Longest Day of the Year Means Sun Gazing, Surfing

The summer solstice arrived on Wednesday, and the day clocked in at 14 hours and 26 minutes long.

Sun-gazers at Griffith Observatory learned why there was more direct sunlight on our northern hemisphere on June 20, the longest day of the year.

"Summer solstice is the time when the North Pole of the Earth is pointing most directly toward the sun as it moves around its orbit," said Dr. Ed Krupp with the Griffith Observatory.

Folks in Huntington Beach celebrated the solstice by hitting the waves on what was also the eighth annual International Surfing Day.

"It's the longest of year, so it gives you a chance, even if you have to work during the morning or the early afternoon, come out and you still have another six hours to surf. It's great,” said Casey Metkovich, of the Surfider Foundation.

Many others choose to soak up the extra light to read longer, fly a kite or ride a bike, and some believe the energy from the solstice brings out more romance in men.

"They propose more on that particular day," said Harry Kraft. "It's interesting."

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