Gwilliam Gazette : Huntington Beach

The weekend getaway for April was Huntington Beach and was facilitated by $39 airfare and 3 free hotel nights that were expiring and had to be used. Nobody wants free hotel night to go unused, right??? Certainly not me!!!!!

We tried Breeze Airlines out of Provo for the first time. For $39 why not!? Provo airport is so close and easy! In 5 minutes from parking you are in the terminal going through security! They just opened a brand new terminal with FOUR gates so it's brand new! And already they are talking about expanding again.

Having top tier status at National Car rental, we usually get pretty spiffy cars for the Toyota Corolla price. We picked a Mitsubishi Outlander and it had 47 miles on it! Now I want one.

We first stayed in Newport Beach for 2 of the nights. Of course it was someone's birthday, as it usually is when we travel.

This was the view from our room

We went to a local Italian restaurant for dinner called "Mama D's" as it was highly rated. They give everyone this card when they sit down

My very yummy lasagna

Shelley's yummy ravioli

Having top tier Hyatt status, of course we took advantage of the free breakfast.

We then headed to Knott's Berry Farm!! Actually, just outside the amusement park - near the parking lot is Independence Hall that was built by Walter Knott and dedicated 190 years after the Declaration of Independence was adopted at the original Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Walter Knott built this because he felt so strongly that Independence was the most important thing we have in this country. Many people on the west coast couldn't get to the east coast to see Independence Hall so he built this so everyone could have the opportunity of seeing and experiencing it. It's an EXACT replica, even down to the number of bricks and how each brick is placed.

The liberty bell inside is also an exact replica of the original. When Knott's sold to Cedar Fair in 1996, it was with the agreement that Independence Hall would always remain free to visit.

The bell even has the same "misspelling" in Pennsylvania (it only has 1 N on the bell) but back then, that's how it was normally spelled

Just a few miles away, we went to the Nix Nature Preserve for a 3 mile loop hike. You wouldn't think this place was about 10 minutes from the city! We were the only ones there and it was a beautiful hike!

The next day we went on a special guided kayak tour of Newport Bay Preserve. Normally they take 20 people out each Saturday, but wouldn't you know it? We were the only 2!! We had 4 guides so we got a very personal tour! It was a lot of fun and we didn't tip over!

We then changed hotels to a very fancy one - Huntington Beach Resort. We only had 1 free night at the fancy place, but wow, it was fancy! And directly across the beach with it's own bridge to get over the road right on to the beach with complimentary chairs and umbrellas and fire pits!

This is the view from the lobby

Right as you enter the hotel

Beach is right across the street

Our "upgraded" room did have a beach view...and a roof view

Included in our free stay was a Smores kit......

Close to sunset, we had to walk over to the beach to watch the sunset....

And of course we had to use our Smores kit even though neither of us really cares for Smores! :-)

The next morning, Shelley found a Cherry Blossom Festival nearby so sure, let's go see. We got there pretty much right when it opened, and were so glad. By the time we left, it was more packed than a grand opening of Chic-Fil-A in Utah.

They had some "interesting" musical and dance programs

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Feeling very claustrophobic and having our fill of cherry blossoms, we went back to the hotel and got some bikes and just leisurely rode up and down the beach for about 3-4 miles and stopped at Huntington Beach Pier.