Yeah, I’m bragging a bit in this one.  If you watch the Rose Parade on any given New Year’s Day, you’ll see the sun out.  I think I’ve only seen it rain on the parade once in my 40+ years on this planet and that was a while ago.  While most of the country is bundled up in their poofy coats with hats, mittens and gloves on, Californian’s are out here soaking up the rays.  Yes, it’s winter, but it’s a CA winter! San Diego has it even better.  Even in San Francisco and the Bay Area, they’re still chilling out, not being bothered by snow, sleet or ice.

And I’m talking a “typical” CA winter. Not this craziness that’s been happening with the snow actually on the ground in places like Glendale, Claremont or Banning. February was wild…and March is turning out to be plenty wet.

CA Winter?

It’s a California winter baby!  Yes!  We do recognize that there are actually 4 seasons.  I’d say we only have 2.  Summer and our version of winter.  I think I’ve made the comment before that anything below 70 degrees we (okay, I) consider cold.  Okay, maybe not all, but many, MANY of my friends feel that way.  I have a couple of transplant friends from the midwest or east coast and they give me the side eye for being a weather wimp.  Whatever.  To know me is to love me.

That picture at the top of this post is of me driving the 5 freeway passing through Angeles National Forest. About 20 minutes after the Tejon Pass. There had been a big storm and the Grapevine had snow. I couldn’t resist snapping a picture of both the CalTrans truck and the snow in the background. But, 30 minutes more driving and you’d never know that snow was anywhere around. Love that!

Sun, Fun, Snow in 1 day

If you’re in the Bay Area, you literally can go from the beach to the snowpack in the span of 3 hours.  You can wake up, have coffee on the Berkeley waterfront and hit the slopes at Heavenly in Tahoe (check out this skiing post) before the resort closes that evening.  Same for Los Angeles.  San Diego will take you a little bit of a longer trek, but still doable. Check out this post for a possible beach visit in the “off” season.

How many reasons can I come up with to love this state?

But let’s keep it real, if you need to see the changing of the leaves or you need that snow at Christmas to make it feel like the holidays, you’re thinking meh to California.  I get it, but I’m not about that life.  The beauty here is that you can come visit the state at any point in the year and there won’t be much in the way of weather to keep you down.  If you want the challenge of driving in the snow, by all means, head to Tahoe, Big Bear or Mammoth and have your fun during a CA winter.  We’ve got it all for ya.  Pick a month and come on over.  We’ll be waiting!

Until next time!

May the road rise to meet you and the wind be at your back