Island Surf Shop, Indian Rocks Beach

There’s more than one way to play in the surf, and the watersport gurus at The Island Shop cater to them all, from leisurely basking on the beach to harnessing the power of towering waves. Inside the store, they carry a stock of professional-grade surfboards, boogie boards, skimboards, and paddleboards, which are used to spank the ocean when it has been naughty. They also outfit the casual practitioner for beachside life with board shorts and bikinis.

On the beach, the shop’s water-loving staff transform from mild-mannered store clerks to wave-taming teachers. They impart their wisdom through both one-on-one lessons and small-group classes, guiding guests through the finer points of riding boards of all kinds across the surface of the water.