We are visiting San Francisco later this year, and have a few days at the end with a car. Is there anywhere within a day's drive where we can find some surf culture? Tom Godley, Chester

Sunday Times travel expert, Richard Green, responds: People live to surf in much of California, and even San Francisco has some goodish surfing spots. But for the most iconic surfy towns, you should reach for the tortuous shell sunglasses, crank up Good Vibrations, wind down the windows, and drive south.

A pleasant 90 minutes away is the classic Californian resort of Santa Cruz; famous for it's laid back population of counter culturalists and surfers.

This is where, in 1885, three Hawaiian princes became the first people to surf in California, and where Jack O'Neil invented the wetsuit back in the 1950's - he and his company are still here.

You can stroll along the vintage boardwalk; ride on the wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster built in 1927, or the fabulously flamboyant Carousel from 1911. Then head to the bijou surf museum inside the old lighthouse, and sit by the cliff top and watch the hundreds of surfers waiting to take off onto the famously dependable Steamers Lane break.

And if you are itching to hang ten, the Santa Cruz Surf School (001 831 426 7072) are happy to set you off in the right direction, with two-hour group surfing lessons for £40pp.

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