I ♥ Northern California

There are about a million reasons why I love living in Northern California. Aside from a three-year stint in Southern California for college, I have lived in Northern California for my entire life, and I can’t really imagine living anywhere else. There’s really nowhere else on the world quite like it!

I apologize if you’re on a slow computer that doesn’t like a lot of photos, because this is easily the most photo heavy post that I’ve ever written. There are just SO many reasons why I love Northern California that I figured it would be better to show you some of them instead of trying to search for the right words to describe it all…a picture is worth 1,000 words, right?!

Nestled in a valley right in the middle of the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the mountains of Lake Tahoe, Sacramento (aka The River City) is best known for being the home of the California state capitol.

The city has a rich history dating back to the California Gold Rush era, and the town has managed to retain a lot of its historical charm. Historical sites and landmarks are abundant, as are museums, art galleries and community parks. Restaurants, bars, and shops are plentiful, and the city bustles with activity from the lively community.

Though I love quick trips into the busy city, I much prefer the slower pace of life about 30 miles north of Sacramento, where rural farm land meets the suburbs. It is here that we have chosen to settle down, buy a home (did you know that a California homeowner’s net worth is 34 times that of a renter? Wow!), and raise our family. Our hometown is the perfect blend of suburban community and open space combined with a charming historical downtown area.

Our neighborhood is a beautiful juxtaposition of newer construction and classic rural country charm.

We have the benefit of being close to local farms where my kids are able to experience hands-on real-life demonstrations of how a farm is run and learn how our food gets from farm to table.

There’s lots of room for these crazy boys to run and roam…with supervision, of course!

My favorite part of the day is sitting out on our back porch and watching the sunsets – they’re breathtaking!

We get a lot of sunshine here in Nor Cal…

…perfect for visits to the local skate park…

…playing a game of baseball…

…relaxing at the community pool…

…and camping outdoors!

 

Within a short driving distance, there are a TON of different places that we love to visit. Gardens, museums, amusement parks, zoos, fairs and festivals are all typical weekend destinations for my family.

Local zoos and marine parks have given us an up close and personal view of many different species of animals. In the past year we’ve played with dolphins, hand fed a mother and baby deer, watched a Sumatran tiger undergoing cancer treatment, and learned about wolves directly from their zookeeper.

Our family enjoys visiting local attractions, but what we love most of all is spending time in the great outdoors. With three energetic boys, going outside to play and explore is a must! The Sacramento Valley is only a short drive from both the beach and the mountains, so we really do get the best of both worlds here!

For me, there is nothing better than the sound of crashing waves, salt water spray in the air and sand between our toes (and fingers!). I fell in love with the ocean beach as a child, and my boys are just as smitten with it. We are incredibly fortunate that we can visit the California coast and dip our toes into the Pacific Ocean any time that we want to. Visiting Bodega Bay ranks as my #1 day trip destination from Sacramento!

If you don’t have the time to spend a whole day at the beach, we’re also lucky to have lots of lakes and rivers around the Sacramento area, too!

 

Fishing and water sports reign supreme during Sacramento’s hot summers, but on cooler days we like to take advantage of the plenitude of area hiking trails and nature preserves.

On the hottest days, it’s only a short drive to Lake Tahoe where the temperature drops by 15-25 degrees, and we can enjoy both water activities and hiking trails (win-win!).

Of course, Lake Tahoe is just as much fun in the wintertime, too!

See, I told you there’s a TON of amazing stuff to do in Northern California! From beaches to mountains, kayaking to mountain biking, city life to rural quiet, historical charm to modern convenience, there’s something for everyone here. I didn’t even talk about all of the awesome things that you can experience on a quick day trip to Napa or San Francisco  – there’s SO much to do there that I think that deserves a future post of its own!

We aren’t lacking for fun activities to do here in the Sacramento area, and I am incredibly grateful that I am able to raise my family in the same area where I grew up.  From the moment that my parents purchased their first home in the area, it led to a ripple effect in my life – from getting into the best local schools to attending and graduating college at California State University in Sacramento to buying my own first home in the same area – my life has been shaped in many different ways by the original California REALTOR® that sold my parents their home. For each home that a California REALTOR® sells, that same ripple effect stimulates the economy by $60,000, and for every two homes sold a new job is created. That’s a ripple that I am proud to be a part of!

To start your own ripple, visit the CA Association of REALTORS® website to find a California REALTOR® of your own, and be sure to consider the diversity of the Sacramento Valley in your next home search!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.