NorCal vs SoCal; Which is more beautiful, nature wise? And Why? (San Diego: beaches, nice areas)

[RockhetHD]

NorCal vs SoCal; Which is more beautiful, nature wise? And Why?

[Heidi60]

Northern California, hands down! We have the San Francisco City and Bay, Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz, Napa Valley, Ft. Bragg, great climate, and of course the Pacific Ocean. Too many wonderful places to list in cyber space. If you dont' believe me, visit the Mustard Festival in Napa.

[Curmudgeon]

I prefer the central to northern coast to the southern areas. I find them more esthetically pleasing, peaceful, restful, topographically diverse and grand. On the whole, I also prefer NorCal because deserts do nothing for me.

[Gentoo]

This is a loaded question and a subjective one. Nonetheless, those of you who know me know what I'm going to say. Overall I prefer northern Ca. However southern Ca. is slightly more varied mainly because of the edition of desert ecosystems which the north lacks. There are places in the north which are often referred to as deserts but true deserts are in SoCal. I hate the desert so for me personally, that's not appealing.

Southern California's forest are restricted to the mountains generally from 5000' and above. Northern Cal has forest right down to sea level. Because of the more varied elevation of the forest, the types are more varied. Northern and central Ca. also have an ecosystem unique to the region, coastal prairie.

Overall it really depends on what one prefers. I prefer redwood forest to deserts.

[jeffredo]

Southern California isn't ugly by any stretch, but I prefer the central and northern coastline and northern Sierra Nevada. Short run down of Central and North State things:

Sierra Gold Country
High Sierra
Big Sur
Monterey Bay
San Francisco Bay
Clear Lake
"Lost Coast"
Trinity Alps
Northern Rivers (Sacramento, Feather, Trinity, etc...)
Lake Tahoe
National Parks such as Redwoods, Lassen Volcanic, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings.
Mono Lake
Eastern Sierra

There really are too many things to list. Traveled around a fair bit and Northern California is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Nature-wise? Well, then northern California because there's more nature left...a lot more.

If you could erase all the human development from the state, then it would simply be a matter of preference.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Brenda-by-the-sea

Nature-wise? Well, then northern California because there's more nature left...a lot more.

If you could erase all the human development from the state, then it would simply be a matter of preference.

Good points

[Hemlock140]

I happen to prefer trees, mountains, wooded lakes and rivers, and wild coastline over dry hills, desert and crowded beaches, so northern for sure.

[Gentoo]

While I agree with everyone who said NorCal, there are some nice areas in SoCal too. You just have to look a little harder to find them. Within San Diego County, check out Mt Laguna and Palomar Mt. In LA county, there are the San Gabriel mts. which are very similar to the Sierras. In San Bernadino County there are the SB mts. where Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead are.

[BVitamin]

I would divide CA into three. I prefer the Central Coast. Though of the two - North or South, I'd have to go with NorCal.