Blackies in Newport Beach, California
Blackies is a consistently fun stretch of beach break sitting between Newport Pier & 28th Street. The spot gets its name from the historic bar, Blackie's By The Sea, which has been there since the early '50s. In the '60s, the beach became a hub for longboarding in Southern California. Depending on the conditions and the time of year, there are plenty of waves to be found that are not only suited for some prime logging, but everything else in between. It's one of those California spots that can feel like magic when the ocean turns glass and the sky turns pink.
Butterfly Beach in Montecito, California
Just down the coast from Santa Barbara proper, Butterfly Beach in Montecito is an absolutely beautiful stretch of sand that's great for everything from kayaking and catching the sunset to surfing or swimming or just lounging around and doing nothing. Like much of the central coast, Butterfly Beach feels like some sort of special oasis.
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.
Montara State Beach in Montara, California
Montara, like much of the Half Moon Bay area, is a sometimes moody and sometimes beautiful mile-long stretch of soft and fine sandy beach nestled between Montara Mountain to the north and rocky coastal cliffs to the south. Surf here can range from really good to downright scary and dangerous. Another special place along California's Highway 1.
Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California.
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Encinitas, California.
$33
Another classic North County beach, Moonlight has a little something for everyone - whether you want to surf, swim, play volleyball, or let you kid loose on the playground. The annual Woody Car show and Switchfoot Bro-Am are always fun events too.
Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, California
Natural Bridges on a clean west swell, breaks over the reef like a bat out of hell... (Paddle Out, Sublime). Not only is it a lyric in a great song, Natural Bridges is also a pretty great surf spot with some amazing natural rock formations. Natural Bridges State Beach gets its name from the 3 original million-plus year-old natural arches were formed from an equally long period of erosion from the ocean's waves. The first arch collapsed in the early 1900s and the second collapsed during a big winter swell in 1980. Park visitors were once permitted to climb and walk on top of the bridges, but are now closed to access for obvious reasons. There's something special about those spots that are able to display the history, scale, and power of all the natural forces that make up this special planet we call home.
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.
Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, California.
Both the North and South sides of the pier offer some fun waves. The old wooden pier itself has a rough history - it was first built in 1888, only to be destroyed by storms in the winter of 1890. It was rebuilt in 1893, and then destroyed 4 more times by storms. The most recent version of the pier was finished in 1987. In 2024, a fire destroyed the classic blue building towards the end of the pier.
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.
Swami's in Encinitas, California.
Swami's is another iconic North County San Diego spot where you can go to find some big right-hand barrels along with self realization. It's also the first spot featured in the WAVE ARCADE National Parks Surf Series.
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.
Tourmaline in Pacific Beach, California
Tourmaline sits right between PB Point and Crystal Pier, and serves as a surfing playground for surfers of all levels on all sorts of equipment. This print is one of the most popular in the series - maybe because the it captures the vibe of a classic summer evening in Pacific Beach or because most San Diego surfers and visitors have some great memories of this spot.
