Many SoCal People Never Been to Northern CA? (San Diego, San Francisco: low income, public schools)

[CyanideThistles]

Is this really true?

Of course, maybe if I asked an older middle-aged adult, it's very likely this person who's lived his or her life in Southern California has been to NorCal at least once, but you'd be surprised at how many people down there have never been to San Francisco. I live in Northern California (Santa Rosa) all my life (I'm 18, pretty young) and my friend's 30-year-old half-sister, who's lived in Bakersfield most of her life, has never been to San Francisco until last month, when I met up with her up here in Sonoma County. Interestingly enough, she spent a few years of her life living in Seattle, so she's been everywhere on the west coast except for Northern CA.

I asked this guy from San Luis Obispo if it's typical for a person from there to visit Northern CA often, and he said "not really." He said many of the people there have never been to SF, but have been to Anaheim for Disneyland and other places in SoCal. I asked this guy from LA, who lives in a low income area, and is the son of African immigrants (who are not very wealthy), and he's never been up here. Only few of his friends have been up here.

So, what do you think? Do you think it's true a great majority of Southern Californians have never been to good ol' NorCal, especially San Francisco? Is there something about this place that seems boring or uninteresting to SoCal people? Is Sacramento a part of school field trips for Southern CA public schools?

I myself have never visited Southern California until I was 16, two months before I turned 17, and I did like it and found out it's really different than where I'm from! I've never been to another state besides CA, but I've been to China, and Canada. I've flown over Oregon and Washington though.

[Fontucky]

Bakersfield and SLO are Southern California?

[CyanideThistles]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Bakersfield and SLO are Southern California?

SLO isn't, but I guess it's a bit closer. CenCal, I guess for both? They're still much closer to LA than where I live, or San Francisco for that matter, and I think the lifestyle is more similar to that of Southern California's. But other people I've known from LA online have never been up here nor most of their friends.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by CyanideThistles

and I think the lifestyle is more similar to that of Southern California's.

Everyone I know there would clip your chin at that insult...

But anyway, the Tehachapi Mts have always been my dividing line.

I can't imagine never having visited N Cal, but I'm on the old side.

[Visit a Library]

I once had a girlfriend who lived in Alameda. Nice quiet little town -- at least it was back in '92.

[hockfan86]

I live in LA, I have never been North of Malibu. I have been to 40 states and 4 countries though. I don't have a reason for not going to NorCal, I just never had a compelling reason to go as I don't know anyone up there and I am not going to spend a week alone on vacation.

[ferretkona]

My father started taking me on hunting trips in the 60's to northern CA. I was raised So CA but my heart was always northern. My wife and I live in the Yosemite national park.

[Count David]

In my experience, Southern Californians are less-traveled than the average people.

I knew people in the IE that had never been further than LA or San Diego, even more who hadn't been further than Las Vegas or Phoenix. Northern CA doesn't seem to be as popular a destination. It's pretty sad IMO, but for some, Southern CA is all they really know.

I've been to 20 states, and Canada and Mexico. I've traveled through Northern CA off and on since I was 5. Though, I haven't gone back through there since 2005 (I no longer live in CA).

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

In my experience, Southern Californians are less-traveled than the average people.

Contrary to many media-inspired images of SoCal people, many are living paycheck to paycheck, if they're getting one at all. Travel is nowhere in the budget, and the urge isn't really there since they already live in a place that has tons of things to do, and great weather to do it in.

[bhcompy]

Keep in mind California is huge. It's like asking if someone from Florida has been to Virginia.