Todd Glaser'S Top 5 Travel Destinations

Our second installment of 'Top 5 Travel Destinations' features one of the best surf photographer of modern time, Todd Glaser. Constantly on assignment, he's used to packing last minute and hitting the road at a moments notice to capture the best surfer riding the best waves around the world. In between shoots he finds time to travel and explore with his wife Jenna.

Below is Todd's list of the best of the best: the waves, cities and regions that he tries to hit each and every year. The places that resonate for him as photo and vacation destinations more then anywhere else on the planet. Take a minute to dive into Todd's world, you'll get some insight into why he holds each of these places in such high regard.

1. Florence, Italy

My wife and I went there a year after we got married on a one year anniversary/honeymoon trip and loved it. The food, the coffee, the museums, the culture had us not wanting to leave. It’s an hour train ride away from Cinque Terre which has amazing hikes and a restaurant called Da Eraldo which is where we got the best meal we ate in Italy, we went there twice. There are beautiful vineyards where we rode bikes on a wine tour from one vineyard to the next sampling the countrysides finest wines while looking out over the amazing landscapes. The Italians do it right, they love to eat, dress sharp, and walk or ride bikes everywhere.

Irony in Italy.

2. Tavarua, Fiji

Growing up my best friend went to Tavarua annually with his family and would always bring me back a Fiji Bitter hat. It was kind of our thing for many years. I never thought I would get to go there, but in 2010 I was invited to go and have been fortunate enough to go back a few times since. To start, it’s an island shaped like a heart in the middle of crystal clear water with 3 incredible waves all within striking distance. In the water I’ve seen some of the best waves I have ever seen ranging from two feet to twenty feet. For photography it doesn’t get much better. When it’s small you can use a big dome port and shoot underwater and as it gets bigger it’s a test of will and fitness as to how big of conditions you can swim in. Jon Roseman and the staff are like family and are always so welcoming whenever we get to go. For a fair skinned freckly guy, sunblock and hats are extremely important, but it’s worth the exposure to sun to be in the water when Cloudbreak is doing her thing. Oh, and on the ride in or out trolling for fish is a bonus!

Perfection in a wave better known as Cloudbreak.

3. Baja Norte, Mexico

Growing up in San Diego, Baja is a 30-minute drive away. Just on the other side of the border lies miles of uncrowded surf and more roadside taco stands than you can count. Being able to drive into the timewarp of what California would look like without all the development is good for the body and soul. Whenever my friends and I go, we usually camp for a few days to a week or two at a time and completely disconnect.

Solo session with Kelly giving me a shaka.

4. Teahupoo, Tahiti

As a photographer shooting in the water is my favorite place to be. Whenever I get the chance to shoot underwater I do, and I feel like Tahiti has some of the clearest water in the world. If I could shoot every surf photo underwater for the rest of my career I wouldn’t be opposed. In Tahiti the water is warm, the crystal clear water allows you to see everything that most don’t get to see, and when you come in you are usually staying with a family or Raimana (who is like family) and they love to eat the local delicacy, which is called Poi son Crue. It’s like a Tahitian version of ceviche with raw fish marinated in lime, coconut milk, onions, and a few other veggies. After a couple days of eating it, your tongue gets blisters from all the acidity of the limes, but it’s worth it.

Everyone loves to see Tahiti when it's huge, I love it when it's small because I'm able to capture moments like this.

5. San Francisco, California or New York, N.Y.

This one I debated the most on. It’s a tough decision between SF and NY. They both have such a great art scene and they get cold. Tropical locations are great, but it’s nice to layer up and wear a warm coat, get a coffee and walk around a city. Don’t get me wrong being in trunks is nice, but sometimes it’s fun to dress up and walk around a city with a bit of culture. It’s inspiring. Both cities are fast paced and have more art and photography than one can ingest. I always feel like I leave both those cities inspired. In addition to the main city, there are great waves within 20 minutes of each of the cities with hollow beachbreaks. A few years ago a friend of mine surfed in a snowstorm in NY and it is one of the most memorable ocean experiences I’ve ever been a part of.

Left: Getting lost in NY and looking up. | Right: Classic SF, In the winter its sunny and warm, in the summer it's foggy and windy.