What Winter in SoCal Is Like

{via}

California is a pretty big tourist state (shout-out to the Hollywood sign, Disneyland, and the Golden-Gate Bridge) but most people who travel to California do so in the summer and don't ever get to see what California is like in the "winter". I have lived in Southern California my whole life, and I have never experienced a winter that is not like the one I'm about to describe!

Going to the beach in December is normal.

Last year, I went to the beach with my parents on December 27th, and I actually wore my bathing suit the whole time. The water may have been a bit cold (that's where my wet-suit comes in), but besides that, the beach is great in the winter. Some of the best beach days I've ever had have been in January!

Rain freaks people out.

Whenever the forecast mentions rain, people get excited. The roads and parts of schools flood because they aren't designed for rain. My school doesn't have a covered place to eat lunch (we eat on the grass) because it barely rains and never snows so we all have to awkwardly stand under the covered doorways of classrooms when it rains during lunch.

I have never seen snow fall.

This probably sounds crazy to some people who have seen snow fall too many times to count, but I have honestly never seen snow fall in person. I was around 7 when I first saw snow on the ground and I was so excited. A few years ago I went skiing, but I haven't seen snow since. In fact, when I was 8, all I asked Santa for was for it to snow at my house on Christmas, which of course didn't happen (but I did get some snow mittens and a hat). Where I live, going to the snow is a thing. You will take a few hours out of your Saturday afternoon to drive to the mountains and  "go to the snow". Weird, I know. 

50 degrees is cold. 

People reading this probably think that I'm exaggerating, but 50 degrees is cold (don't even get me started on 40 degrees). During the rest of the year, it rarely drops below 70 degrees (which is considered cool). When it hits below 65 degrees, get ready to see people break out the boots, rain coats, and scarves. I actually can't even imagine how cold 20 degrees is. 

Ice skating is indoors.
There is a place to go ice skating near my house, but due to the "not exactly freezing" temperatures, it's an inside ice skating rink. It's super fun to go, but also funny because it's colder inside than out!

High school ski team? 
I read online that some high schools have ski teams which is so cool. We obviously don't have a ski team at my high school, but a few of my friends' high school's have surf teams, which is pretty sweet as well.

What is winter like where you live?
xoxo,
Alyssa