The best surfing spot in the Seaside area is the beach just south of town simply referred to as The Cove, directly north of Tillamook Head and reached from parking areas along Sunset Boulevard. While prevailing winds favor winter surfing rather than summer, this is in fact a popular destination year-round. Local surfers can be impatient with beginners, so this probably isn’t a good spot for novices.

For more information contact either Seaside Surf Shop (1116 S. Roosevelt Dr., 503/717-1110) or Cleanline Surf Co. (719 1st Ave., 503/738-2061). shops rent and sell surfboards as well as wetsuits, boots, and flippers.

Two good surf schools operate in the area. The instructors at Oregon Surf Adventures (based at the Seaside Surf Shop, 503/436-1481, www.oregonsurfadventures.com) and Northwest Women’s Surf Camps (503/440-5782, www.nwwomenssurfcamps.com) will give you a bit of land training (the women’s camp includes yoga to get you limbered up and in the right frame of mind) and then accompany you into the waves.