It seems I’ve been staying in quite a few hotels lately. My travel is picking up in earnest with the ASTA conference I went to last month. I almost wish I had written more about the Hotel Maxwell Anderson in Glenwood Springs instead of the Hyatt Regency in Salt Lake City, but our Rocky Mountaineer group didn’t stay there long enough for me to do something more in-depth.

I do enjoy places that aren’t too cookie-cutter or look like somewhere else. I stay at those places too, but I hardly ever write about them because, just as that term implies, there’s nothing unique or distinguishing about them. It’s not that the Hyatt Regency was nondescript. Still, I genuinely appreciate a hotel, resort, or inn that develops its personality and can’t be mistaken for nearly any other hotel in the country — or in the world.

The Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach falls into the latter category, and it lets visitors know right away it’s a product of its environment. Nicknamed “Surf City USA,” the community proudly embraces its local sport and activities, and so does this hotel. Our press trip group stayed here for two nights, which gave us plenty of time to soak in the atmosphere of this hotel on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Accommodations

My group mates and I stayed in one of the best rooms available on the property – a larger one-bedroom unit with a king bed and an oceanfront balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Huntington Pier. A spacious bathroom included a large basin, a shower with a single-pane glass partition and a deep soaking tub with a wooden tray holding a mason jar of relaxing bath salts, which was the best feature of the room. We also received a generous plate of cheese, dried fruit, and a glass each of sparkling wine, red wine, and white wine.

Several elements made this room distinctive and distinctly beachy.  The décor featured ocean-centric colors and artwork, including surfing prints, a mini beach cooler, a lamp with a rattan shade, and a carpet that resembled waves near the shoreline. A Victrola turntable with speakers sat upon the dresser drawers, with an LP album – Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” – nearby. However, it also served as a Bluetooth player, allowing me to use my iPhone to play music if I desired. Maybe the best seaside feature was just being able to open my balcony door and listen to the waves from the beach (above the sounds of PCH traffic, of course).

Amenities

After staying at a Kimpton in San Francisco over ten years ago, I was looking forward to this one in Huntington. There is a fun and quirky aspect to Kimpton hotels, with plenty of local-themed décor that gives them character, and this one lived up to expectations. The lobby, located on the second floor, resembled a beach hangout with driftwood accents, blue shades, and an open patio. The furniture was like that found in someone’s oceanside backyard. The outside area had several fire pits, where guests could get a s’mores kit and make their campfire dessert (I didn’t do that, because I was just too stuffed from all the food we had eaten)

You can also rent cruiser bikes, surfboards, or boogie boards and other accessories to take advantage of the beach setting. The fitness center, with a dark interior, is expansive, featuring a variety of cardio equipment, free weights and machines, as well as a 40-foot-long rock-climbing wall. There is a morning coffee and teatime, a social hour with wine and beer, a wide assortment of games (including corn hole, foosball, ping-pong, a giant chessboard and board games). If you want to listen to different LP records in your room, you can take one from the hotel’s music library.

Environment

I am deviating from my usual dining review to focus on my hotel reviews, as I didn’t have anything to report at the Shorebreak. The team from Visit Huntington Beach kept us well-fed during our visit, but at places outside the hotel (which I’ll get into next week).  Instead, I’ll talk about the surroundings of the hotel. Besides being on PCH and across the street from the ocean, it’s just a block away from Huntington Beach’s Main Street, which has a plethora of restaurants and shops.

Due to its central location, the Shorebreak is perfect for taking a walk, run, or bike ride along the beach. It’s in the middle of the Huntington Beach Trail, a 10-mile route that connects with others in Southern California’s extensive network. Our group did an e-bike ride along a short segment of this trail, where we people-watched and dodged tiny squirrels. It’s also a great place to stay if you’re doing any of the activities Orange County offers, such as the Disney parks, Knott’s Berry Farm or Angels Stadium. Or, just as many do, go to the beach.