Complete with everything you need for your next surf trip. She left her full-time career in search of never-never land. Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater, surf legend Pat Curren, and former world champion Shaun Tomson all come here to shred. Here are 10 of the best for sea, surf, sand and sun. Santa Barbara 7. In addition, there are tons of sites along the beaches in San Diego to take lessons or rent gear. Click to reveal So no matter what level surfer you are, go out there and enjoy the waves! Whether untouched by civilization or on the border of the coolest metropolises, finding the best surf spots is an adventure in itself. Get InsideHook in your inbox. Today, it's a deserving World Surfing Reserve, with 10 named breaks that ooze quality. As cozy and quiet as this surf town might seem, dont let that trick you. The Most Affordable Beach Towns in California See also: A Complete Guide to Surfing Encinitas in California. Average wave height: 2-3 foot waves reaching waist to chest height are the norm at Bolinas. However, Malibu is incredibly popular amongst tourists, meaning that you will have to compete with crowds. Outside of the surf, you have a thriving art scene, lots of small boutique businesses, and gorgeous coves to go diving in. You can rent gear easily in California, but you can also choose to bring your own board and equipment. She is here to help everyone find their never-never land and the best beaches possible. This article was featured in the InsideHook SF newsletter. In the past, Santa Cruz has garnered quite a reputation for brutal localism. Ventura is not just a surf townits a beach town! A good spot for good vibes all around. Of course, Florida is the most popular place to surf on the east coast, but other states have good surfing conditions, like Maine and North Carolina. Encinitas boasts some of the best waves in the state, including Swamis, a legendary right-hand point break that offers long rides and clean waves, and Moonlight Beach, a great spot for beginners and longboarders. Trestles is a good example. 7 Of The Best Surfing Spots In California - Big 7 Travel However, if youre looking to surf, check out C-Street, Ventura Harbor Jetty, or Emma Woods State Beach. , with gentle and consistent waves helping you gain confidence. It is not only one of the best surf towns in California but the one of the best surf towns in the USA. For more ideas here is a surfing trip packing list. With snowy mountains, national parks, miles of coastline, lakes, rivers, and every other imaginable diverse landscape, you can have it all in California. Just because we found the best doesnt mean that weve found all of them and if there are any you think are missing, we would love to hear from you. The tides come in strong and fast; little waves could never live up to these. Also called Surfrider Beach, three sections here divide beginners from more experienced riders. Make sure to walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the views. Nicknamed Surf City USA, the fun, beautiful, and sometimes rowdy Huntington Beach is another of the best surf towns in California. While most of the crowds head right to the pier, Huntington Beach boasts about 8.5 miles of coastline, and you can surf just about any part of it! Rare and Expensive Bourbons That Arent Worth the Price. Both are always busy, but a rite of passage for surfers that are at an intermediate level and higher. We may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Kill Devil Hills boasts the sickest waves youll ever ride. pretty much year-round. If Trestles sounds a bit too intense, simply head a little further south to San Onofre State Beach. Other great spots include Trestles, T Street, the Pier, and the State Beach, but there are tons of others. USA / CALIFORNIA San Clemente is a classic California coastal town with great surfing | MCCAIG / Getty Images Konstantina Pyrnokoki Travel Writer 13 July 2021 View With an impressive 840mi (1,352km) of shoreline, California has one of the longest and most diverse coasts in the US. Zuma Beach doesnt disappoint either when it comes to gnarly waves. When it comes to placement by the waves, however, you cant ask for much better. See also: A Complete Guide to Surfing Malibu. Millions of professionals flock to Santa Barbara every year just to get a taste of the swells. Just like how every wave is different, no two California surf towns are quite alike. Grandview is another great spot and its more beginner-friendly, although there are tons of sites to choose from. It has long miles of coastline, the largest tree in the world, many national parks, a rich and diverse landscape, and some of the best surfing waves in the world. Thalia Street is the most popular surf spot in the area and has nice gentle rolling waves to help beginners get their legs, while Rockpile is considerably more exciting and demanding. Why just marvel at pros in action when you can try your hand at surfing? There's parking on 1st Street. Those gutsy enough to do battle with The Wedge have to deal with a steep drop into a wild wall of water that doubles up, splits, falls away and reforms without any clear pattern. Malibu is a great place to visit because it has many exceptional homes, tons to do, and gnarly waves. Surfing is extremely fun, and I dont know where my life would be without it. If youre looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of busier SoCal beaches, a Santa Barbara surf trip could be just what you need. It's free. The surfing capital of California is Huntington Beach. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. While its a little smaller and sleepier, the waves you ride here are incomparable. Hawaii might lay claim to the first waves ever ridden, but surf culture was born in California. Expert surfers meet their match in San Clemente. The year is 1885. Megan is the founder of Peter Pan Traveler. Grab your board, hit the water, and youll understand why The Beach Boys said to go. Huntington Beach is also home to the U.S. Open of Surfing. He continued . Dont forget to check out the Surf Museum in Santa Cruz to learn more. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Linda Mar. At least one valid email address is required. See you on the next wave in the. 21 Best Beach Towns in California to Live in 2023 | Redfin Full of surf celebrities, beefing teams, surf journalists, and other industry insiders, it offers excellent surf pretty much all year round. 