9 Surprising Things You May Not Expect When Moving To Northern California

Northern California is a great place to live, whether you're moving here for school, work, or the unbeatable weather. But like moving to any new location, residing in Northern California may come with its fair share of surprises. Here are the 9 surprising things you may not expect when moving to the northern half of our Golden State.

1. Northern California is in earthquake territory.

Be sure to earthquake-proof your home, and pick up some earthquake insurance just in case.

2. Avocados are everywhere, and they are delicious.

Avocado toast, avocado smoothies, avocado ice cream... if you don't like this delicious fruit yet, you will soon.

3. We love our Mexican food.

Burritos and tacos are to Californians what pizza is to New Yorkers.

4. Brunch is the most important meal of the day.

Forget breakfast, brunch is where it's at in NorCal. Expect friends to hit you up for brunch way more often than lunch or dinner.

5. California was the first state to ban single-use plastic bags.

Be sure to bring a recyclable bag with you when you're grocery shopping.

6. People talk in tech terms.

With the Silicon Valley being one of the most influential technology hubs in the world, you can expect many Northern California to use words like "bandwidth" when they're talking about time.

7. Uber and Lyft are ways of life.

Especially in bigger cities with more traffic, many people opt to use Uber and Lyft as means of transportation, rather than driving themselves. Hey, it's better for the environment, after all.

8. The beach is never far away.

No matter where you are in California, you're pretty much guaranteed that the beach is never more than a few hours drive away.

9. Every city — and neighborhood — is different.

No matter where you move in NorCal, you're sure to experience a community that is unique in its own ways.

Northern California has something for everyone. If you're looking to find out more about the state before making the move, check out some of these unique attractions NorCal has to offer.