California is a great state, there’s no denying that, but it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what makes it such a special place. To this end I’ve decided to catalogue the things I love most about it.

1). The Weather

There’s a reason California is called the sunshine state, it’s because the weather is damn near perfect all the time. The golden sun never seems to disappear over the California sky, always out to warm the day. It’s the reason you can go to the beach in the middle of January without freezing.

2.) Los Angeles

The brash beating heart of California, LA sets the pace for the rest of the state. From the Hollywood Hills to the Santa Monica Pier the city churns as the dream factory of the world putting imagination on screens big and small. It’s a place where glory and depravity mix with equal measure creating human dramas so intense you’d never believe they were real. LA is a city of the senses where screens enchant the eye; sounds enrapture the ear, and foods thrill tastes all while the golden sun blazes high above.

3.) Disneyland

No list about the best parts of California is complete without mentioning Disneyland. Walt Disney’s original park still maintains that magic Disney touch while keeping up with the times. It is an excellent balance for an amusement park, large enough you never get bored, but small enough you never feel rushed.

4.) The varied landscapes

States exist across a number of different landscapes from fields to forests to beaches to mountains and yet how many states contain all of them. California has access to all the major landscapes within a few hours of each other, which leads to some interesting travel combinations. Only in CA can you ski in the mountains with breakfast then go surf at the beach before dinner, or hike through the forest at noon and stargaze in the desert at midnight.

5.) San Francisco

San Francisco as I’ve written previously is Los Angeles’s polar opposite. Beautiful where LA is ugly, small where it is large, and quiet where it is loud. It moves at its own tempo, blazing a path through technology the way LA blazes a path through culture. SF maintains its own charming way from bay to breakers endearing itself to visitors with its rich history and quirky manner.

6.) Natural wonders

From the gargantuan sequoias to the majestic redwoods, from the granite cliffs of Yosemite to the slat flats of Death Valley, California has a rich bounty of natural wonders that sets it apart from any other state. These wonders range from the spectacular and popular national park crown jewels to the small and intimate local knowledge places. They are also part of what gives California its magic and what makes it such an attractive place to visit.

7.) Diversity

Part of what makes California such a dynamic place is the rich diversity of its people. It’s the actions of many people who have helped to make California what it is today and continue to shape its future. Indeed it is this diversity that makes California a model for the future.

8.) History

California has such a rich and interesting history from the Spanish rancheros to the gold rush pioneers to the Hollywood stars. It’s a history steeped in drama and intrigue and so deeply fascinating that one cannot help but want to learn more.

9.) Progressivism

One of the greatest things about California, especially in these trying times, is its firm unyielding commitment to progressivism. I find it of great comfort to know that I am not alone in my beliefs and that while may political elites wish to disregard the future there are some who still insist on trying to make a better one.

10.) Culture

Last but not least, the final thing I love about California is the culture. It’s a culture that promotes artistic excellence in all mediums, strives for the latest in scientific innovations, and seeks to preserve wild spaces and enjoy them in their many uses. Above all else it strives to make the world a better place for all people.

These are the things I love most about California along with countless others.