Kauai's Hanalei Bay may be one of the most magical places on the planet. I swear some of the locals start paddleboarding at sun rise and don't come back in until sundown. I've paddleboarded in calm waters, but this was my first time trying to actually surf the waves. One positive: Standing lets you see the sets roll in before the surfers see them. The highlight of my morning was watching a dad surf into the waves while his 2-year-old rode on the nose of his board. I was happy playing in head-high surf. Maybe next year I'll be ready to charge Hanalei on its big days. To see just how big the bay can get, check out this video of surf star Laird Hamilton at Hanalei: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA05XIX7Yh0.