Ripple Effect — What Makes California Cool
When I moved to Sacramento to attend college, I never thought I would be here almost 20 years later. What can I say is that California has stolen my heart. Here are some reasons why California, and our dts hometown of Sacramento, will steal yours too:
#1: One word … food! California is considered one of the greatest agricultural regions in the world. And Sacramento is the official Farm-to-Fork capital of the U.S. We have access to the freshest local ingredients and thriving restaurant scenes can be found in nearly every small town and bustling city. Sacramento, the hub of the food culture in Northern California, boasts James Beard award-winning and Michelin-starred eateries. In Sacramento, the city, local restaurateurs and local businesses host the Tower Bridge Dinner, where hundreds enjoy a locally sourced dinner prepared by some of the region’s top chefs. If you’re lucky enough to get a ticket by lottery, this is one event foodies do not want to miss.
#2: Founded in 1850, California is rich in history. Visit the capitol, Sacramento, and be sure to drop by Old Sacramento, a tourist favorite lined with unique shops and funky restaurants along the plank sidewalks and cobblestone streets hailing from the Gold Rush Era. Old Sacramento is the home of the Tower Bridge and a riverboat restaurant and hotel from 1927, the Delta King. Here guests can walk through the lobbies of the floating hotel and restaurant while exploring the history of river travel between Sacramento and San Francisco. You must also visit the state capitol building and its charming grounds. Rose gardens surround the beautiful domed building located in the heart of downtown. Step inside and you might be lucky enough to see the governor and other state officials walking the halls. Travel farther south to check out California missions and take a trip down to Los Angeles to visit old Hollywood sets and famed attractions from the Golden Age of Cinema.
#3: You can’t talk about California without mentioning the weather and the true variety of things to do. In the Sierra Nevadas, the snow is often met with the perfect amount of sunshine, creating an amazing day for snowboarding on the slopes of the Sierras, or a day boating on Lake Tahoe — the country’s second-deepest lake, known for its incredible water clarity. Head a few hours south to Santa Cruz and you can chill on the beach, surf or ride roller coasters at the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Head to “The City by the Bay,” San Francisco, for a day trip or a weekend getaway to visit iconic landmarks from the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park and Pier 39 to luxury boutiques at downtown’s Union Square. Make sure to visit some of the more local attractions such as Lombard Street, one of the world’s windiest roads, and the famed hippie intersection of Haight and Ashbury. If the buzz of the city has you in the mood for something a little more relaxing, cruise over to Napa for a wine tasting experience at some of the world’s most famous wineries. A trek to Southern California to visit the beaches of San Diego and other beautiful and quaint coastal cities also should be on the list.
The weather in California is incredible. Known for some of the best weather in the country, California boasts four mild seasons of fun wherever you are. In a good year, you can truly be skiing in the morning at Mammoth or Tahoe, and surfing in the afternoon anywhere from the far north coast of Eureka to the southernmost tip of San Diego. Cruise inland a bit and enjoy sizzling summer days by lakes, streams and rivers, or hike a bit higher to enjoy cool mountain breezes. There is nothing like California weather to tempt you to surf, shop, snowboard and end your adventure sipping wine in any of our wine regions, which include Sonoma, Napa, El Dorado County, Amador, Santa Barbara, Monterey and more.
#4: California is diverse both in people and our economy. As the largest state in the United States by population, California ranks as the world’s sixth-largest economy. We are home to Silicon Valley and its tech leaders like Google, Facebook, Oracle, Salesforce and PayPal. When mentioning our economy, we can’t forget about Hollywood. Generating around one billion dollars annually, the film hub of the world is home to Disney Studios, 20th Century Studios and Paramount Pictures, among others. This true economic mix allows for great job opportunities, drawing people from all over the world. California is a melting pot that joins together cultures, cuisines, languages and traditions from every corner of the globe. California is uniquely blessed among others in its location, resource diversity and climate.
#5: We are a sports fan’s dream with the most professional teams in the country. With 18 professional teams to choose from, every sport is represented here. Newest to the pro roster of California teams is Sacramento’s very own Major League Soccer team, the Sacramento Republic FC, which will begin playing in its new stadium in 2022. The San Francisco Giants rose to national fame when they won the 2010, 2012 and 2014 World Series and were quite the untouchable team. We can’t mention Bay Area sports teams without talking about the Golden State Warriors — NBA Final Champions in 2015, 2017 and 2018, featuring the famous Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, otherwise known as The Splash Brothers. This year’s Super Bowl LIV hosted another Bay Area team (are we seeing a theme here?), the San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately for ’9er fans, their team was defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs. This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Sacramento Kings. The city of Sacramento notoriously fought for the team to remain here in the early 2000s and won with the help of former Mayor Kevin Johnson. The team now plays in the brand-new Golden One Center and its fanbase is stronger than ever. We also enjoy the San Jose Sharks, Oakland A’s, Los Angeles Kings, and others that fill the roster of California teams.
There is truly so much more to explore here in California, so be sure to reach out if you’re here for work or play anytime in the future! We know these past few months have been hard. But Come Dream with Us.