For awhile now people have been engaged in a disagreement as to which region of California is better, North or South, aka NorCal vs SoCal. This argument is pretty silly and meaningless, but a lot of people still like to argue that their home is better. The whole "hella" thing is stupid too. I know plenty of people who have lived in Southern California their entire lives and say hella. Anyway, having pride in your home is natural, so the fact that this rivalry came to be makes a lot of sense.
People can say some bad things about SoCal and others trash on NorCal, but there are many who just say these things without any merit. Many of these people criticize one area or the other without ever visiting and experiencing it. So to those people who are trashing NorCal or SoCal without ever visiting one or the other to join the hype of the NorCal/SoCal battle, shut up. You have no basis for your argument that one is better than the other since you haven't visited both. Since I have lived in both now after starting college, I'm going to provide my input on this subject. This will be a very bias and personal argument, which most of the NorCal vs SoCal arguments are, but at least I'm acknowledging that before I even go into detail.
1. Weather
This varies between people, but for me, I hate the heat. Almost all of my friends know how much I hate hot weather. I think anything over 85 degrees is hot. Over 90, and it's like being cooked rotisserie style. Past 100, and I feel like death. I hate the heat so much.
Depending on what part of SoCal you're staying in, the entire region heats pretty fast. Even Santa Barbara can get hot. In the LA area, it stays warm roughly up until late September or through October, becomes pretty comfortable in the winter, about 70 to 80 during the day and 50 to 60 at night. The heat picks back up in late February or through March. That is way too much warm weather for me.
NorCal is nice because there is a lot more cold weather for more months. If you're closer to the bay, it's practically cold 75 percent of the year. The valley is a little more reasonable, but has very hot summers like SoCal status hot. Sacramento is average 90 to triple digits throughout the summer. Where I used to live, a small town called Livermore ins hills, an hour from San Francisco, our summers average 80 to 95 mostly throughout. Occasionally, we'll get unlucky and get triple digits, but only occasionally. The thing is SoCal has more comfortable winters than NorCal.
NorCal winter starts in late October and doesn't end until February, but the temperature is averaged around 40 to 50 degrees every day. Our autumns and springs last for about two months before and after winter, respectively, with temperatures of around 50 to 60. Bottom line: NorCal is a lot colder throughout the year than SoCal, and that's how I like it.
2. Beaches
OK, hands down SoCal has better beaches. Having the Pacific for our ocean means we have cold water because the Pacific has cold currents. Basically, we got royally screwed for beach water, especially NorCal. With all that cold weather and the cold water, you're basically taking an ice bath. Even summers in Santa Cruz feel freezing after the sun starts to set. Venice, Santa Monica, and Huntington all are way better to visit during the summer. The weather is typically a little cooler than inland SoCal so you won't being sweating bullets there and if you are just walk into the water and you'll feel freaking amazing. Santa Barbara and Malibu, too. They have great beach weather.
3. Food
This one is pretty tied. After talking about beaches, one thing needs to be set straight. First things first: NorCal seafood is far better than SoCal seafood. You can't tell me that you will get better quality, better tasting seafood in any of the beach cities in SoCal than in San Francisco or Monterey Bay. Both of those places are famous for their seafood. SF and Monterey clam chowder? I know for a fact that I there isn't better cioppino in any of the SoCal beach cities than SF cioppino. A fat portion of SF's and Monterey's economies live off their seafood. O
K, with seafood out of the way we can talk about other things. Good Asian food can be found in both NorCal and SoCal. Both areas have good Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, and so on. I will have to give Mexican to SoCal, though. Definitely good, authentic Mexican food can be found in SoCal than in NorCal. The quality and flavors in the Mexican food down there is just at higher standard and tastes a lot better. Because the region closer to Mexico, it makes sense why the Mexican food tastes better. The best al pastor and lengua I have ever had was in SoCal. Mexican food in Southern California tastes more authentic. That one is no contest, though, Sacramento actually has some pretty good Mexican food. Honestly, both regions have good food.
SoCal has LA, a huge city filled with world class restaurants owned by world-renowned Chefs like Wolfgang Puck. San Diego, another city populated with great food, like Phil's BBQ. NorCal has the Bay, a region with SF, Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, and San Jose. You can find so many hidden gems in those cities, from some of the best mac n cheese at Oakland's Homeroom to burgers at Eureka! in Berkeley to sandwiches at SJ's Ike's.
4. Miscellaneous
I'm just going to name off some things for NorCal and SoCal. Lake Tahoe for vacationing, winter and summer. Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, Legoland. All NorCal has is Pixar Studios, Golden Gate Park, and Golden Gate Bridge for all those scenic pictures. Hollywood Boulevard. SF's Academy of Sciences. Beverly Hills. Napa Valley Wineries. San Diego Zoo. SeaWorld. La Jolla Cove. Hollywood Wax Museum. The Winchester House. Fisherman's Wharf. Griffith Observatory. Hearst Castle. Old Sacramento. Yosemite.
I like both regions. It's kinda hard to pick which one is better since both have their pros and cons but at least I can make these arguments because I've lived in both. People can have their preferences, but when it comes down to it, I'm just glad to live in California and to be happy with both regions.
