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As a girl who was born in Boston and raised in the suburbs, I have never strayed far from the comforts of New England. I finally decided that I needed an adventure in my life when I spontaneously bought a plane ticket to Los Angeles for spring break.  I had never been farther west than Philadelphia (sad, I know!) and I decided it was time for me to finally see the west coast I had always dreamed of.  I was lucky enough to have two cousins at the University of Southern California, so off I went for a fabulous spring break.  I instantly fell in love with SoCal and, obviously, I am dying to go back already.  I thought I would share some of the fabulous things California has to offer:
1. In-N-Out – Naturally, I love a place with great food.  Everybody always told me how amazing In-N-Out is, so I was pretty excited to finally have it.  To those folks who haven’t experienced it, it is as delicious as everybody says.  I recommend trying the double double (which is two patties instead of one), animal fries, the shakes, and the protein style burger.  As great as the burgers and fries were (seriously, amazing!), I loved the protein style burger the most.  Instead of in bread, the burger is wrapped in lettuce – so healthy!  Even with the buns included, In-N-Out is much healthier than your average Burger King or McDonald’s.  In-N-Out boasts burgers made from fresh, 100% pure beef.  They are free of additives, fillers and preservatives of any kind.  I seriously recommend them.
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2. That brings me to the second thing I loved about SoCal – it is so easy to be healthy!  While some people might hate being surrounded by health-conscious people, I loved it.  There is so much organic, vegan, or locally grown food available at your fingertips.  Everybody is outside and constantly moving.  It’s a lot easier when the weather is so nice.  Lots of people drive hybrid cars, too.  I learned about green-energy and healthy food, and I realized how behind the trend we are on the East coast. Basically, my sightseeing revolved around places with good food and coffee, and I recommend Urth Caffe – it’s like a mix of Panera and a cute Amalfitana Italian café.  It’s super healthy and it was definitely my favorite.  From the breakfast omelets to the decadent dessert selection, Urth offers a variety of mouth-watering options.
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 How cute is the cappuccino foam picture? Every coffee has a unique picture!
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3. Friendly People – Everybody in California is so laid back and NICE!  You don’t have to cross the street in fear that a ruthless driver is going to crush you with their car when the hand symbol starts flashing.  You can walk as slow as you want, ride your bike without fear, and if you’re ever lost the people are amazingly helpful.  As friendly as everyone at BC is, the northeast for sure could use some Californians.
4. Perfect Weather – Perhaps I’m biased because I’m self-diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (I HATE winter), but SoCal offers the most attractive feature yet—sunshine and warmth.  I left Boston in 30-degree temperatures and landed in Los Angeles in 85-degree weather. In March!  You seriously cannot beat that!  A girl could get used to no snow boots, jackets, or shoveling.  Goodbye hats and gloves.  Hello sunglasses!
5. Unique Style – Forget about the homogeneous BC uniform!  California is filled with a myriad of different looks.  With the warm weather, you can invest in a larger and more diverse wardrobe.  I found the fashion possibilities cuter and flirtier. California (and Soho) boasts the only location of my dream store—Brandy Melville USA.* It is cute, affordable, and the clothes are super fun and feminine. It’s unique in that it doesn’t offer sizes—instead, it is “one size fits most.”  It sounds strange, but when you find something you love and it fits, you feel as if it’s destiny that you and that cute little crop top are meant to be. Shopping here is so much more fun.
6. Beaches – Pretty self-explanatory, really.  A drive down the west coast is good for the soul.  The blue ocean, sunshine, palm trees, and plethora of Mediterranean-styled beach mansions make up the west coast.  Driving from Malibu all the way down to Newport Beach made me want to cancel my flight back to Boston.  Seriously, can we just move BC to a SoCal beach town, please?  All of the beaches felt like paradise, but my favorites were Manhattan Beach (right near LA) and Seal Beach (seriously adorable).  With little town centers and romantic piers, these beach towns make me wish I could have grown up here.Â
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Imagine a romantic stroll down the pier of Manhattan Beach. Â Sigh.
7. Boys – Maybe I had spring fever or maybe there is something in that west coast water. Los Angeles really is the land of the beautiful. The guys were all tall, tan and gorgeous. You’ll find all types of guys, from frat guys to jocks to surfers to indie movie producer wannabes. Get me back to California, please!
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Photo Sources:
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http://www.dailycandy.com/los-angeles/listing/70761/Urth-Caffe
http://www.fotocommunity.com/pc/pc/display/22977588
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Sources:
http://www.in-n-out.com/menu/food-quality.aspx
*Editor’s note: Since this article was written, a Brandy Melville location has opened at 344 Newbury St. in Boston! Â