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Located just 40 miles south of Los Angeles, Huntington Beach boasts wide public beaches, a historic pier and great access for slow walkers and wheelchair-users.

With the Surfing Walk of Fame, two major surf shops and even a surfing museum gracing the downtown area, it's easy to see how Huntington Beach earned the nickname of Surf City, USA. But you don't have to be a pro surfer in order to enjoy Huntington Beach. In many ways, the city is the quintessential California beach destination. Located just 40 miles south of Los Angeles, this laid back community boasts wide public beaches, a historic pier and beach concessions galore, in addition to that steady stream of hopeful surfers waiting to catch that perfect wave. Plus, this Southern California hotspot also offers good access, which makes it an excellent summertime vacation choice for slow walkers and wheelchair-users.

One of the most accessible ways to enjoy Huntington Beach is to walk or roll along the Huntington Beach Ocean Strand. This 8.5-mile paved beach walkway begins at the Santa Ana River and continues past Huntington State Beach, Huntington City Beach, Dog Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach. The Strand is wide, level and very wheelable, with accessible restrooms and parking at every access point, and plenty of food and drink concessions along the way. Best of all, there's no smoking allowed along the Strand or on the pier, which makes for a very enjoyable stroll.

The historic pier is also worth a stop, and the most accessible way to reach it is from Main Street. There is ramp access from the Strand up to Main Street in the parking lot near the pier. The wooden pier is level and nicely accessible, with benches along the way. It's also the ideal vantage point to catch a close-up look at the surfers in the water below. Be sure and get close enough to hear their banter, for a real insight into surfing culture.

At the end of the pier you'll find Ruby's Diner, a fun and nostalgic place to grab a bite to eat. There's ramp access to the front door of this old time diner, or you can order a quick snack at the carry-out window. If you don't want to walk all the way to the end of the pier, Chimayo at the Beach and Duke's Huntington Beach are accessible choices near the foot of the pier.

If you'd like to really get your feet wet, then stop by Zack's at Pier Plaza and pick up a free loaner beach wheelchair. Although these brightly colored canvas wheelchairs with balloon tires require a strong able-bodied pusher, once you get down to the surf you can roll right into the water. Advance reservations are advised for the loaner wheelchairs, and customers are required to provide one form of identification and sign a liability release when borrowing one.

Just across the street from the pier, you'll find downtown Huntington Beach, which is ground zero as far as surfing culture is concerned. Not only will you find surfing shops, the Surfing Walk of Fame and surfing murals in this eclectic business district, but you'll also see lots of surfers just hanging out there. It's a great place for people watching. As an added bonus, access is excellent throughout the area with level sidewalks, curb-cuts at all corners, lots of sidewalk dining, accessible parking in large lots and level access to most buildings. It's a very walkable area.

Breakfast at the Sugar Shack Cafe on Main Street is a required downtown stop. This family owned eatery is a great people watching spot, and they serve up an Eggs Benedict that's second to none. Although the inside dining area is a bit tight for wheelchair-users, there's plenty of accessible seating on the front and back patios. Come early to watch the local surfers gather for breakfast.

And finally, no trip to Huntington Beach is complete without a stop at the International Surfing Museum, located just around the corner from the Sugar Shack Cafe on Olive Avenue. Although there are steps at the front entrance, there's ramp access on the right side of the building. Inside there's lots to see – including exhibits about the origin of surfing and the evolution of equipment and lots of surfing photos, videos and newspaper clips. There's even an exhibit about surfing music and a little bit of surfing art. And don't forget to check out their gift shop, which according to the museum Chairman, Gary Sahagen, carries the world's largest collection of surfing music.

All in all, Surf City, USA is just a fun place to visit.

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Candy Harrington is the editor of "Emerging Horizons" and the author of "Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers." Visit her blog for access news, resources and industry updates.