I have a list of ‘must surf’ waves and corners of the world that I long to discover. California was one such destination. So when I got invited to go to the Sunshine State with Visit California, I knew this would be my chance to tick Cali off my list. My road trip buddy and surf photographer was Megan Hemsworth, and we were beyond excited to go on a mini road trip together.

Our journey began at the world-famous Huntington Beach, Southern California. Famous in the surfing world for being the home of the US Open of Surfing Competition, Huntington Beach feels rich in surf culture, with surf shops, resorts and restaurants stretching out along the oceanfront. The area was the perfect introduction to the SoCal lifestyle, and staying in the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, we felt like surf royalty – waking up for the sunrise, surfing off the pier and dining in exquisite restaurants.

We had no idea what to expect from Venice Beach, but as soon as we arrived at Hotel Erwin, I knew we were about to experience a different side to California. Greeted by drinks served on the rooftop, we soaked in the breath-taking views over Venice Beach, spotting the Hollywood sign off in the distance. Venice Beach has a real buzz about it. The beach was full of people watching the sunset, and just a stones throw from the beach is a skate park that any skater would dream of. The entire place was cool and quirky, and felt like nowhere I’d ever been before.

With our brief stop in Malibu coming to an end, it was time to pick up the hire car from Hertz and for the ‘real’ road trip to begin. We were venturing up the coast to Ventura, so it was awesome to see another fun right-hand point as we parked up. Much like Malibu, the vibe in the water was relaxed. It had more of a community vibe, with families out in the surf and the most female surfers I’d seen sharing the line-up. There is a rawness to the place, with huge kelp patches to paddle through, and a less commercial vibe than the other spots I’d surfed. The swell was only a little bigger up the coast, so again, I surfed a longboard. As the sun began to set, I dropped into 2ft peelers and glided past the palm trees, which stretched out along the promenade. Ventura was my scene; it felt a little like home, and I loved how many women and girls of all ages were surfing. There was a real community feel to the place.

After Ventura, we were back on the open road, with Morro Bay plugged into the sat nav. The landscape in California is fantastic; the roads stretch along open beaches, hugging the mountains. Morro Bay turned out to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Morro Rock stands at 576-feet tall, perched at the edge of the harbour. It is a CA state Historic Landmark and iconic to the area. Our hotel, The Landing, overlooked the bay, set back in the sleepy streets.

Morro Bay felt ‘small town’, but in a perfect way. In many ways, it reminded me of Norwegian fishing towns that I had visited in the past. With seals and sea otters playing in the calm waters, the bay felt rugged and untamed – untouched by the modern world. We didn’t score great waves here, but it’s somewhere I would love to come back to. Even if it’s just to visit the Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant again, which served the best locally caught fish we had on the trip.