I stood facing the warm golden hues that flood the ocean waves which rushed along the sandy beach. I had both my feet planted firmly in the hills adorned with majestic towering redwoods as the orange sun began to slowly conceal its body behind the rugged coastal cliffside.
“This is why I’ll never leave California,” I said in front of a group of students. “Even though the Golden State got its name from the Gold Rush, I’d like to think it’s a fitting phrase to describe the state with one of the most beautiful sunsets.”
We stood at the edge of the coastal forest bathed in the golden sea of light, and soaked up the magical glow of golden hour. A bleed of reds emerged from the sky painted golden as the sun lowered itself further behind the horizon. We were on a tour of California and were hiking, camping, and doing restoration work along the northern coastal line. The drive from Southern California past the Golden Gate Bridge had already proved that the state held a wide variation of weather climates settled right next to each other. The colder coastal breezes that swept through the redwood trees and brought misty fog in the night was far different from the hot summer weather sandwiched in the central San Joaquin Valley we had passed.
The sunset was the highlight of the day after visiting the windy beaches below. The group of students took photos of the ancient trees basking in the light, and then walked to the edge of the forest before steaming in awe at the gorgeous views. It was a brilliant reminder of the state’s incredible beauty. A visual token that let you know that you ended up in the right place. It was encouraging to know that no matter what kind of day I was having, being able to witness the golden sunset always felt like a privilege that not everyone gets to stop and experience often. When I worked in an office full time, I would always be so grateful that I could go home before it was dark to see the sunset. I would always feel like I had a better day when I left with enough time to drive into the sea of golden light. I felt like I was being cooped up in a prison when I stepped out of the office building and it was already dark, and I would yearn for the dramatic setting of the sun.
California has it all from the deserts to the colossal mountains, the sandy ocean beaches to the prairie lands and tall ancient redwood trees. You can drive throughout all the different landscapes in a single day, and then keep driving for hours and hours along the U.S. state with one of the longest coastlines. Exploring all of what California has to offer has kept me here. Having access to everything and being immersed in constant beauty seems like a blessing and a special opportunity. Life feels less hectic when you get a sample of every beautiful thing and then get to witness the magic of golden hour.