A great surf town, like any epic destination, is nearly the magical sum of its parts.  Whether you plan to surf or not, a great surf town typically offers more than consistent good quality waves.

With years of living and traveling to some of the best surf towns world wide our team at Live Swell has found some common traits of the great surf towns which we share with you in this post, What makes a great surf town?  

1) Welcoming and Insightful Locals 

Any great town or surf town starts with the local people.  The best surf towns are made up of great people that take pride in where they live and are open to sharing their insights with like-minded visitors.  We met Ross Henderson, on a recent trip to Raglan, New Zealand.  We stayed at his property, The Funky Cottage, overlooking well-known Manu Bay.  Soon after our arrival Ross, stopped in to dial us in with the “need to know” local insights, like where to get the best cup of coffee, best fish & chips and an overview of the areas world famous surf spots.  Knowing the essentials early, saves you time, the resource that is limited on a trip.

Mike and Ross Funky cottage live swell surf vacation ragalan

Mike, the creator of Live Swell, with Ross, our Funky Cottage Host, and local surf veteran of 40 years. He dialed us in alright

Toward the end of our stay, Ross, was generous enough to pick us up with his Pathfinder and drive us to the access points of the surf spots so we would know how to safely enter the ocean.  With limited time on a trip, welcoming and insightful locals, can add a lot of value and memorable experiences to your travels.  Who know you may even make a friend for life?

2) Great Eating 

By default the best surf towns are located near the sea and as we all know there are lots of fish in the sea.  So if you are into seafood you know you are in for a treat.  However, whether you enjoy seafood or not every surf town has traditional local flavors and foods worth getting your appetite ready for.

Living in San Diego, day trips to Mexico are common.  Despite, the mis-conceptions on safety, federales, banditos and long board crossings, the negatives pale in comparison to the positives, like no-crowds, epic cuisine, local wineries just to name a few.  A lesser known secret in Baja California is the little fishing town of Popotla, where you can order a variety of fish directly off the boat.  The local, traditional preparation is “Sarandeado,” where whole fish butterflied and cooked “al carbon,” (open flame charcoal grill) with a mix of delicious Mexican spices spread on top.  After, a few tequilas and margaritas your whole fish “sarandeado” is ready and the feed begins:

Live Swell Popotla Fresh Fish

Mike with Maria at a restaurante in Popotla, Mexico about to do some damage to this fresh fish.

New York is not best known for its surf towns, yet a few are less than a 45 minute train ride from New York City, like Rockaway and Long Beach.  NY has some of the best food culture in all the United States, so a visit to the areas surf towns could include grubbing on pizza and all the offering a typical “Deli’s” – like Long Beach Bagel Cafe.

Long Beach Bagel Cafe 1 Live Swell

Long Beach Bagel Cafe. Not snagging a Bagel and “egg sandwich” in New York would be a big mistake.

3) Rad Places To Stay

Where you choose to stay can have a big impact on your experience.  The cool thing about great surf towns in that there are usually lots of options depending on your preference.  In our more recent travel experiences we have noticed the increase in popularity and social acceptance of “shared spaces,” including Airbnb, and vacation rentals.  Hotels are great and they serve a purpose, yet we have simply had an overall better experience, more value, space and amenties with short term rentals.  Staying in a neighborhood, in a unique place, like a bungalow or a cottage – which are common in surf towns – has lead to a more familiar feeling of home.  When you wake up in the moring and can hear the sound of the sea breeze in the trees, the smell of the ocean air, walk barefoot out onto the deck and drift away into a mellow mood on the hammock, it feels like your home away from home.  The Outer Banks of North Carolina, home to some of the great surf towns of the mid-atlantic, is one of our favorite surf town destinations to visit.  We love it so much we bought a rad place to stay and rent it to cool folks when we are not there.

Chill Beach and Surf Bungalow OBX Live Swell

Chill Beach and Surf Bungalow OBX – Our first “Unique Place To Stay” and Live Swell “Preferred” Property

4) There are heaps of nearby activities & unique experiences

The emotional experiences we go though and feeling we get while traveling are what create our memories. Typically the more emotional the more memorable.  When we opt for the “off the beaten path” or “lesser known” gems of an area its more likely that we encounter unique experiences and consequently stronger memories.  Picture and imagine yourself climbing up the 20 meter tall black sand dunes in Kawiha, New Zealand, the smell of sulpher grows stronger, a dramatic sunset is brewing and you are on a hunt for a warm water spring.

Kawiha Ragland NZ Hot Pools Live Swell Unique Experience

Hot Pools in Kawiha NZ, a short drive from Raglan, NZ and Manu Bay – One of the worlds best surf towns.

You soon encounter a spigot of warm water, then you start the dig for your own personal thermal hot water pool.  Taking turns, in about 20 minutes your private thermal hot water pool is ready and you immerse yourself in nothing but the beauty of nature, the theraputic effects of a thermal pool and share it with your companions.

Kawiha Ragland NZ Hot Pools Live Swell Unique Experience Maria

Maria enjoying the medicinal effects of this self made thermal hot water pool in Kawiah, New Zealand

On a visit to a surf town or any beach trip, grabbing a treasure from the sea can be the ultimate souvenir.  How would it make you feel to bag a few east coast whelks?  Just after low-tide one stormy day at our rad place to stay in the Outer Banks (OBX as the locals refer to it), we decided to go on hunt for the elusive whelk.  After debating if we were willing to hunt in the rain, it suddenly stopped.  Within a 20 minute scour of the beach we returned to the bungalow with these gems:

This was our bag load of whelks, set up at the Chill Beach and Surf Bungalow OBX

This was our bag load of whelks, set up at the Chill Beach and Surf Bungalow OBX

 

5) Mellow Vibe

Like us, you probably take trips to escape the dull daily routine.  Great surf towns come with mellow vibes it just a fact.  Your likely to find hammocks, adirondack chairs, wine, grills, reggae music and maybe even some Bob Marley.

Mellow Vibes Live Swell San Diego

Adirondack chairs, a weber kettle grill heating, the fire pit blazing sets up the mellow vibe in Crown Point, San Diego on a beautiful fall night.

6) Yes, There is Great Surf Sometime 

They say, “Every dog has its day.” This is true of the great surf towns, from time to time there will be an epic window of surf, whether its for a couple hours or a couple weeks.  If you surf, you are stoked, no to many things beat a day on the beach and great surf.  If you just don’t, thats okay it will be a blast to watch and a surf town full of great energy.

Mike Live Swell San Diego Mission Beach Sunset Surfing

Mike getting a few of the last rides of the day in Mission Beach, San Diego

The worlds best surf towns are special places, filled with unique experience which makes them worth visiting.