Video and Photos by Brydie Watson. Titles by Luke Griffin.

Beautiful, sunny California. 

While it might not have been blessed with good swells lately, that doesn’t mean it’s not a hell of a lot of fun. Take it from Macy Callaghan and Brydie Watson who captured the brightness of the Golden State in this fun little edit, and gave us their tips on how to enjoy California below. Plus we love to back the ladies and these two are a duo who know how to have a good time.

Sick little edit team. 

Brydie: Oh thank you, I haven’t made many films and I was kind of winging it, I must say. 

It’s super cool and arty, draws you in with all the colours. I loved it. 

B: Thank you. Macy actually helped a lot. Originally it was really long, but we got to a good place. 

Where were you based for this trip? 

B: I was in Encinitas, in Southern California staying with a mate. Macy was in Oceanside which is about twenty minutes north. We didn’t really plan it very well because I had no idea what I was doing so we probably could have planned it better to save all the driving around. 

LA is mental like that though. And just even all the traffic. 

Macy: I felt like after the four days we finally had it a little more down and it made more sense. We managed to fit in a lot in four days. 

B: There was one day when we needed the sunset for the shot and once we had all the looks down pat it just felt like the longest day ever. Those LA days are so long and sunny. Six hours would go pass and the sun would still be in the middle of the sky. 

M: I forgot what summer was like because I’d just been in Australia for winter. 

I know you said it was dribbly surf but where did you manage to get a wave in? 

M: This summer in Cali has been the worst for them. I don’t think they got a single swell. We just surfed in Oceanside at North Jetty. My boyfriend is from Oceanside so that’s where we went everyday. I think it’s the most consistent. Then we went to San Onofre’s which is the classic longboarding spot. 

B: We were going to take a log but my car didn’t have roof racks so that’s where we got the little water clip from. 

If you could describe California in three words what would they be?  

B: Sunny, dramatic. 

M: Novelty? 

What is the biggest culture shock of the US compared to Australia when you go? 

M: The amount of people. 

B: It is just a novelty, the whole time I was there I was always like ‘Oh my god, look at that,’ because everything is out of the movies. Everything is jumbo sized, not just the food. 

M: And everyone is doing something or going somewhere. I always wonder what they are doing. Everyone in Australia lives on the coast but over there I truly wonder where they are going. 

So true. Everyone over there is on a mission hey. 

B: And also killing it in their careers. My friends over there are always flying around going to conferences. 

Just that hustle culture. I also feel as though it’s rewarded over there? Like even if you work really hard in Australia sometimes you can’t even catch a break. Last time I was in LA I ended up in a warehouse party - did you get to any of those? 

B: Nah I went out a lot in Encinitas, all the dive bars. There’s this one called Cap’n Kenos. It smells so bad but it’s the most classic bar. 

M: The dive bars are so great because the floors are so sticky, it’s so dark and weird but you end up staying until three am anyway. 

Kenos, good tip. Any others? 

M: I feel like Brydie did the partying for both of us. 

B: The Shanty was another good spot. 

What about food, any highlights? Good tacos spot? 

M: I mean anywhere in California is great for tacos. Legit anywhere. The Mexican in Australia isn’t even real. 

B: I went to a really good Italian spot called Trattoria I Trulli. You get over eating burritos every day. 

M: Corner Pizza too. 

What about shopping? The second hand scene over there is pretty mental. 

M: Check out the Veterans. 

B: They’re huge and so good. 

These are good tips - what should people definitely tick off the list when they go? 

M: In-N-Out Burger. 

B: Yes gotta do that. Plus the Hollywood sign, driving around all those streets with the houses is super cool. 

M: I went to Universal. I hadn’t been to a theme park since I was younger so I was actually surprised at how much fun that was. 

B: Mace and I also went to the OC fair. That was on one of the days that we just felt like it went forever. 

M: Yeah that’s a good tip, if you’re going to California in the summer time plan out your days because they go on forever. Oh and if you’re surfing shuffle your feet because they are heaps of stingrays. 

B: Check the toll roads. Get a car, but definitely check the toll roads. 

M: Take the scenic route. Slow down. California will force you to do that anyway because it takes ten times longer to get anywhere than you expect. 

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