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Santa Cruz is widely known as a surfer’s heaven. With several reliable surfing spots ranging from gentle curls to dangerous cliff side breaks, surfers from all over the world flock to Santa Cruz’s chilly Pacific waters to test their skills.
Guests at the Dream Inn have a front-row seat to the action at Cowell’s Beach, one of the better places for beginners to get their feet wet. The long, slow breaks aren’t too challenging, and are popular with long boarders as well.
Watching the action at Santa Cruz’ famous Steamer Lane, photo courtesy of Surfer magazine.
Where else can you learn to surf? Glad you asked! Here are a few great beginners’ spots around the U.S.
Huntington Beach, California – No surprise that California would show up again. Huntington Beach, nicknamed Surf City U.S.A (a title also claimed by Santa Cruz), has great entry-level waves, as well as breakers expert surfers love.
Waikiki, Hawaii – Perhaps the best place to learn, Waikiki’s waves are reliable and easy to catch. An abundance of nearby surf schools makes it easy for beginners to get out on the water.
Sea Isle City, New Jersey – Perfect for beginners, waves here are low, gentle waves over a sandy beach. Plus, unlike most California beaches, the water actually gets warm in the summer!
Nantucket, Massachusetts – New England is generally thought of as having cold water, but the seas around Nantucket actually warm up nicely during summertime. Add in miles of south-facing beaches and it’s a beginner’s paradise.
