An awesome, only-in-California entertainment district in Orange County is Main Street in Huntington Beach. Yes, there's a theater here--the Pierside 6--and the views from the box office as you buy your movie tickets is stunning! Yet catching a show is far from the only thing to do here. Day or night, you and your date (or family) can take a stroll along the pier (which extends over the water as if it's just a continuation of Main Street.) You can sometimes watch live sporting events. There are surfing tournaments, including some "biggies" like the U.S. Open of Surfing, and the OP Pro. Skateboard and BMX competitions set-up half-pipes in the parking lot at times, including the "Core Tour," which is a biggie in THAT sport. For viewing more traditional sports, there are several sports bars on Main Street, including Poseidon Billiards and Sports Bar, which features (expensive!) large, flat-screen TVs and a billiards room.
At night, you can even find dancing on Main Street! There's dancing both at Hurricane's Bar & Grill (which also features a patio with great views) and at Perq's Nightclub. Main Street is a foodie's dream. Just in the 5 blocks of Main Street which extend inland from the ocean, you'll find 40+ restaurants---most of which are NOT affiliated with a chain! So, you can have some truly one-of-a-kind dining experiences here. The array of cuisines is wide, too. You'll find Asian and Pacific Rim, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, sushi, Hawaiian, Mexican, Baja Mexican, Peruvian, Irish, Italian, a microbrewery, vegetarian... and still, there are many restaurants that serve just "good ol' American" that unadventuresome eaters (like me!) can enjoy.
Personally, I've tried and can recommend Avila's Mexican Restaurant, BJ's Pizza, International House of Pancakes, Jamba Juice, and Ruby's Diner (which is at the end of the pier). Surprisingly, there's little fast food here. There's a Subway and a hot dog place. Snack outlets (which are also outnumbered by "true" restaurants) include places for coffee, pretzels, candy, and ice cream. The dining atmosphere is casual--well, this IS a beach town!--so don't wear a suit! The fanciest restaurant is Duke's Huntington Beach (which features Hawaiian and Pacific Rim food), and even there, "dress casual" is all that's needed. 90% of restaurants have patios. Actually, that's because California's anti-smoking laws prohibit smoking INSIDE the restaurant buildings, but the ubiquitous patios also make it nice for diners who just want to enjoy an outdoor dining experience. (On chilly winter evenings, when temperatures can
drop--GASP!--down into the 50s, the patios have heaters they can turn on).
Parking can SEEM like a problem, but it really isn't. When you first cruise down Main Street, all you'll see is the curbside metered parking that's featured along any Main Street in the USA. (This area was once--years ago--Huntington Beach's main shopping area!) But if you turn down almost any side street, you'll find parking lots. After dining, try browsing through the area's unique stores, many featuring beach wear and beach souvenirs.