Love Letters to California

It’s been a protracted week, so this morning I’m providing somewhat serotonin enhance to hold us into the weekend.

Final month, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I requested you to submit love letters to your nook of California. You emailed me dozens of charming tributes to Santa Cruz, Aliso Viejo, Glendale, Sausalito and extra.

I used to be in a position to publish solely a handful, however as we speak I’m again with one other spherical. Your odes are heartfelt and goofy and, frankly, they show that love actually might be blind. Take pleasure in.

“Once I moved to Lengthy Seaside from Philadelphia greater than a decade in the past, I assumed SoCal would by no means really feel like house. I missed the sense of historical past and the distinct seasons that characterize Philly. Caught in visitors on the 405, I even missed SEPTA. Over time, nonetheless, I’ve come to understand a lot about Lengthy Seaside — particularly the birds. Most mornings, my son and I get up to a cacophony of untamed parrots that frequent the tall palm timber close to our home. Recognizing the pair of peacocks that wander round our neighborhood is a favourite pastime. And I discover true pleasure in watching the hummingbirds hover exterior our eating room home windows whereas I make money working from home today.” — Gwen Shaffer, Lengthy Seaside

“‘Why do you keep there?’

As a result of I used to be born right here 10 days after Loma Prieta.

My dad poured detergent cleaning soap within the fountain by town limits as a child.

My mom’s mom sighed with delight when she first visited — San Francisco was the closest metropolis in America to her hometown.

Right here, my great-grandfather bought fits in ways in which have been perhaps somewhat sketchy.

Right here, I bumped into my dad on BART and we did the N.Y.T. crossword collectively.

Right here, I stood and fought eviction and its violence.

And right here, I see the ghosts of a lot of my household gone, however their presence stays.

Right here is house.

The place a mutt and a refugee’s daughter who identifies as nothing else identifies as San Francisco’s personal.” — Sarah Hartman, San Francisco

“I LOVE the seasons in San Diego. Sure, the seasons. Being a local, I grew up listening to the transplant residents commiserating, ‘There are not any seasons right here!’ as they stood of their driveways, fortunately donning sun shades and quick sleeves.

They’re lacking it, I’d assume. The altering shadows, the delicate and delightful shifts within the Chinese language oak timber, the sensible and altering hues within the morning and night skies, the homey odor of moist neighborhood streets, the ebb and stream of the scents of desert herbs … and a lot extra.” — Sylvia Padilla Sullivan, San Diego

“Once I moved from Ohio to Sacramento in 1976, California was affected by a critical drought that I used to be not conscious of at first. I marveled at day after day of sunshine and blue sky … even into winter! I assumed I had moved to Camelot! And now, in any case these years and extra drought and forest fires, I nonetheless consider California as my Camelot.” — Mary Kay Goodley, Sacramento

“I’m a Bay Space lady by means of and thru and each a part of my life has been indelibly formed by the long-term love and dedication this Golden State and I’ve shared. My youngest daughter and I have been each born at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. My closest mates are the exact same mates from Kennedy Jr. Excessive, Monta Vista Excessive (go Matadors!), and my faculty days at U.C. Berkeley. I met the love of my life right here (he went to Stanford and the rivalry is actual), obtained married in an epic Indian wedding ceremony for the ages right here, and our two women have been born right here. My mother and father dwell right here, my bestest mates dwell right here, and my work for over 20 years within the nonprofit/schooling sector has taken place right here. Actually and figuratively, California and my coronary heart are inextricably entwined.

And right here’s what I do know to be true — when you may go for walks exterior each day, when you may cheer on the unimaginable sports activities groups that we’re proud to name our personal, when throughout a pandemic you may simply see your family members exterior and go for hikes amid gorgeous landscapes and eat scrumptious meals at unimaginable eating places exterior on a winter’s night time … if there’s a heaven on earth, it’s the Bay Space, and I’m so grateful to have identified and to be cherished by it.” — Aditi Goel, Los Altos

For extra:

If you happen to learn one story, make it this

As soon as filled with hope, Oakland hashish sellers face a harsh actuality.

The place we’re touring

In the present day’s tip comes from Luz Consuelo Triana-Echeverría, who lives in Minnesota.

“My favourite place to go to in California is Palm Springs throughout February or March, when it’s nonetheless very chilly in Minnesota. My boyfriend used to go yearly however now that he handed, I nonetheless go on my own. We made it a practice to remain at a lodge with a pleasant pool the place not surprisingly, we meet many Canadians and Minnesotans making an attempt to beat the chilly.

One good journey is to take the Aerial Tramway, the place you may recognize the Chino Canyon as you arrive to the San Jacinto Peak and have lunch on the good restaurant on prime of the mountain. One other day, I drive by means of Chino, the place I at all times cease at a fig plantation and purchase figs for the remainder of the 12 months.

On one other day, I can not assist however drive by means of Joshua Tree Nationwide Park, the place if I’m fortunate to be there throughout the good week, my sight is embellished by the presence of wildflowers in all places. However essentially the most wonderful place in Palm Springs is the oasis of California Palms on the San Andreas fault traces. Once I’m driving by means of the desert, it’s mesmerizing to see a inexperienced space distant. As I get nearer, that greenery begins changing into a actuality, however as soon as I’m proper there, the unimaginable width and size of the palms are simply jaw dropping. As a result of who would anticipate finding dense and luxuriant palm timber in the course of the desert?”

Inform us about your favourite locations to go to in California. E mail your options to CAtoday@nytimes.com. We’ll be sharing extra in upcoming editions of the e-newsletter.

What we’re studying

A brand new ebook in regards to the many constellations of communities within the Southern California desert.

And earlier than you go, some excellent news

After a serious hearth swept by means of Sequoia Nationwide Park’s Big Forest six months in the past, the well-known grove has been both closed or open to guests on a restricted foundation.

However park officers not too long ago introduced that the Big Forest — house to 5 of the most important sequoias on the planet — is as soon as once more open seven days every week, The San Francisco Chronicle studies.