Top Five... SURFING DESTINATIONS Ready to get more out of your beach vacation? <strong>The</strong>se five destinations not only offer top-notch surfing, but all that goes with it, like cool beach bars, great surf schools <strong>and</strong> restaurants along the water. Best of all, there’s plenty of fun for non-surfers to have here as well. BY KATIE MCELVEEN 2 3 1 1. TAMARINDO, COSTA RICA Located on Costa Rica’s lively Pacific coast, this surf mecca draws in all levels of surfers, who come for the varying breaks—small to massive barrels—that are surfable all year long. It’s also a great spot for adventurous types who want to balance surf time with activities such as hiking to waterfalls at Rincón de la Vieja National Park or spotting local flora <strong>and</strong> fauna (like the giant leatherback turtle, one of the world’s largest reptiles) at Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge. 2. BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA Located on Australia’s easternmost point in New South Wales, artsy Byron Bay is a charming mishmash of chic restaurants, holistic healers, stylish boutiques <strong>and</strong> yoga studios. It’s also a surfer’s paradise; rookies can get their bearings on Wategos Beach (often with pods of dolphin playing alongside) or <strong>The</strong> Pass, while those with more experience on the board should hit up the dodgy breaks at <strong>The</strong> Wreck. Afterward, find your inner Zen with a post-surf yoga class, then hit the boutiques along Jonson Street. 3.HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA Haute hippies flock to Surf City, USA, for its breezy, laidback lifestyle <strong>and</strong> world-class waves that roll in along 10 miles of uninterrupted California coastline. Although surfing wasn’t invented in California, the culture runs deep with surf schools, surf shops <strong>and</strong> buff, barefoot residents clad in rolled-down wetsuits on every street. Away from the coast, 40 miles of trails loop through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, which lies within some of Southern California’s last remaining coastal canyons. 4. HANALEI BAY, HAWAII This jewel of a beach on Kauai’s north shore attracts as many celebrities—many of whom stay in sprawling beachfront villas or cliffside resorts—as it does surfers, <strong>and</strong> it’s easy to see why: <strong>The</strong> sapphire-hued waters hemmed by thickly forested mountains yield one of the most visually stunning l<strong>and</strong>scapes in the Hawaiian Isl<strong>and</strong>s. Surf conditions in the nearly 3-mile-long bay cover all levels, from the calmness of the water near the pier to the challenging waves that roll in past the breakers. No trip to Kauai is complete without a glimpse of the dramatic Napali coastline, where you can hike, sail past or zoom over in a helicopter. 5. SAYULITA, MEXICO If you’ve always dreamed of learning how to hang 10, head to Sayulita, a former fishing village located 30 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, where smooth, shallow waters make for a great locale for beginners. Postsurfing, you’ll find a low-key, boho vibe so casual that you can wear your bathing suit to fuel up on fish tacos at any one of the town’s many outdoor cafés. Sayulita is also known for its Huichol Indian heritage; stop by Galeria Tanana for colorful native art <strong>and</strong> jewelry. TL 36 Postcards
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