A popular spot since the days of hitchhiking and no leashes, Spanish House is the first parking area and beach access north of Sebastian Inlet. Once you've driven past Bonsteel and the entrance to Long Point Park, keep looking right until you see a dirt lot with a bulletin board out front. That's it. Just find a parking spot -- if you can -- cross A1A and follow the shrub and tree-laden trail to the beach. (Just watch your head for limbs and feet for snakes.)

Earning its name from the large, Spanish-style home just steps from the break, the house is unique to this area and so is the wave it guards. Spanish House's deep outside and shallow inside bar gives the break some push, offering more of a challenge than the dribblers of Northern Brevard on most average swells. Under ideal conditions -- strong swell, low tide, offshore -- there's a chance for rare Florida perfection, transforming the beach into a top-to-bottom barrel garden.

Because of its punch, proximity to the Inlet, extensive parking and cheap price -- free -- Spanish House suffers most of the Inlet's overflow, but usually lacks the attitude, thanks to the scattered lineup. You can always walk until you find a peak away from the Spanish House pack, and some cheapskates will even tread as far as the Inlet. If you choose such a path, you'll pass another sneaker spot called Chernobyl's. At one time, surfers would pull off A1A north of Sebastian and press their bumpers to the bushes -- keeping police from reading their license plates and writing them tickets -- then wind their way through the narrow access and onto the beach to score a more private banzai shorebreak session. Unfortunately, officials finally fenced off the area, effectively killing Cherynobl's as a roadside attraction. However, both Spanish House and Cherynobl's remain favorite barrel opportunities during north swells, which cross up the area's premiere powerhouse and pressure cooker, Sebastian Inlet.