California surfing - where are the best places to catch wave?

 

The Beach Boys made California synonymous with surfing on the world stage but it with the ocean and beautiful shores; it was already “the” place to surf!   If you feel like some fun hitting the waves, you'll want to head to one of the following beaches in California; with the good weather and great waves, they're some of the most popular surfing areas in the world!

Huntington Beach: Home to the Huntington Beach Surf Series, many pro surfers call this their home.  Located in Orange County (the real OC!) this is probably one of the most popular places to surf in the world.  They even have a church in the area just for surfers.  Now that’s bringing spiritual to the people!

San Diego: Warm weather and great waves is what you'll find at San Diego.  A large surfing community has sprung up in the San Diego area, and you'll find many locals are hitting the waves along with the tourists!

Santa Cruz: You'll have nothing but fun at the beaches of Santa Cruz!  For an avid surfer, Santa Cruz is a favorite area to find the best waves.

A lot of surfers, especially those who are more experienced, have preferred conditions in which to surf and so a lot of the more popular beaches have webcams (surf cams) set up facing the waves so that a surfer can go to a website and check out the conditions before they head to the beach.  There are also dedicated phone numbers you can call to find out the weather conditions, if you prefer to get your information that way. 

If you're looking to learn how to surf but don't know where to start, you'll find that there are many surfing schools all along the beaches of California.  The varied selection makes it easy to find one that fits your level of experience and learning style, and your pocketbook.  Alternatively you could always just head for the beach and hang out with the surfers to pick up tips!

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

All About La Jolla

 

Attracting tourists from all over the world, La

Jolla's community is one that combines trends with

traditional class.  Located 12 miles north from

downtown San Diego, this highly prosperous

community offers seven miles of coastline at an

elevation of 110 feet.  The land here is so desired

that it's impossible to find property in La Jolla

for less than 1.25 million an acre!

 

The lucky 38,000 plus who live in this heavenly

seaside town live among Mediterranean style

architecture with a unique flair.  From the

crashing waves along the shore to the high rise

buildings in the business district, you can expect

everything in La Jolla to be first rate quality.

 

Business district

Even though La Jolla is mostly known for its

incredible shoreline, the city's business district

is hardly modest to say the least.  Located to

the east in La Jolla, there are professional centers,

financial buildings, law firms, and technological

industries that dominate this district.

 

There are also modern shopping centers here as well,

along with a wealthy residential area.  The

world renowned Scripps Memorial Hospital & Medical

Research Center is here as well as the San Diego

Mormon Temple - a remarkable 59,000 square foot

building that resembles a large ice sculpture.

 

The Village

The downtown area of La Jolla offers shops, hotels,

boutiques, restaurants, coffee houses, salons,

and art galleries.  Even though this area is

rather small, the district is full of trendy

establishments that draw wealthy visitors from all

over the world. 

 

Girad Avenue is the main street of La Jolla, even

though Prospect Drive is known as "Rodeo Drive" in

San Diego. 

 

Shoreline

Although the business area and La Jolla Village are

both impressive communities, the most memorable

region in La Jolla is the areas and communities

along the Pacific shoreline. 

 

La Jolla offers some of the most impressive shore

lines in Southern California, with remarkable

caves, cliffs, beaches, and sunsets.  The best

view of La Jolla can be seen from the air.  Daring

visitors can take in La Jolla via the Torrey Pines

Gliderport and learn flying.  If you seek a more

tame view of the coastline, try the scenic drive

along North Torrey Pines Road.

 

All along the coastline, La Jolla offers you a

first rate shopping district.  You can visit

jewelry stores, art galleries, souvenir shops,

and fashionable boutiques.  Once you have been

shopping, you can complete the day by dining above

the water of the Pacific.

 

From the art galleries and trendy shops to the

world class golf courses, La Jolla has attractions

to please tourists from all over the world.  Each

district is unique, yet they are all similiar when

it comes to quality.  You won't find anything short

of the best when you visit the best Southern

California has to offer.

Next Until Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

A Peaceful Retreat on Catalina Island, California

 

When life’s stresses and strains get too much for you, head over to Catalina Island and you’ll find a peaceful retreat that’s bound to have you relaxed in no time.  The island, is only approximately 22 physical miles from the mainland, but in terms of lifestyle and sheer population, it’s a lifetime away.  With only 2 ports on the island, one into the main town of Avalon, and the other into the more secluded side of the island at Two Harbors, and only two ways onto the island, via the water or helicopter, there’s very little noise from vehicles.  Relatively few cars exist on the island and most visitors either get around on foot or bicycle. 

Despite being such a small island, there are things to do here on the days when you feel like doing something a little more energetic than watching the sun move around, and when you first arrive on Catalina Island you should visit the local Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau which will give you all the information you need about what’s on, where to find it, and of course ideas of where to stay and eat if you haven’t already made reservations.  In the peak months however, you should always at least reserve your room before venturing across to the island.  Although you may be lucky to arrive and find a room free, it’s not likely during high season because of the limited amount of accommodation available. 

Two of the most popular places to visit on Catalina Island are the Catalina Island Museum which charts the history of the island through it’s various stages from the more recent history through the Hollywood era (the island was one of the first main Hollywood film sets) right back to the Native Americans.   Just about 2 miles out of Avalon you’ll find the Wrigley Botanical Gardens which will delight anyone who has an interest in flora and fauna.  William Wrigley (as in the chewing gum empire) once owned the island and you could even stay in his mansion which is now converted into a bed and breakfast establishment.

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

 

Catalina Island may not sound very exciting when compared with the attractions of Los Angeles and San Francisco, but for anyone needing to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, it’s a perfect beach oasis.