PEOPLE Celebrates All the Reasons to Love California with a Special Edition Issue
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03/21/2025 06:30 AM
The 96-page issue highlights the iconic movies, music and more born in the Golden State, while also appreciating its natural wonders and resilient residents
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PEOPLE's "Reasons to Love California" special edition cover (left) and the Hollywood sign (right)There's so many reasons to love California! PEOPLE's latest special edition issue celebrates the duality of the state as a pop culture hub where dreams come to life — and a sprawling oasis filled with natural wonders.
The 96-page Reasons to Love California issue (available on Amazon and newsstands across the country now) explores the state as a cultural force — including how it inspires musical masterminds like Taylor Swift, and how it's stunning landscape became the backdrop for famous movie franchises like Star Wars.
In addition to a roundup of must-visit celebrity restaurants — like Ryan Goslings' Tagine and Issa Rae's Somerville — the magazine offers a curated playlist of California-inspired songs as well as a "Top 10 Essential Movies" list that are all set across the state.
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Of course, the special issue wouldn't be complete without taking a walk down memory lane at one of California's most beloved amusement parks.
As Disneyland turns 70 later this year, our feature details the Anaheim, Calif., park's rocky opening day on July 17, 1955 and the many hands that made its debut possible. The $17 million amusement park was brought to life across 160 acres — all based on an idea Walt Disney had been dreaming of since the early 1930s.
"I don't want the public to see the world they live in while they're in the park. I want them to feel they're in another world," the visionary animator said of the destination.
While the reasons to love California are endless, perhaps one of the most important ones is just how resilient the state is.
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Firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles on Jan. 8, 2025On Jan. 7, multiple wildfires in Los Angeles began spreading rapidly throughout the city, leading thousands of residents to be displaced amid the deadly blazes.
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The issue honors the firefighters who worked tirelessly against strong winds and dry conditions to protect residents and keep the blazes at bay. It also recognizes the many celebrities who stepped up when the city needed help, like Zoe Saldaña volunteering at the Pasadena Community Job Center, and Jay Leno delivering meals to first responders.
PEOPLE's Reasons to Love California special issue is now available on newsstands and Amazon.
