The Wedge

Make no mistake: If you’re looking for a beach to unwind in the sunshine, there are miles of wide, sandy stretches that you should visit instead of the Wedge. But if you want to scope out one of the most notable (and sometimes overwhelmingly popular) surf spots in Southern California, this is the place. The long jetty on the eastern edge coupled with the shape of the coastline bounces waves into each other to create near-shore swells as high as 30 feet. Parking is limited to the adjacent neighborhoods, so hoof it past multi-million-dollar beach houses and through entrances on either Channel Road or M Street.