When people think of Southern California there are several things that come to mind — magnificent beaches, gorgeous views, and constant sunshine 365 days of the year. Although there’s lots of truth to those things, there are a few other sides to SoCal you should know about. Take a look at these frequently asked questions:
- Is there really that much of a difference between Southern California and Northern California?
Google Maps When you look at the map of California you instantly see just how much land the entire state of Calfornia covers. With that much distance between SoCal and NorCal, you’d expect there to be a lot of differences between the northern and southern part of the state – and there are. Not only is the climate a lot different – we get a ton more sun and a lot less rain than Northern CA – but the culture is very different, too. In general, SoCal tends to be a lot more laid back than NorCal which may have a bit to do with the beach culture here.
- Do you ever get sick of sunshine every single day?
flickr/bill dickinson Although many people think SoCal is nothing but sunshine 365 days of the year, we do have our share of undesirable weather – just not as much as the rest of the country. Just like other parts of the US, we have rainy days, grey days, and even snowy days for those of us in SoCal who live close to the mountains. Yes, it’s true – our weather is better than most other places, but we never get tired of the sunshine.
- How do you celebrate Christmas when it’s 70 degrees outside?
flickr/john colby Even for us native Southern Californians, celebrating Christmas when it still feels like summer outside is still a little weird. To experience a wintery climate, many of us travel to the mountains for the holiday to get a dose of snow. There’s nothing better than a long weekend in chilly temps and then being able to hop in the car and head back to sunny weather.
- How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
flickr/glen brown For most of us, the answer is “Quite a few.” Just take a look at everyone’s footwear in SoCal and you’ll see that a large percentage of people are wearing flip flops and not just at the beach. We wear them at work, at the store, on a walk, and even just lounging around the house because who needs slippers when you can just put on a pair of flip-flops.
- Do you really spend the whole day at the beach?
flickr/sebastian werner Although it may look like all we do is spend our days lounging on the sand and playing in the ocean, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Southern Californians may be a relaxed group of people, but that doesn’t mean we spend all of our time on vacation at the beach. Most of us really do work for a living.
- How often do you spot celebrities?
flickr/steve mcnicholas This is one of those questions that everyone seems to want to know, but for those of us living in SoCal it’s truly the last thing on our minds. On occasion, when in Los Angeles, we may spot a celebrity, but it’s not an everyday occurrence. And, when we do, we try not to gawk too much.
- Speaking of the beach…Is there anything else to do in SoCal other than hang out at the beach?
flickr/scrubhiker Yes!! The great thing about SoCal is that we have a little bit of everything. The many miles of stunning coastline is definitely one of the benefits of living in SoCal, but we also have gorgeous mountains, rugged forests, and lots of deserts to explore in SoCal.
- Why is everyone so obsessed with avocados?
flickr/henry alva Living in Southern California means being blessed with fresh fruit and veggies all year long. When it comes to avocados, there’s nothing better than a ripe green avocado right off the tree that’s been grown locally.
- Is housing in Southern California really THAT expensive?
flickr/russ allison loar The answer is a very loud YES. If you’ve ever wondered just how much it costs to live in SoCal, take a look at some of the popular real estate websites to get a feel for housing costs. People from other parts of the country are absolutely shocked when they see the price tag of housing in SoCal and it’s for good reason. In many parts of the country, you can buy two houses for the price of what one house costs in SoCal. Which leads to the last and final question….
- Then why do you still live in Southern California?
flickr/ian d keating It may be an expensive place to live, but everyone who calls this place home just considers it the sunshine tax. Ask anyone who’s ever lived here why they stay and it’s because this is truly the best place on earth. Glorious weather, kind and friendly people, and outdoor activities all year round. It truly is one place that is hard to beat.
So there you have it — answers to everything you’ve ever wanted to ask a Southern Californian.
Google Maps
When you look at the map of California you instantly see just how much land the entire state of Calfornia covers. With that much distance between SoCal and NorCal, you’d expect there to be a lot of differences between the northern and southern part of the state – and there are. Not only is the climate a lot different – we get a ton more sun and a lot less rain than Northern CA – but the culture is very different, too. In general, SoCal tends to be a lot more laid back than NorCal which may have a bit to do with the beach culture here.
flickr/bill dickinson
Although many people think SoCal is nothing but sunshine 365 days of the year, we do have our share of undesirable weather – just not as much as the rest of the country. Just like other parts of the US, we have rainy days, grey days, and even snowy days for those of us in SoCal who live close to the mountains. Yes, it’s true – our weather is better than most other places, but we never get tired of the sunshine.
flickr/john colby
Even for us native Southern Californians, celebrating Christmas when it still feels like summer outside is still a little weird. To experience a wintery climate, many of us travel to the mountains for the holiday to get a dose of snow. There’s nothing better than a long weekend in chilly temps and then being able to hop in the car and head back to sunny weather.
flickr/glen brown
For most of us, the answer is “Quite a few.” Just take a look at everyone’s footwear in SoCal and you’ll see that a large percentage of people are wearing flip flops and not just at the beach. We wear them at work, at the store, on a walk, and even just lounging around the house because who needs slippers when you can just put on a pair of flip-flops.
flickr/sebastian werner
Although it may look like all we do is spend our days lounging on the sand and playing in the ocean, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Southern Californians may be a relaxed group of people, but that doesn’t mean we spend all of our time on vacation at the beach. Most of us really do work for a living.
flickr/steve mcnicholas
This is one of those questions that everyone seems to want to know, but for those of us living in SoCal it’s truly the last thing on our minds. On occasion, when in Los Angeles, we may spot a celebrity, but it’s not an everyday occurrence. And, when we do, we try not to gawk too much.
flickr/scrubhiker
Yes!! The great thing about SoCal is that we have a little bit of everything. The many miles of stunning coastline is definitely one of the benefits of living in SoCal, but we also have gorgeous mountains, rugged forests, and lots of deserts to explore in SoCal.
flickr/henry alva
Living in Southern California means being blessed with fresh fruit and veggies all year long. When it comes to avocados, there’s nothing better than a ripe green avocado right off the tree that’s been grown locally.
flickr/russ allison loar
The answer is a very loud YES. If you’ve ever wondered just how much it costs to live in SoCal, take a look at some of the popular real estate websites to get a feel for housing costs. People from other parts of the country are absolutely shocked when they see the price tag of housing in SoCal and it’s for good reason. In many parts of the country, you can buy two houses for the price of what one house costs in SoCal. Which leads to the last and final question….
flickr/ian d keating
It may be an expensive place to live, but everyone who calls this place home just considers it the sunshine tax. Ask anyone who’s ever lived here why they stay and it’s because this is truly the best place on earth. Glorious weather, kind and friendly people, and outdoor activities all year round. It truly is one place that is hard to beat.
Whether you’re a local or just visiting SoCal, you may want to take a look at these 11 fun outings in Southern California that will show you a unique side of SoCal.
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