Best beaches for surfing:

Malibu Beach, Malibu, California
One of the most popular surfing spots anywhere, Malibu is a good place for beginners to learn or more experienced riders to show off their moves. California water temps tend to be cold, so this beach is most crowded in the summer. There’s no shortage of good takeoff spots and Malibu can be surfed with long or short boards. When you’re tired of catching waves, Malibu is a cool place to hang out and people watch.

Black’s Beach, San Diego, California
The San Diego area has no shortage of prime surfing beaches including Trestles, Oceanside and Del Mar, but Black’s Beach is considered by many to be the best place to grab a wave anytime during the year. Be prepared to take a long hike down a steep cliff to get to the beach, but the waves are worth the trouble.

Sunset Beach, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
This is the big daddy, the place where pro surfers compete every winter to see who’s king of the big waves. This is no place for beginners, unless you’re content to sit on the beach and pick up pointers from some of the best surfers alive.


Best beaches for snorkeling:

St. Andrews State Park Jetty, Panama City Beach, Florida
If you want to teach your kids the fine points of snorkeling, or are just learning yourself, this is the place to do it. The rock jetty in St. Andrews State Park at the far tip of Florida’s Panama City Beach has clear turquoise water, pure white sand and rocks teeming with photogenic sea life. The “kiddie pool” is shallow enough to let the little ones play in the water, while both sides of the jetty offer great snorkeling for grownups. Nearby Shell Island can be reached by boat and offers snorkeling packages.

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii
This serene bay has been a favorite spot for snorkeling since before Hawaii was even a state, and it’s home to the friendliest fish in the world. Hanauma Bay has a safe shallow inner bay for children and beginners, while more adventurous snorkelers can check out the cove of Witch’s Brew and outer reef areas. Even the shallow waters are teeming with dozens of species of colorful tropical fish.

John Pennekamp State Park, Key Largo, Florida
This is one of the nation’s prime areas for snorkeling and scuba diving, since it’s entirely underwater. It’s easy to take a boat trip to the park and rent equipment, but if you have a vessel of your own, be sure to check out White Banks Reef. This spot at the southern tip of the park hosts a circular patch of hard and soft coral that houses almost 400 varieties of tropical fish. A more private spot is Horseshoe, located about a mile north behind Key Largo.