"The Golden State"

Welcome to California

California/Nevada border on US-50
September 2, 2007

It should come as a surprised to anyone who has visited California to see why it is America's most populated state: temperate weather, varied and beautiful scenery, proximity to the Pacific Ocean and did I mention nice weather? Growing up in the Golden State, our family went to the beach countless times, but people forget that California also has dense forests, sprawling deserts, soaring mountain ranges and expansive farm land. You could almost make the case that if you had to pick one state that personified the diversity of America, California would be the consensus pick. In fact, Californians joke that you could easily split it down the middle, as the northern half is so divergent from the south.

Reaching this sign was a disappointment. I traveled up towards Lake Tahoe to reach this border, as it was closest to Carson City, so I could capture two capitols in one trip. I was returning to California from Nevada along U.S. 50, which was also the main street through South Lake Tahoe. As a result, there was no elaborate sign along the side of the road, as it was occupied by storefronts and restaurants. As you can see, it was perched on top on a traffic light pole, and I snapped this picture as I drove by. I tried to take another picture from a different angle, but was also unsuccessful. I guess one of the times I head out to California to visit my parents, I will have to re-take this sign, perhaps along I-80 next time.

Welcome to Sacramento

September 2, 2007

In the same way that Albany is the capital of New York, it seems disappointing to travel to Sacramento. Don't get me wrong: SacTown is a fine city and surprisingly one of the largest in California. I guess it's location in the Central Valley and away from such cultural hubs like Los Angeles and San Francisco. But it has its own identity and boasts its own style, and I was impressed at the impressive architecture of a town that is in the middle of earthquake country. The riverfront has a lot of cool shops and places to eat, and Old Sacramento offers tourists a chance to see an old west town and Sutter's Fort, the first non-native establishment in the valley and trading post during the gold rush.

I have remarked several times in these descriptions of the various capitols I have visited that most of them bear a resemblance to the U.S. capitol in the District of Columbia, but I have to say that California's is almost an exact replica. The white sandstone seems almost brighter than its counterpart in Washington, although the dome is more subdued. But what I found more interesting was behind the building, where the grounds extend for several blocks and contain a vast assortment of plants from around the state. There are also the obligatory statues and monuments to various notable residents and memorials to veterans, but I was most impressed with the pond located just behind the capitol. It attracted a sizable crowd, as people were felt compelled to lean along the railing and watch the fish.

Miscellaneous California Symbols

State Route Sign

License Plate

Seal

Quarter