Northern California
Redwoods and fog
Northern California is the upper portion of California, generally north of the Bakersfield-San Luis Obispo line, though boundaries vary by speaker.
The region includes San Francisco, Silicon Valley, the wine country, and vast stretches of forests and mountains.
She grew up in Northern California and found Los Angeles foreign.
Residents often abbreviate it to NorCal, and the cultural divide between Northern and Southern California runs deep—a friendly rivalry over weather, attitudes, and which half is the "real" California.
Earth's vastest ocean
- Big SurCalifornia coastal region
- MendocinoPacific coast county, California
- MontereyCentral California coastal city
- CarmelBiblical Israeli promontory
beaches · cliffs · tide pools · sea lions · kelp forests · whale watching · coastline · seashore
Bay Area tech corridor
- startupsNewly launched businesses
- venture capitalStartup growth financing
- StanfordCalifornia private research university
- innovationCreating something original
engineer · software · biotech · AI · San Jose · Palo Alto · Mountain View · Cupertino
Western U.S. mountain range
- SacramentoCalifornia seat of government
- Bay AreaNorthern California metropolitan region
- ShastaVolcanic peak in California
- TahoeCalifornia-Nevada alpine lake
Yosemite · Central Valley · Cascade Range · Klamath · San Joaquin Valley · Delta
Low-lying cloud cover
- marine layerLow ocean-born cloud cover
- microclimatesLocalized atmospheric conditions
- MediterraneanSea between Europe, Africa, Asia
- mildModerate in intensity
drizzle · overcast · damp · cool summers · dry season · rainy season · fog belt · morning mist
California wine county
- vineyardGrape-growing estate
- wineryGrape beverage producer
- tasting roomVenue for sampling beverages
- Cabernet SauvignonNoble red grape variety
Pinot Noir · Chardonnay · terroir · viticulture · harvest · barrel · crush · wine train
Old-growth forest preserve
- Redwood National ParkProtected old-growth forest, California
- sequoiaEnormous evergreen tree species
- old-growthLong-undisturbed forest
- ancientVery old indeed
towering · canopy · banana slug · Humboldt · coast redwood · giant sequoia · preservation · fairy ring
Pacific
Earth's vastest ocean
- Big SurCalifornia coastal region
- MendocinoPacific coast county, California
- MontereyCentral California coastal city
Carmel · beaches · cliffs · tide pools · sea lions · kelp forests · whale watching · coastline · seashore · surfing
Silicon Valley
Bay Area tech corridor
- startupsNewly launched businesses
- venture capitalStartup growth financing
- StanfordCalifornia private research university
innovation · engineer · software · biotech · AI · San Jose · Palo Alto · Mountain View · Cupertino · Google
Sierra Nevada
Western U.S. mountain range
- SacramentoCalifornia seat of government
- Bay AreaNorthern California metropolitan region
- ShastaVolcanic peak in California
Tahoe · Yosemite · Central Valley · Cascade Range · Klamath · San Joaquin Valley · Delta
fog
Low-lying cloud cover
- marine layerLow ocean-born cloud cover
- microclimatesLocalized atmospheric conditions
- MediterraneanSea between Europe, Africa, Asia
mild · drizzle · overcast · damp · cool summers · dry season · rainy season · fog belt · morning mist · temperate
Sonoma
California wine county
- vineyardGrape-growing estate
- wineryGrape beverage producer
- tasting roomVenue for sampling beverages
Cabernet Sauvignon · Pinot Noir · Chardonnay · terroir · viticulture · harvest · barrel · crush · wine train · caves
Muir Woods
Old-growth forest preserve
- Redwood National ParkProtected old-growth forest, California
- sequoiaEnormous evergreen tree species
- old-growthLong-undisturbed forest
ancient · towering · canopy · banana slug · Humboldt · coast redwood · giant sequoia · preservation · fairy ring · burls
- American RegionsMidwest, Southwest, Northwest, Deep South, Pacific Northwest
- Western U.S.Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Rocky Mountains
- North Coast
- MegaregionsCascadia, Great Lakes, Gulf Coast, Chicagoland
Northern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southwestern US coastal region
SoCal · LA · beach culture · Tinseltown · Central California
north, northern, northward, California, North America, northwards, Californian, Californians, Californication