Crisscrossing the globe for the Netflix series Down to Earth with Zac Efron, Dylan Efron has become a veteran world traveler. But the producer and YouTuber also knows the lure of the Golden State—after all, the Efron brothers grew up in San Luis Obispo County.
Dylan recently took a road trip with his friends Brennen and Shane (plus Dylan’s dog Boo) to three classic surf towns—Santa Cruz, Ventura, and Oceanside—and shared some of his favorite things to do, both on and off the waves.
You visited three of California’s premier surfing towns. Did you find that the surf culture is much the same in each of those places, or is it totally different?
There are common themes at every surf spot of course, but the differences were noticeable. I felt like Santa Cruz was the most “hardcore” as Bob Pearson would have put it [the board shaper Efron met at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum]. The town was really built around surfing and the waves were so consistent that everyone was great.
Ventura had a much more laid-back vibe, long stretches of open beach where you can surf by yourself or at your own speed if you’d like. And Oceanside felt more like the modern surf culture we see on TV, young surfers with style and warm(er) water.
What about the waves you surfed? Can you tell us about your surfing experience in each of those towns?
I’ll preface by saying I’m mediocre at best! I really favor going left as a goofy footer, so Oceanside was my favorite place to surf this trip because I got to bring my short board out and turn left. I think Santa Cruz had the biggest and most consistent waves, but they were all rights so I struggled more getting used to the waves there. And Ventura had really fun, long, waist-high rights that were really fun on my 8-foot board.
Besides surfing, what were the most interesting activities you did in Santa Cruz County?
Brennen, Shane, and I skated almost every night. Our hotel [Dream Inn] was really close to downtown, so our nighttime skate sessions were by far the most fun for me because I really felt like I started to build a mental map of the city and got to explore it in a new way.
You had the option to go skateboarding at several spots. What was your favorite skateboarding location? What did you enjoy about it?
Santa Cruz, because of all the neon signs and roller coasters. It felt like we were skating around a movie set. But the hills in Ventura were really fun as well, taking fast turns—it really felt like surfing.
You met up with champion longboarder Mary Osborne in Ventura. What was it like to talk to a surfing legend of her caliber?
She was awesome, it’s a small world because I work stunts sometimes with her stepsons. She was so fun to talk to because you can tell she’s so thankful to be able to do what she loves for a living [at Mary Osborne Surf Academy]. She knows what makes her happy and it was refreshing to see her passion and love for the surf scene in Ventura.
What lodging or hotel was your favorite of the trip, and why?
Ventura—it was just so unique staying in the trailers at Waypoint Ventura. I’ve stayed at a lot of hotels and they all blur together; this one is an experience that will stick with you.
Your dog accompanied you on your trip. What spots did he enjoy the most?
I’d say Ventura. The hotel was really dog-friendly so he got to run around, and the beaches are so empty he was able to run around and take it all in.
In Oceanside, you went skydiving. Was it your first time? How does the thrill of skydiving compare to the thrills of surfing and skateboarding?
It wasn’t my first time but I was so impressed by the outfit there, Go Jump Oceanside (which does a surf-and-skydive adventure with new Point Break Oceanside Experience from Whitlock Surf Industries). The energy was so good it reinspired me to get my license next year. It blows my mind that it’s actually safe to jump out of planes, when not long ago people would go their entire lives without ever even knowing the feeling of being in a plane or the view from the sky. So I think it’s something to embrace, to take advantage of how far our technology has come in a short time and experience one of the coolest things we can do on earth.
You attended the U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships while you were in Oceanside. Can you tell us a little about that experience?
Inspiring. I just left knowing I’m guilty of making excuses for why I’m not in the water more. Small aches or pains and just really excuses… when I see these professionals in the water, and the stoke it’s bringing them—it just inspired me to get out there more. Stop making excuses for why I shouldn’t surf or do something, and get outside and live life to the fullest.
Can you tell us about a few of your most memorable meals on this trip?
Spencer McKenzie’s in Ventura, because it’s one of my favorites and I was excited to share it with Brennen and Shane. They loved it and we had a little eating competition, so it was just a really memorable meal. Also Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge in Santa Cruz was memorable. Delicious food topped with warm cookies at the end.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about replicating your itinerary?
Try to be flexible with your schedule. The best part of road trips is taking your time to get to each destination. If you build in some spare time, you can stop at some of the other beautiful cities along the way like SLO, or you can stay an extra night in an area if you’re loving it and don’t want to move on quite yet. I think having the pressure to rush to the next spot is where these trips can turn from feeling free to stressful, so if you give yourself time to enjoy each place you won’t regret it!
Can you tell us what you love most about a California road trip?
I think just the diversity of what you see. Each town has such a different vibe, you can go from amazing surf, to desert, to forests, to snow—so in one road trip you can really feel the environment change and even seasons change.
