Why is California so weird? If you live in Southern California, you may have a few quirks that feel entirely normal to you but seem quite odd to the rest of the country. Here are eight weird Southern California stereotypes, habits, or behaviors that we need to explain to outsiders. Do any of these sound familiar?
1. When we refer to the freeways in SoCal, you won't hear us tell you to take 405 or 101 or 8. Instead, we'll tell you to get on THE 405, or THE 101, or THE 8
3. When it comes to our dress code at work, you'll see us wearing casual Friday attire even when it's not Friday. And that includes flip-flops for footwear
8. A rainy day in SoCal is equivalent to a snow day in other parts of the country. Sometimes we just stay home if it's raining too hard because we don't want to drive in those conditions
If you are looking for the quintessential Southern California beach town head to Big Sur to experience life in SoCal:
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If these Southern California stereotypes don't sound weird to you, then I have some good news -- you are officially a Southern Californian. For more ways to spot someone from SoCal, look at these 16 qualities that mean you have roots in SoCal.
Northern Californians will tell you about all the outdoor activities in the region, the many national and state parks, and the abundance of fresh produce we have access to in this state. The region is very diverse but here are five things all Northern Californians would agree on about living in NorCal:
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1. Forget Colorado skiing or anywhere else for that matter
To Northern Californians, the Lake Tahoe area is our Vail, Whistler, or Jackson Hole. Whether you want a laid-back ski holiday or a five-star getaway, you’ll find it in the Lake Tahoe area.
In addition to skiing, there are towns and neighborhoods each offering fun things to do and places to see. There’s South Lake Tahoe for casinos, downtown Truckee for shopping, and several small towns around the lake for waterfront dining.
That’s right– creamy clam soup. For those not familiar, it tastes 1000x better than it sounds. Put that in a sourdough bread bowl and you’ve got the real San Francisco treat.
You can get clam chowder at a lot of seafood restaurants in Northern California, but the best is found in San Francisco at Pier 39.
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3. Northern California beaches are special in their own distinct way
When you think of California beaches, you probably think of the palm tree lined white sand beaches of Southern California. Northern California beaches are beautiful but cold and windy. A beach day in Northern California probably involves blankets, heavy jackets, and a thermos of warm liquid. We have the occasional warm beach day but most of the time it’s quite chilly.
There’s something so peaceful about cozying-up under a blanket on a beach and watching the waves crash onto the sand. Northern California beaches are also great places to whale watch during whale migration season from December to May.
4. California Wine Country is the best in the nation
There are so many areas in the United States that now grow grapes for wine and bring in a decent number of tourists. But for many Californians, the wine from the Napa Valley region is unbeatable. Northern California wine country produces strong wine– and we mean both in flavor and alcohol, compared to many European wines.
California wine country is also famous for its many five-star resorts and beautiful countryside.
5. No state offers the diversity of landscapes you will find in California
Want to ski at world-class resorts? Want to hike around geothermal areas? Walk among the redwoods? Take surfing lessons? Anything you want to experience is a few hours away.
Within the confines of Northern California, you can experience many different types of vacations. Those are simply the facts about Northern California.
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What is something you love about living in NorCal that you cannot find anywhere else in the world? Or something that you think Northern California does better than any other part of the world? Tell us about your life in NorCal in the comments.
Over 20 million people live in Southern California, and though we share a geographic area, we certainly all have our own opinions and beliefs about SoCal life. That being said, some topics seem to elicit the same strong opinion from the vast majority of SoCal natives. Take, for example, these ten Southern California arguments. Most locals will not be swayed by these assertions about living in SoCal, and those who disagree will hold their position just as strongly!
It may not truly offend every California native - yes, a lot of locals get genuinely annoyed - when someone calls the Golden State "Cali," but you can be pretty sure that anyone who says "Cali" is not from this state.
SoCal has been a burger-and-fries haven since at least the 50s, and In-N-Out has been heading up the craze the entire time. Beef that is never frozen, real ice cream shakes, fresh-cut fries, and a simple menu that never changes keep this California institution at the top when it comes to fast food. Almost constant long lines prove its undeniable popularity.
3. It does actually get cold in Southern California
We have all heard "It never rains in California," and we can all agree that cold is relative. However, the assertion that it never gets cold in this generally warm state really annoys locals who will tell you about 40-degree temps (very cold for SoCal), popular ski resorts, highways just outside of Los Angeles that shut down when it snows, and even early summer when most of the state experiences "June gloom." Far from the coldest state, we do get cold and wet, too.
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4. Northern California and Southern California feel like two different states
Beautiful California is the third largest in the country, stretching almost 900 miles along the Pacific coast. It should be no surprise that one end of California differs greatly from the other, from the weather to the scenery, even history and culture.
5. SoCal has the best (and most diverse) food scene
Southern California is a true melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, which has led to an amazingly diverse food scene. With so many communities like Little Tokyo, Little Armenia, Cambodia Town, and Little Ethiopia, just to name a handful, it is no wonder that Southern Californians can enjoy authentic Portuguese cuisine for breakfast, Thai for lunch, and Indian for dinner.
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6. Every restaurant and party should have vegan (or at least vegetarian) and gluten-free options
No, contrary to some opinions, not everyone in Southern California is a Vegetarian, but we all at least know someone who is Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, or Gluten Intolerant. As much as we boast about our culinary diversity, we also think everyone should be able to enjoy the same restaurant options and dinner parties, regardless of our dietary restrictions.
The amount of traffic in and out of SoCal’s main airport is truly overwhelming, and there are plenty of public and private transportation options to get you there. So, unless you are a very, very close friend or family member - sometimes even then - you should probably book a ride.
Flip-flops, slippers, sandals, thongs… whatever you call them, you will see them everywhere in Southern California. Here, flip-flops are not just for the beach. They are a wardrobe staple, purchased in multiple colors and styles to match almost every outfit. You will see them at restaurants, department stores, theme parks, offices, and yes, the beach.
"Dude" has become a daily part of nearly every Southern Californian’s daily vocabulary. We use to refer to males, females, and inanimate objects, as in "Dude, that hurt!" It is also a positive or negative reaction to almost anything. Why say hello, wow, whoa, or "what in the world," when you can say "Duuuuuuude"?
Whether it is surfing (or watching surfing), snorkeling, diving, shell-seeking, sunbathing, swimming, photographing, beach walking, or sunset chasing, being near the beach is everything. It is a place for sun, fun, exercise, stress relief, and much more. It’s hard to find a SoCal resident ready to give that up.
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We think living in Southern California is just about the best place to call home. If your California roots are just as strong, perhaps you'd get a kick out of this "California Roots" planter just as much as we did. We would love to hear your opinion on these things that Southern Californians feel so strongly about while living in SoCal.
