Valley Gurl Series: The Guardians of the Valley & California

What is one thing California is known for? Mountains.

California has mountains, hills, valleys, beaches, deserts — we truly have a little bit of everything. Specifically here in the San Fernando Valley, we are surrounded by hills and mountains. The Valley is basically a bowl. We are not trapped, but we are enclosed and protected by the scenery around us.

We have the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance, the Santa Monica Mountains nearby, and hills all around us. Even some of our neighborhoods reflect that in their names like Woodland Hills, Granada Hills, and Porter Ranch.

Drive into Burbank, especially around Universal Studios Hollywood and Studio City, and you are surrounded by beautiful hills and greenery. It is one of those views that reminds you why people love Southern California. Since Universal sits higher up, you can see so much from there — parts of the Valley, Hollywood, and the surrounding landscape. It almost feels like standing above everything.

The hills and mountains also shape how our communities were built. Southern California is not flat like some places. States like Florida have much more open land and room to build, while here we are more clustered between mountains, hills, and developed areas.

Of course every place has its pros and cons. We deal with earthquakes, strong winds, and fires — something I talked about in my previous blog — while other places experience hurricanes and different weather patterns. But one thing we are fortunate to have here is beautiful weather most of the year and easy access to nature.

One thing I love about living in the Valley is that mountains are not far away. Within driving distance you can completely change your scenery.

My family used to go to Lake Arrowhead all the time for holiday weekends and getaways. We actually had a house there for years. Ever since it was sold, we still occasionally take day trips back because it was such a special place for us.

We also have Big Bear Lake nearby, plus places like Wrightwood and Frazier Park near the Grapevine. Many of these places get snow, and I was fortunate enough to experience that from a young age. I truly think every child should experience snow at least once.

Growing up in the Valley meant I could experience sunshine most of the year but still be within driving distance of mountains and winter weather.

Our mountain house was beautiful. It was a two-story, four-bedroom home surrounded by nature. We had a backyard, trees everywhere, and it felt peaceful in a way that is hard to explain. I miss it more than words can say.

We even brought our pets there. My uncle and aunt brought their dogs, and they loved mountain life. We had a boat on the lake and spent so much time outside.

One memory I will never forget involved our cat, Bandit.

One trip she hid somewhere inside the mountain house and nobody could find her. We had to leave and I was heartbroken because I was worried sick. The next morning my grandfather drove back up while I was at school and found Bandit sitting right in front of the door waiting for food like nothing happened.

She was a brat. The cutest kitty ever, but after that she lost her mountain house privileges. Looking back now, I realize how lucky I was to grow up with those experiences.

Living in the San Fernando Valley means we can wake up surrounded by hills, drive to the mountains, experience snow, enjoy lakes, hike nature trails, or simply appreciate the scenery around us.

The mountains and hills are always there. Watching. Protecting. Guarding the Valley and California And maybe that is why they feel like our guardians.