California is a state rich with culture, coastline, and a carefree attitude towards daily life. Most of us who are new to the state or have only visited have found themselves California daydreamin’ at one time or another.

However, most of us only see California life through the lens of TV and movies which, of course, aren’t always so accurate.

So, what is life really like in California?

Well, it’s a big state, with varying climates, landscapes, and people. From the affluent and energized communities of Silicon Valley to the mountain towns surrounding Yosemite, there is no shortage of variety in California.

In this post, I’m going to share a few sources that show us what life is really like in the Golden State, so that you can determine which part of California is right for you and which you’d rather save for the next vacation.

California Through My Lens

If you’re a visual person, you’ll appreciate the work put in my California Through My Lens. CTML documents all kinds of attractions, events, and sights throughout the state of California.

A self-proclaimed, “travel junkie strapped down to one state,” its author is an expert on all things Cali, with guides for road trips, national parks, hikes and more.

For those who like to find things off the beaten path, CTML also documents some of the stranger, more bizarre parts of California that you probably won’t see in the movies.

Visit California

While its designed with tourism in mind, Visit California is an excellent source for discovering great information about the 9 national parks the state is home to, as well as breakdowns of the various geographic and cultural regions that make up California. We’re talking Wine Country, San Francisco Bay area, and other iconic regions that come together to make the great state of California.

City-Data

More of a hard science person? City-Data has all of the statistics you need on the hundreds of cities sprawled across California.

Learn about school rankings, weather, income and safety from data mined from over 400 cities in California. Then, compare the cities based on you and your family’s needs.

This Is My Happiness

So far the list has been a bit biased towards SoCal, but fear not. The north has plenty to offer too.

The author of This Is My Happiness is a freelance writer based in California who documents her experiences traveling through and living in Northern California.

Covering places to hike, camp, and fun ideas for families, this is a blog for anyone interested in what life can be like living on the West Coast.

So, now that you know a bit more about the lifestyle of Californians, are you ready to take the next step toward becoming one yourself?