There’s no place like home when it comes to California cuisine, the Pacific Ocean or our Mediterranean weather. Rumor has it that lots of people are moving out of California – I’m not sure I believe it. There’s a lot of states tempting the folks in our Golden State and even more colleges luring our high school grads to greener pastures. The truth is, there’s no place like Northern California when it comes to lots of things. Here are 12 things people will always miss about Northern California when they leave.
- Artichokes
flickr/robin summerhill When you grow up here you are taught the ways of the artichoke–and you’re happy. So many other states have no idea how delicious an artichoke is. How sad that the ones you may have in your state are pathetic examples.
- Sour Dough
flickr/fiddledydee Sour dough is a fickle friend. It’s only fantastic on the west coast because of the yeast in the air. Other parts of the country claim to have it, but San Francisco is the ONLY place worthy of creating this manna.
- Mountains
flickr/theeyesseewhat The Cascades, the Sierra Nevadas…shall I go on? You’ll definitely miss a mountain range when you’re living in a flat state. Such a shame…
- Wildlife
flickr/mark gunn Northern California is the pinnacle of wildlife in our part of the state. Where else can you walk along elephant seals at Ano Nuevo or float alongside whales? Nowhere….so there’s that.
- See’s Candy
flickr/jwatari This may not seem like a big deal when you leave, but trust me - it is! See’s Candy is something you just can’t get anywhere else. Sure, you could order it online for a LOT more, but the stark white candy shops with a candy for each customer when you visit? Yeah, you’ll miss it.
- Easy way to work
flickr/rafael castillo Bay Area Rapid Transit. Need I say more?
- Does your new state have a lighthouse?
flickr/tony hisgett The picturesque spots with lighthouses and seaside towns like Mendocino and Half Moon Bay are a treasure to have in our neck of the woods. Definitely add those to your “will miss” list.
- The Giant Redwoods
flickr/ken dow No where else in the world are there trees like this. These are the King of the forest and gentle giants of our trails here. All other trees are pathetic examples of majesty. Another sad thing to leave behind.
- Yosemite? Nowhere else!
flickr/edward stojakovic John Muir rallied for Yosemite Park to be a protected nature preserve for generations. Half Dome, hiking trails, lakes, and waterfalls make this oasis a place you can’t find anywhere else.
- In ‘N Out forever!
flickr/帆 尹 What started in the southern part of our state has become a spot we love up north, too. Do you really think you can leave these burgers behind? There’s nothing like them anywhere else.
- Lakes and Rivers
flickr/don graham Lake Tahoe. Lake Shasta…lakes that make you feel like you’re hundreds of miles away. When you move that’s exactly the same feeling you’ll have - except you WILL be hundreds of miles away but WITHOUT this kind of view.
- Agriculture
flickr/darren juden Hope you don’t mind paying a lot more for lemons, oranges, almonds and walnuts. We corner the market by growing the lion’s share for the world. You’ll miss it here. Oh, yes, you definitely will.
This makes me sad for anyone who steps outside of our borders. I didn’t even touch the topic of our dreamy weather or Giants baseball – I didn’t want to make you cry. Yeah, you’ll miss us here.
flickr/robin summerhill
When you grow up here you are taught the ways of the artichoke–and you’re happy. So many other states have no idea how delicious an artichoke is. How sad that the ones you may have in your state are pathetic examples.
flickr/fiddledydee
Sour dough is a fickle friend. It’s only fantastic on the west coast because of the yeast in the air. Other parts of the country claim to have it, but San Francisco is the ONLY place worthy of creating this manna.
flickr/theeyesseewhat
The Cascades, the Sierra Nevadas…shall I go on? You’ll definitely miss a mountain range when you’re living in a flat state. Such a shame…
flickr/mark gunn
Northern California is the pinnacle of wildlife in our part of the state. Where else can you walk along elephant seals at Ano Nuevo or float alongside whales? Nowhere….so there’s that.
flickr/jwatari
This may not seem like a big deal when you leave, but trust me - it is! See’s Candy is something you just can’t get anywhere else. Sure, you could order it online for a LOT more, but the stark white candy shops with a candy for each customer when you visit? Yeah, you’ll miss it.
flickr/rafael castillo
Bay Area Rapid Transit. Need I say more?
flickr/tony hisgett
The picturesque spots with lighthouses and seaside towns like Mendocino and Half Moon Bay are a treasure to have in our neck of the woods. Definitely add those to your “will miss” list.
flickr/ken dow
No where else in the world are there trees like this. These are the King of the forest and gentle giants of our trails here. All other trees are pathetic examples of majesty. Another sad thing to leave behind.
flickr/edward stojakovic
John Muir rallied for Yosemite Park to be a protected nature preserve for generations. Half Dome, hiking trails, lakes, and waterfalls make this oasis a place you can’t find anywhere else.
flickr/帆 尹
What started in the southern part of our state has become a spot we love up north, too. Do you really think you can leave these burgers behind? There’s nothing like them anywhere else.
flickr/don graham
Lake Tahoe. Lake Shasta…lakes that make you feel like you’re hundreds of miles away. When you move that’s exactly the same feeling you’ll have - except you WILL be hundreds of miles away but WITHOUT this kind of view.
flickr/darren juden
Hope you don’t mind paying a lot more for lemons, oranges, almonds and walnuts. We corner the market by growing the lion’s share for the world. You’ll miss it here. Oh, yes, you definitely will.
How about you? Which state could lure you away from Northern California?
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