3 Best Places to Shop in Orange County and Catalina Island, California

The stretch of 2nd Street that runs through Long Beach's tony residential neighborhood of Belmont Shore is a paradise for lovers of unique boutiques, coffee shops, bakeries, and well-curated secondhand shops. When you're done hunting for that perfect souvenir, stop in at any of the strip's plethora of restaurants and bars, explore the neighboring streets of historic bungalows and mini mansions, or head a few blocks to the beach. Young families flock to Bayshore Beach at the east end of the strip for the protected, flat waters of the marina, while those seeking the classic ocean beach experience make their way south to Belmont Shore's eponymous strand of sand.

Get your sugar fix at the time-warped Candy Baron, filled with old-fashioned goodies like gumdrops, licorice, bull's-eyes, sugar-free candies, and more than 50 flavors of saltwater taffy.

The largest surf-gear source in town is Huntington Surf and Sport, right across from Huntington Pier. Staffed by true surf enthusiasts, it's also one of the only surf shops with a Java Point coffee counter inside. Surfboard rentals are $15 an hour or $50 all day, while soft-top boards are $10 per hour or $30 a day. They also rent wet suits for $15 a day.