When it comes to places in the United States, it’s hard to deny the natural beauty and many attractive features of California.
America’s 31st state offers just about every kind of landscape you can imagine, from desert to coastline to mountain ranges, as well as some of the coolest cities in the country.
Depending on your politics, California also is a haven for some marginalized communities and liberal-minded individuals.
It has a rich history and embraces many different cultures.
There really is something for everyone in California, whether you’re a nature lover or a city dweller.
Why Is California So Popular? (10 Reasons)
1. Coastline And Ocean Views
California borders the Pacific Ocean along its entire western coast, ranking it fifth among America’s states with the most coastline.
In fact, California has 3,427 miles of coastline, much of it offering picturesque views.
A total of 656 miles of its coastline can be seen from the Pacific Coast Highway, which runs along the coast beginning in San Juan Capistrano, a little over 50 miles south of Los Angeles.
Some of the most epic views along the Pacific Coast Highway lay between San Francisco and Big Sur.
Much of northern California’s coastline is situated on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, making it easy to see the ocean spread out for miles before you.
Rocky shorelines make up most of the northern California coast, while it transforms to more sandy beaches as you move south.
There are also many beautiful small towns lining the coast, such as Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Santa Barbara, Malibu, and Laguna Beach.
Each of these coastal cities offers something unique and beautiful, and they are all popular tourist destinations for obvious reasons.
2. Mountain Ranges
The combination of both oceans and mountains is rare to find in states around the country, making California a nature lover’s dream.
Some of the best mountain ranges in California include the San Gabriel (which borders Los Angeles), San Bernadino, Sierra Nevada, Cascade, and Traverse.
These mountain ranges sprawl around the state, each offering its own draw and appeal.
The Sierra Nevada mountains extend for 400 miles along the state’s eastern edge.
It’s where you’ll find Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, and the highest peak in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney, which stands at 14,505 feet high.
Many famous trails also follow the Sierra Nevada mountains, such as the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail.
Many of California’s mountains keep their snowcapped peaks year-round.
However, mountains closer to the Pacific Ocean tend to be lower in altitude and dryer, having more rocky, sandy soil with less vegetation.
3. Los Angeles
After New York City, Los Angeles is easily the next most popular city in the United States and around the world.
People fly from all over the globe to visit Los Angeles and catch a glimpse of the Hollywood lifestyle.
This city is mostly known for being the home of Hollywood, the entertainment mecca of the world.
However, in addition to the massive number of movies and television shows filmed in Los Angeles, the city has much more to offer.
It’s a cultural center for many immigrants, including those from Armenia, South Korea, Japan, Latin and Central America, and more.
A great many diverse neighborhoods enrich the city, giving it educational cultural centers, ethnic food from all over the world, and a vast array of spoken languages.
Los Angeles is also home to some of the most popular sports teams, such as the Lakers of the NBA and the Dodgers of the MLB.
Also, the city is so spread out, you could spend a week there and still not see everything there is to see.
Though there is a downtown Los Angeles, most of the city’s treasures are located in the urban sprawl of the city.
4. Beaches
California has some of the best beaches in the world and is home to many surfers and beach bums.
Waves are dependent on the beach but can be found at just about any stop along the coastline.
Some of California’s most famous beaches include Santa Monica, Laguna, Venice, Hermosa, Oceanside, La Jolla, and Monterrey.
Though not all California beaches are great for swimming, they all offer stunning views and places to relax.
Beaches in the southern parts of the state will be sandier and more people-friendly.
Santa Monica Beach is one of the most visited beaches in the state and offers a wide beach area with plenty of room to lounge, play, or relax.
This beach is also home to a famous pier with a Ferris wheel, food, an arcade, and other family-friendly activities.
Venice Beach, just south of Los Angeles, boasts some of the most unique finds in the state.
You can see just about anything you want at Venice Beach and witness a variety of performers, like stilt walkers, fire breathers, break-dancers, bodybuilders, skateboarders, and surfers.
Shops that line the boardwalk contain everything from t-shirts to ice cream to jewelry and odd collectibles and tourist trophies.
Though the Pacific Ocean never really warms up along the California coastline, it’s still nice to jump into the cold waves during the hot summers or simply sit on the breezy beaches of northern California.
Northern California beaches are also home to seals, sea lions, and other oceanic wildlife.
Other California wildlife can be found along the state’s beaches such as dolphins, humpback whales, orcas, blue whales, gray whales, seagulls, harbor seals, elephant seals, and sea otters.
5. San Francisco
Like Los Angeles, San Francisco is a huge tourist destination and city with thousands of offerings and neat features.
Known for its extreme hills, trolly cars, and famous landmarks, San Francisco remains one of the most unique cities in the country, if not the world.
It’s home to the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can find sea lions sunbathing along the docks.
San Francisco has several great neighborhoods also, such as Chinatown, the Castro, Haight-Ashbury, the Mission District, and North Beach.
These neighborhoods not only house historic architecture, local restaurants, and homemade art, but they also have some of the richest histories in the country.
Starting as a gold mining town, San Francisco has continually drawn people due to its beautiful coastline and eclectic neighborhoods abundant in music, performance, and diverse foods.
Also, just across the bay, you’ll find Oakland and Berkeley, two other incredibly unique American cities, each with its own special flavor.
