Elena P

Playa Dorada is located on the north side of the Dominican Republic, near the town of Puerto Plata. There are miles and miles of sandy beach for you to explore.  It is also a very popular spot for wind/kite surfers due to the trade winds.  The water is generally very warm and it is the perfect place to have a nice relaxing beach day!

Stinson beach is a popular destination for Bay Area residents and tourists alike.  Located just 20 miles north of San Francisco, it is a 30-40 min drive away from the Golden Gate Bridge (it's a one-lane windy road once you're on HWY 1).  It is also a popular stop when hiking the nearby Mount Tamalpais.  The sand is very fine, making it a great place for kids to play in and build sand castles. T...

Located near Cannery Row, San Carlos Beach is home to Breakwater Cove.  This is a great place for beginner scuba divers to practice their diving, get open water certified, and do their first ocean dives.   San Carlos Beach is home to a large colony of sea lions, and also features a reef, anemones, and small fish.  Young halibut, sea pens, and sand dollar fields can also be seen. Divers enter th...

This is a fun hike in central Oahu that leads to multiple water falls! Bring some shoes that you don't care about because the trail is muddy and you will definitely get dirty. There is also a cliff diving spot at one of the falls. This hike is just one trail located in the Ewa Forest Preserve. There are many more to check out!

This wave is what put France on the surfing world map! It's one of the best beach breaks in the world, famous for its shorebreak barrels. On the largest swells, some have compared the power of this wave to the world famous pipeline. It's a great place to surf if you know what you are doing. The wave has power and offers plenty of barrels. This is a beach break, so there are plenty of peaks to c...

This is a beach break in Anglet, France. This spot is often more sheltered than Les Cavaliers, which means the waves are not as powerful at Le Barre compared to Les Cavaliers. The spot works best during the fall and winter months when the swell picks up. There are rips on both ends of the beach by the jetty to help paddle out to the line up. The waves are rippable with the occasional tube. It a...

This is a punchy beach break in the town of Anglet, France. This beach break is "all time" but can get very heavy when the waves pick up. It's a beach break which means it offers both lefts and rights. This wave is pretty hollow so you can get barreled. It's really for more experienced surfers only when the waves start to pick up. There is a rip by the jetty, if needed, to paddle out. Always ch...

Explore Lake Tahoe's southern shores by paddling from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay.  There are many places to stop along the way for photographs, snorkelling, or swimming. The more popular ways to paddle from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay are by SUP or kayaks.  But paddling a foamie can be extra fun, as you'll likely be the only one.  It's about a 3-4 mile paddle, depending on how direct your ro...

Shoreline Lake features a big lake, many hiking and biking trails, and lot of picnic areas in Mountain View, CA. Kayaks, SUP, and various boats can be rented from the boat house. This is a great place to enjoy the water no matter what season it is. There are large grassy areas for kids to run and play in.   Shoreline is a great place for beginners to SUP because it offers calm waters. It's a gr...

Wyllie's beach is a small beach next to Anini beach. It is on the northwest side of the river mouth. There is a 0.8 mile trail down to the beach. The trail head is near the Westin Princeville. This is a handy beach for those staying in the Princeville area, as it is walkable from most vacation homes here. There are many trees and much shade on the beach. While hiking the trail to and from the b...

Pupukea is located on the North Shore of Oahu.  This beautiful spot is a great place to catch the sunset.  During the winter time there can be very large surf, so be extra careful not get too close to the water's edge. It's a popular spot for locals and tourists to just relax and enjoy the Islands of Hawaii.

Willow Creek is a couple of miles south of Sand Dollar Beach. Sand Dollar is generally a mushier wave that is more welcoming. Willow Creek on the other hand, has more power and offers punchier waves for the more experienced. However, it is more fickle than Sand Dollar Beach. There are loads of kelp in the line up, so try not to get too tangled!

Mount Robert's Tramway offers amazing views from the air, as well as saves you a trek up the mountain side. There are numerous trails to choose from once you get to the top, or just enjoy the ride. You can also visit the nature center to learn more about the wildlife and culture of Alaska.

Creek Street is a historic boardwalk that is on the bank of Ketchikan Creek.  You can take a stroll along the boardwalk and venture over to the Salmon Ladder Vista, to see loads of salmon working hard to go upstream.  If you are luck, you might be able to see the creek swarming with salmon trying to leap vertically up a waterfall.  There are many places to taste or buy salmon in all forms here.

This is a paved trail that can be used for hiking, jogging, or walking.  It offers over 2 miles of beautiful California coast.  Walk through flowers, see the jagged cliffs, and of course the lighthouse at the end!  This walk can be done from either direction.  Start at Natural Bridges and head West to the lighthouse, or vice versa.  Relaxing at Natural Bridges and exploring the tide pools is a ...

This nestled cove beach is in the heart of Biarritiz. It's a great place to just relax and enjoy the sun. This is a very popular beach with many locals, so get there early because the beach is relatively small and the good spots fill up rather quickly. It is also a nude beach, which is similar to most beaches in the region. If you're walking from Grande Plage along the coast and made it to Cote...

There is a beautiful walk out to the rock formation and the Virgin Mary statue. When you walk out to the rock formation, you get a great view of the downtown area of Biarritz and the more rural southern end of the town. If you go in the winter time, you can see large waves crash against the rock.  WARNING: Time the walk out accordingly or you will get splashed when the waves are big.

This is a reef break in San Juan Puerto Rico. This is probably the most consistent wave on the entire island of Puerto Rico!  It's a very popular summer time spot for surf, as waves become unmanageable when the large NW swells come through. This wave offers both lefts and rights.  I would recommend this spot for the more experienced surfer, since the wave isn’t the most forgiving and there is a...

Sapphire beach is a white sandy beach on the north east side of St. Thomas.  Sea grape trees surround the beach and provide lots of shade.  There are many ducks that frequent this beach. This is a great beach for snorkeling as there are shallow reefs on the right side of the beach.  You can also windsurf, jet ski, and parasail in the marina nearby.

The French side of the island (north) is Saint Martin and the Dutch side (south) is St Maarten.  This beach is located in the north and is one of the most popular beaches on the island.  There are lots of water activities to try like sailing and jet skiing.  There is a fee for renting beach chairs and umbrellas.   Orient Bay was one of the places devastated by Hurricane Irma, and is slowing rec...

Four Mile is a reef/point break that is a couple of miles north of town. This spot usually picks up more swell than in town so it is a popular spot for many locals to surf. When the swell picks up, it offers long rights towards the beach. The current can be strong when there is a lot of swell in the water so approach with caution. Summer offers more manageable surf size, while winter offers som...

There are many things to do at Icy Straight Point!  You can explore the rocky beach by kayak, photograph the pier, or skip rocks on the glassy surface. The water here is extremely calm and is great for paddling.  There are also hiking trails nearby that allow you to explore the mountains. Some trails may require a shuttle that takes you closer to them.

The beautifully picturesque town of San Sebastian is located in the Basque country of Spain and is the first major city when you cross over the French boarder.   The waves in San Sebastian are all beach break with many different peaks to choose from. The spot is very crowded, with more beginner waves closer to the seawall.  It's a popular summertime spot, but waves really pick up during the fal...

Lafitenia is a right hand point break that is located in the Basque country of Southern France.  This wave breaks most frequently during the winter time.  Waves can get decently big so always make sure to check the forecast!   Parking can be found in the lot on top of the hill.