tab1179

What's the best place to surf in California? I want to surprise my husband and take him on a surfing vacation for his 30th bday. He's not an expert by any means but he loves it!! Any suggestions are appreciated.

mlgb

Huntington Beach (one of two Surf Cities) might be good combination of weather and surf. There are also places to rent equipment and take lessons there. I've seen a lot of not so good surfers off of Torrey Pines State Beach in north San Diego County, another good weather/surf/vacation spot. I don't know as much about the support for gear and lessons in that area, but I know there are various surf shops.

Santa Cruz would be better for watching, I think. Bigger, badder surf and colder water.

Marginal

What time of year? Does he like wearing a wetsuit?

TTess

It's a huge state with lots of surfing. Where in CA?

mlgb

He'd be advised to wear a wetsuit no matter where and when.

karameli

Another vote for Huntington Beach. I'm not a surfer, but my sister's family took a surfing trip there last year and loved it. La Jolla, near San Diego, is another good spot.

I second the recommendation for a wetsuit. I went to La Jolla in August (years ago) and couldn't believe how chilly the water was -- and I'm used to swimming in the North Atlantic!

bigtyke

Karameli - Because the warm side of an ocean current is the west side in the Northern Hemisphere, most of the east coast has warmer temps than the Pacific, even as far south as San DIego.

Ocean temps in CA are pretty cold except for Mid-June to early Oct. Even so, shifts in currents can make the temp too cold for comfort even in August.

karameli

bigtyke, I'm aware the Atlantic is typically warmer than the Pacific. But it's all relative when it comes to water temps -- someone from the Gulf coast has a very different idea of "cold" compared to someone from the Northeast. I was just saying, I'm not spoiled by bathwater temps like someone from South Florida might be (my local beach hovers around 56 for the first half of summer) and I still found the Pacific to be extremely chilly.

jrecm

Encinitas, Moonlight Beach ...It is north of La Jolla, San Diego.

tab1179

Thanks for all the responses! Very helpful! I want to take him in the summer-- I'm sure he'd be fine wearing a wetsuit if needed. No preference as to where in CA we go. Just want somewhere with good surfing but also somewhere where there are other things to do.
Sounds like Huntington Beach is getting the loudest endorsement. Any recommendation where to stay there?

kimamom

We like to stay in nearby Laguna Beach, we spent the 4th of July weekend at the Laguna Reef, right across from the Montage. We found great surfing in San Clemente while in this area. Laguna has lots of great restaurants, hush would be a nice place for a birthday celebration or Sapphire. Have fun! ***kim***

mlgb

The Hyatt or the Hilton are the two big splurge resorts. (Note that you are not on the beach, you have to take the bridge across PCH). The Hyatt is slightly nicer but I think either would do.

You're close enough to drive to Newport Beach or Laguna Beach for outings but I would think if you're going to be in the ocean surfing it's going to be more convenient to stay close by.

HillaryJane

I second the Laguna Beach/San Clemente recommendation. I lived in San Clemente for 7 years and surfing is "THE THING" there. Big tourneys usually hit SAN O (San Onofre), I guess one of the best surf spots in the world...so they say

Laguna Beach is also a great place to surf...looks like a mini hawaii (waves are not as big though)

Good luck!

HILL
www.edufire.com