.
3. Huntington Beach Wetlands and Talbert Marsh
Across from Huntington State Beach is the wetlands, which is over 114 acres wide and has many different species of plant life and animals living in it. Talbert Marsh is only 25 acres wide, but is home to many bird species, including egrets and herons. The marsh is also the biggest nesting site of least terns in North America. You can hike, bike ride, or horseback ride along the well-worn trails of the marsh. Also see the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center of Orange County. This place is home to sick and injured animals in need of care.
4. Huntington Harbour
Huntington Harbour is the most interesting place to bird watch. People travel the harbour's canals several ways: by kayak, electric Duffy boat, or gondola. For a romantic tour of the harbour, sign up with Sunset Gondolas. This fantastic activity takes you slowly up the harbour. For faster traveling, rent an electric boat from Duffy Boat.
5. Huntington Botanical Gardens
The gardens consist of over 200 acres of plants and vegetation. There are 14,000 rare and exotic plant species in 12 different gardens. Each garden has a theme name. The Japanese, Shakespeare and Desert Gardens are just a few to see.
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