Ready, set, go CATCH A WAVE

Famed for its laid-back vibe and consistent breaks, Southern California is the spiritual home of surfing on the mainland. But ever since the late, great Jack O’Neill, founder of the eponymous Santa Cruz surf brand, popularized wrapping yourself in neoprene and playing in cold water, the waves of Northern California have been open to anyone willing to brave numbed toes and ice cream headaches. And, as it turns out, some of the best waves in the world are within easy striking distance of the Bay Area.