Surfing Resorts California Hawaii

I have been an avid surfer since I was a kid, so when my wife and I vacation with Hannah, now 2, I expect to go to a surfing resort. The Surf & Sand Resort (877/741-5908) at 1555 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 is our go-to favorite surfing spot.

Kids stand at water's edge while a man does cartwheels on beach.
There’s always something going on at the beach in Laguna. Photo c. Surf & Sand Resort.

Favorite Surfing Resorts in California

It’s a very family-friendly resort not far from our home that we love. It’s right on the beach and great for the baby. There are only 13 Laguna Suites among the 167 rooms. Picture that each has a Jacuzzi tub, louvered doors to let the breezes in and a private balcony overlooking the Pacific; you can imagine it’s very romantic.

hotel room at Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, California
Family hotel room wiht two queen beds at the Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, California.

The restaurant, Splashes, is good, and their Aquaterra Spa has massage treatments plus a workout room for when the fog rolls in. Another romantic amenity the spa offers is for the aspiring Van Goghs. (Yes, there’s babysitting.) The Artisitic Ritual leaves couples wrapped in white French clay along with other colors and types of mud, so that the vacationing couple can “paint each other.” Afterward, they wash off in a 20-minute bath for two, followed by a side-by-side massage.

The art galleries of Laguna are also a short ride away. The Surf & Sand surfing resort is an expensive getaway but it’s casual, and there’s good surfing just 20 feet outside our door.

Favorite Surfing Resorts in Hawaii

woman in white bathing suit swimming underwater with fish near a resort.
The Four Seasons Hualalai has a beautiful lagoon pool that my family loves. Photo c. FSHR.

Of course we like to try new places, too. Over time, many great international surfing resorts have sprung up around the world.

We just came back from the Four Seasons Hualalai (808/325-8000) at 72-100 Ka’upulehu Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. That’s on the Big Island’s Kona-Kohala coast.

It was a beautiful surfing resort and the service was great, but it was very crowded and getting there with the baby, just traveling over the holidays, was a hassle. The airline lost one of the surfboards I shipped — at least I had one with me. Luckily, my wife’s luggage and the all the baby supplies arrived just fine.

Now I appreciate how much closer to home we can go — back to the Surf & Sand.

This story was submitted by Wayne F. a FamilyTravelForum.com site user.

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