6. National Parks
California contains nine national parks, making it home to more national parks than any other state.
The best part is that each of the parks has its own unique landscape and natural features.
The range is so diverse that it’s hard to imagine some of them are in the same state as the others.
Some of the most visited national parks in California are Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and Redwood.
More than four million travelers visit Yosemite National Park each year and for good reason. Its views are extraordinary.
From Yosemite Valley and Half Dome to Yosemite Falls and El Capitan, you’ll find some of the most stunning natural landmarks in the world.
Compared to Yosemite’s lush backcountry, Death Valley’s extreme heat and dryness make it seem like a different world.
Its lowest elevation comes in at 282 feet below sea level, while its temperatures can reach 120 degrees in the summer, making it a natural wonder.
If you’re looking for even more extremes in nature, head to Sequoia or Redwood National Parks.
Both of these parks, though not close together, are home to some of the tallest and broadest trees in the country.
Redwood National Park hosts a tree that is five stories above the Statue of Liberty, coming in at 370 feet high, while Sequoia’s largest tree, Big Sherman, comes in at 275 feet high and 36 feet in diameter.
7. Weather
There’s a reason many people say California has the perfect weather.
Most of California has a Mediterranean climate, meaning it doesn’t get too hot, staying in average temperature ranges year-round.
Southern California is also especially dry, meaning you won’t experience many rainy days.
Temperatures do vary, though, based on whether you’re inland or along the coast, elevation, and longitude lines.
Places in northern California are typically cooler than cities in southern California for obvious reasons.
However, cities like San Francisco stay cool, foggy, and drizzly for much of the year, while Sacramento’s temperatures are much hotter and dryer though they are both in the northern half of the state.
Along the mid-coast and down to Los Angeles, you’ll find temperatures ranging between 70 and 80 degrees for most of the year.
However, temperatures in the San Fernando Valley, slightly north of Los Angeles, are generally higher and more extreme than in the city itself.
This is because valleys tend to trap heat. Like other desert climates, much of California cools off significantly at night.
8. Activism
California has always been known for its open-minded and liberal population, meaning it’s a good place to be if you find yourself marginalized or discriminated against.
It was one of the first states to legalize gay marriage with the overturning of Prop 8.
San Francisco has long been a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ population, leading parades and using activism to help the cause dating back to the 1960s.
Harvey Milk was famously elected as the first openly gay man in public office on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and led protests around the city, providing empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community.
In the 1980s, San Francisco became a hotbed for the AIDS epidemic, leading to demonstrations and marches fighting for awareness and raising money for research and health care.
California has also been at the forefront of cannabis legalization and was the first state in the union to legalize medical cannabis use.
In 2016, California passed a law legalizing recreational cannabis use, as well.
Additionally, Berkeley is known for its anti-war activism dating back to the 1960s, when sit-ins and protests were regularly staged.
Along with that, Berkeley also organized demonstrations in the mid-1960s fighting for their freedom of speech, starting The Free Speech Movement.
Around this time, the Black Panther party was formed in Oakland, fighting against police brutality in the black community.
9. Outdoor Activity
With the abundance of natural riches in California, it’s no wonder the state has become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Due to its plethora of mountains and beaches, the two main outdoor activities in California are hiking and surfing.
Each year, hundreds of hikers flock to the Pacific Crest Trail, which extends 2,650 miles, starting from Mexico and ending in Canada.
The largest portion of the trail goes through California, making it a popular extended hike, though hikers also engage in day hikes or weekend backpacking trips.
The John Muir trail is another favorite for serious hikers, extending 211 miles through the highest peaks in the state.
The trail goes from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney.
Along with hiking, California offers some of the best surf in the country, attracting surfers from all over the world.
Most of the state’s prime surfing spots fall along the southern coast and include Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Oceanside Pier in San Diego, Malibu Lagoon State Park, Dana Point, and Cardiff Reef.
Other popular outdoor activities in California include skateboarding, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and driving dune buggies.
Of course, the availability of each activity will depend on where you are located in the state, but the wide range of choices makes California an appealing place for many of those who partake in outdoor recreation.
Plus, with the weather being so nice, it’s always great to be outdoors in California.
10. Fresh Produce And Wines
California offers some of the best produce in the country and a wide range of it, on top of that.
Because of its Mediterranean climate, California can grow much more produce than the average American state, including strawberries, grapes, almonds, pistachios, and avocadoes.
According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, “Over a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California.”
There are currently more than 400 commodity crops grown in California, making agriculture one of the state’s main exports.
For those who want to buy their produce locally, almost every city—and even many neighborhoods—in California has its own farmer’s market where local farmers sell their seasonal offerings.
Many of California’s farms are organic as well, ensuring you get produce not pumped full of pesticides or additives.
California is also known for its wine production due to how well grapes grow in certain regions of the state.
Different grapes grow better in some places than others and largely depend on the local weather patterns and soil qualities.
Generally, grapes grow so well in California because of its warm days and cool nights, while the Pacific Ocean acts as a natural air conditioner with its constant breezes.
The amount of sunshine California receives is also highly favorable for grapes.
Some of the more popular wine regions and valleys across the state include Napa Valley, Mendocino County, Sonoma, Marin County, Santa Ynez Valley, and Paso Robles. Popular varietals include Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.
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