Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California
Avila Beach is a beautiful, southerly-facing beach town at the heart of the San Luis Obispo Bay. While the beach, town, and surrounding landscape have beauty in abundance, the surf may often leave a little to be desired. But hey, sometimes that's ok - especially when your in the Central Coast.
Capitola Beach & Wharf in Capitola, California
Towards the eastern edge of the Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve you'll find Capitola reef near the historic Capitola Wharf. Capitola offers a popular, mellow wave most of the time. Capitola Village is one of the oldest seaside resort towns in California and the historic wharf was first built in 1856. Mostly recently the wharf has been restored and improved after it was destroyed in winter storms in 2023, and rebuilt.
Fort Point in San Francisco, California.
Surfing in the shadow of the Golden Gate bridge doesn't get much more California-iconic. Fort Point is probably a spot that's better observed and admired rather than surfed unless you're knowledgeable of the dynamics and a strong swimmer.
La Jolla Shores in La Jolla, California.
The variety of beachbreak along the long flat stretch of La Jolla Shores can offer some really fun waves. To the north, you've got its big brother Blacks, and to the south you have La Jolla cove - both offering very different experiences than the shores.
Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California.
Ocean Beach in San Francisco produces some of my favorite surfing photographs of all time - absolutely perfect-looking barrels with the eclectic mix of buildings, rooftops, cars, and city streets in the foreground. While riding one of those oft-photographed waves is a different reality, daydreams and mind-surfing are just part of the territory.
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San Francisco, California.
$37
RAT Beach in Torrance, California.
Right After Torrance, aka RAT is a great name for a beach and saying it make you think of something you'd find closer to Santa Monica or Venice than Palos Verdes.
Rincon in Carpinteria, California.
Rincon as known as California' Queen of the Coast, earning the nickname because it's one of the best pointbreaks out there.
Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard, California
Silver Strand is another local favorite in Oxnard in Ventura County, tucked on a short stretch of sand between Channel Islands Harbor and Port Hueneme Naval Base. It's a good place to escape the crowds, and find some pretty great beachbreak when the surf is on. There's plenty of culture and history to explore on the Strand including plenty of vibrant murals in the area and the La Jenelle Shipwreck built into the breakwall jetty at the entrance to Port Hueneme to the South. On a clear enough day, the Channel Islands sometimes look close enough to skip a rock to.
Sunny Cove in Santa Cruz, California
Sunny Cove is a beautiful tiny little cove tucked in between long sandstone bluffs on either side. Old cyprus trees hang over the eastern bluff and help to frame up the perfect sunrise or sunset depending on which way you want to look and how early you rise. Surf-wise, a fun right can bounce off the western bluff and dump you into the beach.
Sunset Cliffs in San Diego, California.
From prohibition-era booze-smuggling caves to the invention of the fish, Sunset Cliffs is an area with a ton of rich surfing history and a variety of waves of all shapes, sizes, and difficulties depending on the tides and conditions. The step trails and rocky cliffs do well to still keep some secrets too.
The Wedge in Newport Beach, California
The Wedge is another iconic Southern California spot that needs no introduction. On a big south swell, the jetty acts as a backboard that spring loads 10-20' bowly wave faces right next to shore.
Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego, California
Possibly one of the most scenic stretches of highway along San Diego's coastline, Torrey Pines State Beach is a great destination for a beach day, a less-crowded surf, or a hike. Torrey Pines Park Road (or the hiking trail) on the southern bluffs was once the main connection between Los Angeles and San Diego until it was finally closed to vehicle traffic in 1959.
