What do you picture when you think of the beaches in Olympic Peninsula in Washington? Fog? Sand burrs? While those do exist, there's a lot more to do there than you would think.

I wait. For our instructor. For the chance to hit the waves. I wait impatiently. Through the longest 15 minutes of my life as our instructor teaches the proper way to raise (the surfing slang for standing up), the proper way to paddle out, the proper stance on the board. I wait as he finishes up the instructions. Finally, we get to hit the water.