Maine Surfers Union, Portland

From their outposts in Portland and Falmouth, Maine Surfers Union outfits aquatic adventurers with surf and paddle boards before sending them off to enjoy watery recreation. The staff boasts more than a decade of experience in the surfing industry, lending them the confidence to recommend specific gear from an inventory of boards by Hobie, McDermott, and Bing. They also set thrill-seekers up with rental surf and paddle boards, available in time increments from two-hour blocs to week-long rentals—long enough for beginners to get the hang of standing up, catching waves, and scaring off feral dolphins by shouting "cowabunga."