Two reasons why SoCal is better than NoCal... (Los Angeles, San Francisco: hotel, neighborhoods)
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Everything that there is to do in LA is spread out all over the place...no "big city" feel like Manhattan, NY.
That's the fun of West L.A. A drive to the sea down Santa Monica Blvd from Hollywood or Wilshire Blvd from Downtown is the highlight of my trip to the West. In fact I'd rather be there than in Las Vegas or San Diego. Just being there makes me happy enough to keep me smiling the whole time. It's much better than the Las Vegas strip. Manhattan and the Loop/Near North Side is a very different pleasure though.
I think this debate is truly subject. It all depends on what you are into. It is the classic northerner vs. southerner, Northern England v. Southern England, Northern Italy v. Southern Italy, Northern China v. Southern China, except this is a state. I believe there are good and bad things about both Northern California and Southern California, in my opinion. I'm slightly more partial to Southern California, only because I grew up in SoCal.
Gosh, I feel like there is so much variety in CA as a whole, that is hard to say one region is better than the other.
I have visited Southern California many times, but this summer, I was blessed to go to Sonoma--it was my first trip to Northern California. What a beautiful place! It was gorgeous. I could retire there easily, even with the hotter inland weather (it's a dry heat LOL).
I was enthralled driving from SF airport to Sonoma. I went across the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. I never laid eyes on it in person and wow, it was so lovely. Driving back over it on my way to the SF to go home, I loved the way the fog was breaking with the sun peaking out. I loved the architecture in SF. It was a stunning place. I want to go back to SF proper and spend more time there one day soon.
I need to live someplace near the ocean. I like the coastal weather in Southern California and the water is probably warmer to surf in. But, I'd take Santa Cruz if hubby had a job offer near there. We're still leaning towards Orange County areas such as Irvine because he's in the tech field. But, we have heard several friends of ours recommend San Jose for us. We don't plan on having kids, so we're a bit more flexible with where we can live.
Someone in this thread made me really hungry for Fillipino food! LOL Sorry about this random comment LOL...I digress.
I'd be happy if I ended up someplace between Santa Cruz and San Diego along the coast. I know that is a wide berth, but I'm open-minded. California is our stopping port before we relocate to Hawaii Aloha!
Isn't it all supposed to fall into the ocean any way? LOL We may as well enjoy it while we can. I know my home state will be washed away by the glaciers melting LOL...So, time to enjoy things while we can Hee hee!
This in response to the post saying that there are two reasons to love SoCAl, LA and San Diego:
UGH! No...I just returned from there. I am not a fan of snarled traffic, celebrities or getting lost!
I much prefer the gigantic redwood stands and cool evenings of northern CA. But, I'll admit to being a bit of a hick.
Last edited by Jaxn; 08-16-2007 at 08:52 AM..
Reason: To clarify the comment.
San Fran County Population in 2000 - 776,733
San Fran County Population in 2006 - 744,041
Net Change = -4.2%
Los Angeles County Population in 2000 - 9,519,338
Los Angeles County Population in 2006 - 9,948,081
Net Change = + 4.5%
So this tells us while the population in San Fran is decreasing, LA continues to grow.
And, yes - it is true that LA county is a bit bigger than SF, but guess how it got that way? People flocked THERE not up north! History repeats itself, and LA will continue to grow and attract thousands of newcomers each and every year, because it is hands down *the* best place to live in the United States of America.
People flocked THERE not up north! History repeats itself, and LA will continue to grow and attract thousands of newcomers each and every year, because it is hands down *the* best place to live in the United States of America.
I'm not so sure of the math on the population growth:
"Last year [2004], a half million people left California for other parts of the United States, while fewer than 400,000 Americans moved there. The net outflow has risen fivefold, to more than 100,000, since 2001, an analysis by Economy.com, a research company, shows, although immigration from other countries and births have kept the state's population growing."
That is a lot more than I would have figured, especially since more people move from the state than move in...almost like a distribution realignment or something. Almost a half million in LA County in six years.
Monti, You have underscored my point. Population growth. Sure, the beaches are warm and beautiful in southern CA, and the temperatures are wonderful and, frankly, it IS fun to go to Disneyland, Hollywood, the Sunset Strip...you get no argument there.
But when we are discussing northern CA, we are still worlds apart...I am waaaay north; try Mendocino County, with its horses, dogs, redwoods, open spaces, rocky (cold) beaches and raw beauty...okay, so we have an industry that I am not pleased with, if you know what I mean...but, what I am saying is that you seem to consider the growth in population a positive argument. I find it to be a negative one.
Even San Francisco is too croweded for my tastes!
Each to each his/her own. )
Personally, I find the Sonoma and Napa Counties to be ideal.
Jaxn--While I completely understand your love of the raw, wild beauty of the Northern shores and open spaces, I must say Napa is no stranger to snarling traffic and getting lost. It is a mess out there during peak times and many times during non peak. It takes just as long or longer to get from point A into Napa as it does on any freeway in LA going anywhere else.
The difference is in LA you expect the annoying wait in long lines of traffic barely moving. In Napa there are few ways in and out and many times they are clogged and not moving. One that is not familiar with the area will have a reality check real fast. On the side roads, if there is one accident watch out, one can barely turn around to get back out and then the option takes you on some long circuitous route that you will get lost on that takes you two times as long without traffic. And don't forget some of the people on those two lane alternate routes will be the wine tourists and locals speeding half wasted to the next winery ("Oops was that a stop sign!? Hee. Hee."). If you do not know this you are going to want to move to deep rural forests fairly quickly to get the hell away from 'paradise'.
Is is lovely? Sure. I spend a lot of time up there visiting. However, it is NOT without the insanity of waiting in line for hours to get there and back. Nope.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxn
Monti, You have underscored my point. Population growth. Sure, the beaches are warm and beautiful in southern CA, and the temperatures are wonderful and, frankly, it IS fun to go to Disneyland, Hollywood, the Sunset Strip...you get no argument there.
But when we are discussing northern CA, we are still worlds apart...I am waaaay north; try Mendocino County, with its horses, dogs, redwoods, open spaces, rocky (cold) beaches and raw beauty...okay, so we have an industry that I am not pleased with, if you know what I mean...but, what I am saying is that you seem to consider the growth in population a positive argument. I find it to be a negative one.
Even San Francisco is too croweded for my tastes!
Each to each his/her own. )
Personally, I find the Sonoma and Napa Counties to be ideal.
Mendocino sounds wonderful. I love your list that describes it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxn
Monti, You have underscored my point. Population growth. Sure, the beaches are warm and beautiful in southern CA, and the temperatures are wonderful and, frankly, it IS fun to go to Disneyland, Hollywood, the Sunset Strip...you get no argument there.
But when we are discussing northern CA, we are still worlds apart...I am waaaay north; try Mendocino County, with its horses, dogs, redwoods, open spaces, rocky (cold) beaches and raw beauty...okay, so we have an industry that I am not pleased with, if you know what I mean...but, what I am saying is that you seem to consider the growth in population a positive argument. I find it to be a negative one.
Even San Francisco is too croweded for my tastes!
Each to each his/her own. )
Personally, I find the Sonoma and Napa Counties to be ideal.
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