The Huntington Beach 4th of July draws half a million people for the largest Independence Day parade west of the Mississippi — and Lane Stone has the 35-year local playbook for doing it right.

From the Surf City 5K to fireworks launched straight off the pier, this is the hour-by-hour guide to Surf City's biggest day.

What you'll learn:
- Where to claim a parade spot along PCH (and why locals set up the night before)
- The three ways to watch the 9 PM pier fireworks — free beach, paid pier tickets, or oceanfront hotels
- Bonfire-pit strategy across Huntington City Beach, Huntington State Beach, and Bolsa Chica
- Parking moves that beat the post-fireworks gridlock, including the free downtown bike valet
- A full hour-by-hour plan, from the 5 AM bonfire alarm to the last firework

If you live in Huntington Beach, just moved here, or are thinking about making it home, this podcast keeps you in the loop on what’s happening locally every week.

New episodes drop weekly.

Do Good. HB deserves it.

FOLLOW US
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockinghb
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockinghb
Sackin-Stone Team: https://sackinstoneteam.com

LANE STONE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laneinoc

Huntington Beach's cost of living runs 80% above the national average — but that headline number alone won't help you budget. Lane Stone has spent 14 years in this market, and in this episode he breaks down every real expense: rent by neighborhood, what buying actually pencils out to right now, groceries, utilities, the California income tax hit, and the lifestyle costs no calculator includes.

What you'll learn:
- Rent ranges by HB neighborhood — from Bolsa Chica ($2,000/mo 1BR) to downtown near the pier ($2,500–$3,000+)
- What a $1.3M median-priced home actually costs monthly with today's rates (~$7,500–$8,500 before taxes/insurance)
- The "hidden" costs that gut transplants' budgets: HOA fees, move-in deposits, California state income tax, and the "I deserve it" effect
- The income target a single person needs to live comfortably — and what a family with kids is really looking at
- Why HB's 2.6% rental vacancy rate means the right timing strategy matters as much as the right price

If you live in Huntington Beach, just moved here, or are thinking about making it home, this podcast keeps you in the loop on what’s happening locally every week.

New episodes drop weekly.

Do Good. HB deserves it.

FOLLOW US
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockinghb
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockinghb
Sackin-Stone Team: https://sackinstoneteam.com

LANE STONE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laneinoc

A million people are expected to flood Southern California for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and Lane Stone thinks Huntington Beach is the smartest place to set up camp. The games are at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, but 35 miles of Pacific Coast beats the LA hotel surge any day.

What you'll learn:
- Why OC is a better base than LA for World Cup visitors — and how to make the 405N/105W run to SoFi without losing your mind
- Where to watch the matches locally: Bruno's Bar & Grill has 14 TVs, a giant drop-down screen, and daily parties June 11–July 19
- The beer garden at Old World German Village — jumbo screens, German beer, and fans from all over the world
- Best hotels in HB for the tournament: from Pasea Hotel & Spa and the Hyatt Regency to budget options like Ocean Surf Inn and Best Western Surf City
- Short-term rental rules in Huntington Beach and how to navigate the 30-day minimum
- What to do between matches: surf, bike the beach path, beach bonfires, and Lane's full local guide in the show notes

📖 Lane's Huntington Beach Guide (restaurants, coffee, brunch & more): https://sackinstoneteam.kit.com/hbocguide

If you live in Huntington Beach, just moved here, or are thinking about making it home, this podcast keeps you in the loop on what’s happening locally every week.

New episodes drop weekly.

Do Good. HB deserves it.

FOLLOW US
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockinghb
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockinghb
Sackin-Stone Team: https://sackinstoneteam.com

LANE STONE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laneinoc