Travel Tips: Top 10 surfing destinations

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - From overcrowded beaches to lesser-known hot spots, there are many exciting places around the world to catch the perfect wave this summer.

Travel Web site Expedia.co.uk has searched the globe for the best destinations for surfing.

Following is the list of the 10 ten surfing areas:

1. California - The Pacific Coast Highway that runs the length of California's coast provides easy access to hundreds of surfing spots and waves for everyone, from beginners to professionals.

2. France's West Coast - France is blessed with two beautiful coasts but it's the West coast that surfers love for its quality waves and stunning beaches.

3. Lanzarote - Both the west and east coasts of this Canary Island offer surfers great waves and surfing resorts.

4. Feurtaventrua - Not to be outdone by its northern neighbor, Lanzarote, this second largest of the Canary Islands, has surfing to suit every level and more than 150 beaches along its coast.

5. Madeira - This picturesque island sits alone west of Casablanca and is able to capture the powerful swells coming out of the North Atlantic.

6. Australia - Australia's Sunshine Coast, along the Pacific Ocean, attracts surfers from around the world for its different types of waves and secluded beaches.

7. Bali - Surfers who travel to this exotic destination enjoy surf created by the southeast trade winds from March through November.

8. Florida's Cocoa Beach - Cocoa Beach sits on the Sunshine State's Atlantic Coast and offers surfers great waves as well as a more cosmopolitan lifestyle than other surfing destinations.

9. Hawaii - Whether you are looking for big surf on Hawaii's North Shore or beginner waves on Waikiki, Hawaii has excellent surfing for everyone.

10. Portugal - Europeans make their way to Portugal's spectacular coast year-round for its variety of waves.