Vans U.S. Open of Surfing

With a nickname like ‘Surf City, USA’, Huntington Beach is the obvious place for this 9-day, sun-and-wave extravaganza, the world’s largest surf event. Top pros including Kelly Slater and Rob Machado have taken top title here, so you’re bound to see some amazing moves on the water. Granted, you won’t be alone—over a half-million bikini-clad beach babes, bronzed men, mop-topped kids and normal folk typically fill the beach and town during this massive event. It’s a mega-beach party in every direction, with skateboarding and BMX events, bands, film premières, car shows and product demos and samples from brands typically including Vans, GoPro and Nike.