You’ve heard it, and you believe it too: We are creatures of habit. Any given person can likely list all their comforts and routines without hesitation, maybe even more so now that recent events have forced us to reexamine, if not halt altogether, many of our most favorite activities.

A recent issue of National Geographic studied the science behind our nomadic tendencies in response to worldwide travel restrictions, and on January 26, “National Plan Your Vacation Day,” we suddenly realized planning a vacation was never seen as an activity that needed special attention before—it was just a freedom that existed.

 

 

So, what do we do when all of this is flipped upside down—our comforts, our habits, our activities, our travels? It’s flight or fight, sink or swim, really. Our family decided to get creative and reinvented our well-oiled wheels: Road trips around our home region.

 

 

The Sacramento Valley is pretty amazing—we all know that. Aside from supporting our small businesses and restaurants, we have an abundance of farms, ranches, rivers, lakes, trails, and “Wide Open Walls.” But what other hidden subcultures are still to be discovered? For us, it’s the eclectic, eccentric, bizarre, and quirky residents of our area. The ones who have taken their passion to their property lines and given the rest of us a show through colors, collections, art, nostalgia, and curiosity. Each time we come across a unique property we always stop to marvel and appreciate the dedication one has to see their vision to completion, to be bold when so many others choose otherwise. We’ve stumbled upon these homes all up, down, and beyond California, but it was time to see what’s uniquely Sacramento.

 

 

So far, our family has found a few local homeowner gems. We’ve asked around, talked to other locals, drove some random backroads, and occasionally hit the jackpot, but we are certain there are more out there. Do you know them? Have you seen them?

 

• In Roseville, a home with more than a dozen original railroad crossing signs mounted to their front yard.
• In Lincoln, possibly the world’s largest paper crane greets commuters along the train tracks.
• In Citrus Heights, a front yard shrub finds reincarnation as The Artist (Formerly Known as Prince).
  
• In Sacramento, the colorful Dragon House in Curtis Park is well loved.
• Woodland is home to Reiff’s Gas Station House, and if you’re lucky you can sign up for a tour.
• A property in Loomis has a five-star lineup of vintage cars and room to pull over and appreciate.

 

 

Perfect for a leisurely day drive, we have set out before to appreciate these quirky locals, and are always on the hunt for more, so now it’s your turn to share. What neighbors truly shine with their quirk? And if you were to be so bold with your own home, what would be your quirk?

 

 

 

By @ca.love.fornia

Photos by @ca.love.fornia

Loomis-based blogger @ca.love.fornia journeys across the state with her family discovering under-the-radar people, places, and cultures. Follow her adventures on Instagram!