What Californians Love About the Golden State

Happy Valentine’s Day!

On this day dedicated to love, I’m sharing some poignant reflections readers have sent me about California and what they love about their part of the state.

I was recently struck by California’s seemingly endless bounty when I stumbled upon the banks of Folsom Lake, where local residents were riding bikes and walking dogs in the crisp morning air.

As a reporter, I often hear about Folsom Lake, about 25 miles east of Sacramento, in conversations about drought — it’s one of the state’s biggest reservoirs. But I somehow hadn’t realized there was so much beauty and community to be enjoyed along its shores until I ended up there by accident.

I can see that sort of delight in many of the emails readers have sent me about why they love living here. You can send your own California love letter to CAtoday@nytimes.com.

Here are some, lightly edited:

“Up here in Humboldt County, I am lucky enough to live surrounded by redwoods, with beaches less than five minutes away. A bike ride to work allows me to catch the morning sunrise over the ocean, view the river as I cross a bridge above it, followed by pedalling a winding road through cow pastures. I have all this natural beauty, yet still live only 12 minutes away by car from a college town where I am fortunate to work with students who give me hope for our future.” — Jennie Brown, Trinidad

“As a native of Los Angeles, I remember back in the 1980s when my boyfriend at the time drove me on the back of his motorcycle one winter. We traveled up to Mount Baldy to see the snow, then we rode all the way to Santa Monica Beach to watch the sunset — all in one day. How many people can say that?” — Pamela Fender, Rohnert Park