While everyone was flying home to feast on turkey and spend time with their families, I decided to take a journey across country to visit my brother in Northern California, or what the locals call “Nor Cal.” I’ll be honest, I had my doubts about California. I mean, can it really be as great as everyone says it is?
The answer is…YES!
First off, the weather is amazing. It’s that perfect temperature where you can be wearing a tank top or a sweatshirt and feel perfectly comfortable in either. Not too hot, not too cold. A light breeze whisks over the coast and it makes you wonder, “Why haven’t I been here before?”
Hmm, what’s next? THE FOOD. Everything so fresh, so tasty, so great. I tried all cuisines. My first taste of Cali was none other than In-N-Out Burger. YUM. They have a secret menu!! This guy knows what I’m talking about. You think the fruit at Westside is fresh? I ordered a bowl of fruit with every meal I ate. I think they inject it with some sort of nectar from the gods out there. Seriously, it’s perfect and delicious and incredible. They even have healthy Chinese food! Say wuuuuuut?! Yeah. It’s real. If you’re ever in Santa Cruz, check out Charlie Hong Kong’s. I also had a burrito with cactus in it. Cactus! While I was out there, I went to a chocolate shop that is rated in the top ten chocolatiers of the WORLD by National Geographic. ‘Nuff said.
So you know how when you were young you’d watch Laguna Beach or The Hills and they’d always have bonfires on the beach? And you’d be sitting on your couch thinking, “Dang, is that real?” Guess what. It’s SO real! And such a normal everyday thing. Of course, I was the paranoid New Yorker who kept looking at the ocean thinking some wave was gonna come up and drown us all… but imagine ending your day sitting around a big fire with you’re friends hanging out and talking about life. Not too shabby.
Of course, I didn’t spend all of my time lounging on the beach and eating…well, actually, I spent most of it doing that. Sue me, I was on vacation. But I did take a nice little hike in the Redwood forest. Maybe skinny jeans and booties weren’t the best wardrobe choices to scale a mountain in, but I survived. And getting dirt in every crevice of my shoes was worth it. The views were unbelievable! And the best part about it was that all the locals truly realize how lucky they are to live in such a beautiful part of the world. Everyone is always out and active, whether they are running, playing volleyball, hiking, walking, surfing, or just sitting in the sand. And I think there is some sort of law that requires you to own a dog. Every jogger, surfer, even little kids had leashes in their hands! People bring their dogs everywhere. But hey, I’m not complaining. The pups are so cute!
I also went to a monarch butterfly sanctuary in one of the state parks. During their migration down south, they make a pit stop to hang and catch their breath amist the tall, lush trees on the Pacific Coast. Imagine laying down on the ground, looking up, and watching hundreds of butterflies float and fly in the sky. I tried to capture it on camera, but the photos couldn’t do it justice.
The town of Santa Cruz is strewn with adorable little beach cottages. None of them are super flashy, but every house seems to have something a little different about it. Just something that makes it a little unique. And that goes for the people, too. The people are so kind! There is an unparalleled, mutual level of respect. The locals are friendly, easy going, and fun! I went to see a local band the second night I was in town. The whole place was groovin’! No one cared if you danced like a goofball or you just swayed to the music. Which is great for me because my flailing dance contortions, if you could even call them that, don’t really measure up to the regulars at the downtown clurbs here…
Even though I was only there for five days, I felt so accepted and so comfortable in Nor Cal. Sure, I may have not looked like a local…scratch that, I DEFINITELY did not look like a local…but people treated me as so. It is a total community atmosphere. Whether an adult, a dog, a kid, or a seal in the ocean, you are respected and appreciated on the same level as everyone else. Sorry to get all sentimental on ya there for a sec. Main point: CALIFORNIA IS RAD! I don’t think they say that anymore there…I don’t know, I’m still learning the whole surfer chill Cali lingo. Okay. I should stop before I get in trouble.
VISIT NOR CAL! YOU WON’T REGRET IT!