9 elsurfjedi 2 yr. ago Not San Diego. California has to offer on top of surfing, 11 Best Surf Towns in Mexico | Where to plan your next vacation. , break out your waxed board, and hit the righteous waves at one of the nations top surf towns. All rights reserved. Dana Point is the original Californian surf town. 10 Best Places To Surf In California - TheTravel The pier helps combat the wind on the ocean, allowing riders to surf for longer periods of time during each ride. The downtown has a Mediterranean style because of the Spanish colonial heritage, and there are great restaurants and boutiques throughout the city. Santa Barbara is easily one of the best surf spots in the United States. Trestles is hallowed ground in the world of surfing. To say that California has no shortage of good surf towns is an understatement, to say the least. If theres a city that rivals Huntington Beach for the title of Surf City USA, its Santa Cruz many champion surfers come from this small Northern California town famous for its laid-back vibe. Your IP: Regular Surfing- Surf Stances Explained, Sayulita Surf Guide- Everything You Need to Know. Its also quieter than nearby beach towns allowing beginners to ease into the sport of surfing. The area provides excellent swells during winter and Swamis is the most popular spot in Encinitas; its great for all skill levels though its better suited for intermediate and up. Sometimes you might just need a thicker wetsuit. 1. Some of the best spots to surf include the two piers, La Jolla Shores, Windansea in La Jolla, Tourmaline Surfing Park, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach. Getting to Blacks Beach: This requires some patience. For food (and another almond latte), he suggests Sun-N-Buns Bakery and Espresso Bar along Embarcadero, the towns main street. Pros like Jordy Smith and Yadin Nicol come to this coastal destination for the kind of swells youll only find at Trestles Beach. Just make sure that youre doing your research before hitting any of the towns above. 1. Swamis Beach is yet another surfing mecca and one of the most desirable surfing destinations in San Diego. The coast bends to gaze south here, meaning summer swells tend to be better. If youve ever wandered into a California surf shop, youve most likely seen a picture of Rincon, known among surfers as The Queen of the Coast. Technically a point break, it actually forms up like an A-frame to give rides in both directions. The same rules of surf apply whether you're roller-skating down busy boardwalks or practicing on a minimal board: You must give way to the surfer that's closest to the peak of the wave; never drop in on waves that someone else is already surfing; and always remain in control of your board. Now, it may be small, but this quaint coastal town is big on personality - and one of the cutest . The town is home to the U.S. Open of Surfing, one of the largest surf contests in the world, which draws surfers and spectators from all over the globe. Surfing is a sport you can enjoy year-round in California. Brett Simpson had barely graduated from Huntington Beach High School when he jumped into surfing full-time, ultimately winning the U.S. Open of Surfing in 2009 and 2010. With epic surf breaks all over the town, it's easy to see why. Loads of surfers come here on a pilgrimage, but it's harder than it looks, with a shifty peak and barreling sections that can be tricky to make. From some of the worlds best beaches to lively farmers markets, theres a lot you can do and experience in Kauai without spending a cent. Almost everything in Ventura centers around its coastline. This coastal city is the spot to be if you want glassy head-high sets and clean swells. Eulogized by the Beach Boys and made famous as the stomping ground of pros like Rob Machado, whose sunflower-shock hair you can still sometimes spy in the lineup, Swami's is a rare right-hand reef break in the San Diego North County. Huntington Beach Catch that SoCal surf vibe at Huntington Beach, aka Surf City U.S.A. Check your inbox soon for the latest from California.com. The third-largest state in the US has over 800 miles of coastline. Many professional surfers flock to Huntington Beach to participate in the event and try out the waves here. Average Water Temp: 63 Average Air Temp: 62 Median Income: $79,101 Median Home Price: $966,936 Most Common Industry: Construction Population: 61,229 Premier Surf Spots: Trestles, T-Street Local Talent: Christian and Nathan Fletcher, Wardo, Kolohe Andino, Kolohe Andino, Greg and Rusty Long, Dane Ward, Mike Losness. Dont consider the above list exhaustive, by any means. There is one thing to take note of is that all beaches in South Bay are identical. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Best places to surf in California - Lonely Planet Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. By the '50s, it became the stomping ground of the crew of Miki Dora, the notorious conman-come-surf pioneer. There are even some beaches that are dog-friendly! 3 of 6 Encinitas, California The beauty of Encinitas, California, is that surfing is not seasonal here. Encinitas, California, is one of the best surf towns in the state. As one of the. The best advice is to steer clear of spots known for localism and do what you can to avoid confrontation (remaining calm and being polite is a good start). However, California is much more than LA or Hollywood. While summer sees its fair share of visitors, hitting the water at one of the best surfing cities in the U.S. during winter is an entirely different story. A favorite among tourists and locals, Trestles offers world-class waves, breaks of gold, and excellent surfing conditions. Best Surf Towns: No. 5 San Clemente, CA - Surfer Walk through town and you won't find a single street corner that isn't completely dominated by surf paraphernalia, long board themed restaurants, and legit surf talent. New Smyrna Beach, Florida. So, what are you waiting for? Beach Park is another popular surfing spot. The boardwalk at Santa Cruz is just as iconicwith vintage rides, carnival munchies, and surf culture, crowds flock here whenever the weathers perfect. Its a quaint and quieter town compared to others on the coast. Pros like Jordy Smith and Yadin Nicol come to this coastal destination for the kind of swells youll only find at Trestles Beach. Surfers have been riding the waves in Santa Cruz, California since 1885, when three Hawaiian princes brought this sport to the mainland. The prowess is down to a submerged rock reef that ramps away from the coast with deep channels cut on either side.