Testing the Waters

While California is a stone's throw from the Grand Canyon State, it truly feels a world away. My first thoughts upon driving back to the Golden State (I was born a few miles from San Fran): Where do all these people come from?! California, particularly Southern California, is notorious for the daily calamity known as rush hour traffic. Perhaps the clean, smooth and often empty highways of Arizona have contributed to my naivete of other state's driving habits. 

California is the most populous state and is home to eight of the nation's 50 most populated cities. All in all, the CA (as I like to call it), is home to more than 37 million people (a whopping 12 percent of the total US population) and for good reason. With 840 miles of picturesque coastline California has the third largest coastline of all the states, coming after Alaska and Florida, neither of which have California's gorgeous mediterranean climate.               

Although impressive, these statistics don't give someone who has never been to California insight into why so many people choose to make this state their home. Over the next few months I hope to go beyond these statistics and rediscover what makes California so great in the eyes of so many. 

Throughout my journey, my aim is to be able to help people understand how California became the most populous state by exploring and uncovering all it has to offer (well, within the confines of San Diego County- gas ain't cheap).  

From the best beaches to exceptional eateries and maybe even a museum mall or two, you'll see Cali through my eyes as I learn the region. There's sure to be hits and most definitely misses, but I promise to try to make it interesting, semi-educational and always a blast. Think of me as your travel guide... more Anthony Bourdain than PBS travel special.

RATING 

Look for this rating section in each of my posts... I will do my best to show you guys which places you can go for a good time, stops that should be avoided and hotspots that cannot be missed. I'll try to examine each place from an objective point of view. Look out next week for an original rating system that has yet to be devised. Once I come up with one, you'll be the first to know.