"I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it." ~ William Shakespeare
As I continued my exploration of Pinterest while being snowed in, I realized something; growing up in California all my life, I didn't really have the chance to see how unique it was/is. But now that I live out of state and have traveled to many other states, I can see that there is no state quite like California. There are things that only grow there, only created there, only exist there and if you haven't experienced it, you are probably missing out...on something...not quite sure what, but surely there is some green hole in your life that can only be filled by a trip to the Golden State. I am hoping that these sights and experiences will encourage you to plan a trip to my home state some day.
The most outstanding attributes of California, lie in it's natural beauty. Nowhere in the world can you witness breathtaking beauty like Yosemite National Park and the awe inspiring coast of Big Sur.
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| Yosemite Valley |
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| Big Sur |
Only, that's not a real dinosaur. And, actually, no dinosaurs were ever there, just old and big mammals. The remains of one person has been found there, too. La Brea is really just a giant pool of flypaper. Whatever wandered in to the tar pools, stayed there and got eaten by other animals who used the pits as animal traps. You can't see any remains in the pits. You just walk around the grounds admiring bubbling, stinking, asphaltum imagining animals are stuck in it. And, like everything else in California, you pay for that privilege. In my opinion, in a state that is in a constant state of road construction, it is wiser to save yourself the Tar Pits' 12.00 admission and set up on the side of the road that is being resurfaced and wait for a small, unsuspecting animal to wander by.
Another element that California is known for is uncommon wildlife. The Tule Elk are a subspecies of elk native to California. There are amazing elephant seals on the coast. But one of the most unusual spectacles of wildlife is the California Condor. Scientists rescued the last of the condors in the late 80's and started a rigorous rehabilitation program. Once nearly extinct, there are about 226 of them in the wild now. The condor has a long and rich history with the indigenous peoples, as well as scientists, of the areas where they once flew in vast numbers. And those people tell of the history of Condor. Condor, it is said, used to steal people and chop their heads off while trying to drown Ground Squirrel in the blood according to the Mono tribe, whose name, loosely translated, means "Are you Scientists Crazy Saving that Murderous Bird?!". Here you can see their attack instincts in action:
But perhaps the most fascinating zoological species to inhabit California is one that may likely be extinct in the state now. No, I am not talking about the Grizzly...which has been extinct in the state since the 1920's but is still on California's flag and remains their state animal to this day. No, I am talking about Sasquatch. There is no denying the existence of Bigfoot. Here is proof, shot in California...
Most reports indicate Bigfoot is alive and well in the way north of California, where incidentally, most illegal marijuana is grown. Though sightings have dwindled in California, Washington State, who, interestingly enough, just legalized marijuana still reports run-ins with the creatures frequently. And in Canada, where they pass time by drinking Screech, Sasquatch still makes regular appearances. Coincidence? I think not.
There are so many incredible sights to see (or not see, in the case of Bigfoot) in California. These are just a few that I realized other parts of the US have not been able to experience. Sure, those other states have things that California does not, but I'm not headed to those states, so who cares?
Gotta Mosey!
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