It’s that time of year again, summer time!
So how many people go to the beach when it’s over 100 degrees in the Valley? I do. A lot of us Valley people do because that’s just what happens around here. The Valley can get really hot during the summer. We can easily see temperatures in the 90s and even over 100 degrees. When that happens, we head to the pool, stay inside with the air conditioning on, go to the mall where it’s nice and cool, or make our way to the beach.
One of the best things about living in Southern California is that the beach isn’t too far away. While the Valley is baking in triple-digit temperatures, the coast is usually much cooler. Most beach communities stay somewhere between the 60s and 80s depending on the time of day and time of year. They generally don’t experience the drastic temperature swings that we do inland.
That’s why so many of us Valley residents head toward the coast when it’s scorching hot. Sometimes the Valley feels like a desert, and honestly, parts of Los Angeles have a very dry climate. But the amazing thing is that we also live close to the Pacific Ocean.
Speaking of the beach, I think Southern California has some of the best beaches around. Living in the Valley means we’re lucky enough to enjoy them whenever we want. You can relax, have a picnic, lay out in the sun, go surfing, swim, or just enjoy the ocean breeze.
I’ve gone into the ocean a few times throughout my life, but not enough to venture too far out. The ocean is beautiful, but it can also be powerful and unpredictable. Still, spending a day by the beach is one of the highlights of summer.
Another great thing about summer in the Valley is summer break. Many students are out of school, and some people even get a week or two off work for vacations. Growing up, I remember so many family trips. My parents took me to places like Laughlin, Nevada, and Las Vegas multiple times. We also visited Hawaii and Florida, specifically Oahu, Hawaii and Orlando, Florida. I was pretty young for some of those trips, so I wish I had been old enough to appreciate everything a little more.
My grandparents created a lot of summer memories too. My grandparents would take me to Lake Havasu, and my grandparents on my mom’s side took me to San Diego every year. Eventually those trips turned into annual visits to Disneyland. I also spent my summer days by the pool, seeing movies, spending time with family friends & pets. I saw my first real concert in the summer 2012, The B-52s. It was so much fun!
One of my favorite Valley summer traditions is attending the free summer concerts at Warner Center Park. The concert series usually runs from the second weekend of June through the second-to-last weekend of August. Every year they bring in great cover bands, and it’s become a tradition for us to spend Sunday evenings there with friends and family.
Summer is also the perfect time to hang out with friends, enjoy life a little more, and make memories. The evenings are honestly my favorite part of summer in the Valley. After a really hot day, temperatures often cool down into the 70s, and those evenings feel amazing. I’m not a huge fan of cold weather, so that comfortable warm temperature is pretty much perfect to me.
Even when you travel to desert areas like Nevada or Arizona, the evenings can still be warm. At least the sun isn’t beating down on you anymore, though. It’s still hot, but I actually enjoy that kind of weather.
Overall, summers are awesome here on the West Coast, especially in California. Whether it’s beach days, family vacations, concerts in the park, or simply enjoying a warm summer evening, there’s something special about this time of year.
Nothing beats a summer evening in the Valley.
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