Nor Cal v. So Cal: Warfare on the Central Coast

By Kayla Saadeh on March 4, 2013

As an incoming freshman at Cal Poly, I walked into Yosemite Tower 3 on move-in day and quickly found myself amidst a war I scarcely knew existed: the Nor Cal v. So Cal battle.  Never in my life had I seen people so passionately emphatic about where they grew up, and more specifically why it was better than its counterpart on the other side of the state.  Northern California and Southern California are so fundamentally different in so many ways, down to the little things like whether you say “the 101” or just “101” (why do we make such a big deal out of this??).  Now I was born and raised in Orange County, so I will always be a So Cal girl at heart, but I wanted to get an objective point of view, so I asked friends from both Nor Cal and So Cal for their top five reasons of why they felt one was better than the other.  I got a bunch of different answers and have here narrowed them down to the most popular to try to get to the bottom of why Nor Cal and So Cal pride run so deep.  Let the battle begin!

 

Northern California

 

1. The Sports

It is no secret that Nor Calers love their sports teams.  The Giants and the 49ers have dominated the stage of professional sports this past year, and for a time my Facebook newsfeed was literally begging for a status about something else.  But it isn’t just about the quality of the teams in San Francisco.  More than that, it is about the sheer magnitude and loyalty of the fans that love them.  Maybe my perspective is skewed considering my friends from Nor Cal practically bleed orange and black and shouldn’t even be spoken to the day after the Giants lose, but I get the feeling that this phenomenon isn’t just limited to them.

 

2. Less Traffic/Pollution

Los Angeles is infamous for its traffic.  It once took me 8 hours to do a 4-hour drive to get back to Orange County from SLO because of LA traffic, and it turns you into a really horrible person for a few hours.  Bay Area traffic doesn’t hold a candle, and even in the city where it is more congested, there is excellent public transportation as an alternative.  This also cyclically reduces the amount of pollution, making the air quality altogether better in Nor Cal.

 

3. San Francisco

San Francisco is without a doubt one of the most unique and vivacious cities in America.  The beauty and magic of San Francisco range from the awe you feel in the presence of the Golden Gate Bridge to the warm and crispy deliciousness of a fresh baked sourdough bread roll.  The city itself is upbeat and in many ways, just plain fabulous.  Public transportation is exponentially easier than most cities in California via Bart, and there is always something new to discover.  It is also advantageous in its proximity to Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite.  Living in or around San Francisco, there is always an opportunity to have another adventure.

 

4. Diverse and Progressive Population

Northern California embodies diversity and has always been constantly at the forefront of progressive thought.  The historical destination of trailblazing Beat poets, home to incomparable strides in the Gay Rights movement, one of the most environmentally conscious metropolises in America, and constantly at the forefront of burgeoning technology with the uniquely unparalleled Silicon Valley, the Bay Area is constantly moving forward.

 

5. The Culture

Nor Cal has a culture that is completely its own.  The thing that was most apparent to me meeting people from Nor Cal when I got to college was the lingo.  I found myself starting to say “hella” a few months into freshman year, a habit that was quickly halted by the outraged reactions of my friends from home (DID YOU JUST SAY HELLA?).  The Bay Area culture is also seen in elements such as hyphy music and the thizz face.  It’s something you don’t really understand (or in my experience are able to do successfully…see above left) unless Bay Area flows in your blood.

 

Southern California

 

1. The Beaches

This one is a non-negotiable.  The beaches in Southern California are without a doubt the most beautiful and useable beaches in the state.  From San Diego’s La Jolla Cove and Venice Beach in Los Angeles to my hometown favorites like Strands and Salt Creek in Laguna Beach, there is no place better to feel the sand between your toes and the warm summer water splashing against you.  Whether you’ll admit it or not, you know you’ve watched at least one episode of Laguna Beach and been just a little bit jealous of that beautiful So Cal coastline.

 

2. The Weather

When you think California, you think endless sunshine and warmth even in the winter.   This is synonymous with So Cal.  Even being on the Central Coast I’ve felt the transition to colder days and nights from down south.  The further north you get, the colder you get, and this gives So Cal the edge for those of us who love it most when there is sunshine.

3. Los Angeles and Hollywood

Los Angeles is a fast-paced and ever-changing city that is home to amazing culture, industry, and opportunity.  Get in touch with your inner Julia Roberts and shop Rodeo, spend the day immersed in art at the Getty, eat virtually any type of cuisine on earth, or see a show at the famous Pantages Theatre.  Then of course there is the glamorous and fascinating world of Hollywood.  Whether it be the rich history of the film industry portrayed in places such as Grauman’s Chinese Theater to a casual celeb sighting, there is truly nowhere like Hollywood.

4. The Laid Back Lifestyle

It’s chill bro.  It’s a culture of Vans and Rainbow wearers, of bro tanks and short shorts, of backwards baseball hats and scruff.  It all goes hand-in-hand with the beachy sunshiny atmosphere.  From the music to the state of mind, there is just a chiller vibe in Southern California.  It may be a stereotype and it by no means applies to everyone, but in those moments where the sun is shining and you have a Corona in your hand, there’s just nothing that can really get you amped.

 

5. Disneyland

Home to the happiest place on Earth!  You know you love it, at least a little bit.  When you’re at Disneyland, you feel like a kid again in the best possible way.  The thrill of the rides, the life altering churros, the creative line games you and your friends come up with, it’s all just so flipping fun.  And for even those of us who can’t muster up the courage to face the big bad scary amusement parks out there, Disneyland is the perfect compromise.  And for So Calers, it’s generally no more than an hour away.

 

So which comes out ahead?  It depends on who you ask.  We are all going to root for the place we grew up, less for what it has to offer and more because it will always be home, no matter where we live.  And when it comes down to it, we can all agree on one thing: California is by far the best state, regardless of which side of it you live on.

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