I grew up in Fallbrook, California, a small community in Northern San Diego County. I loved living in Fallbrook and I hold the community close to my heart. Fallbrook is unique and has characteristics that you truly know if you’re from there.

1. Avocados

Fallbrook is, or so we claim, the avocado capital of the world. If you’re from Fallbrook, you know that avocados are a big deal from when you first enter town to all of the avocado themed merchandise in the local stores. Most importantly, we have the Avocado Festival, which is easily the biggest day of the year for the community.

2. The Mission Theatre

If you’re from Fallbrook, at some point in your life you have been in a play at the Mission Theatre, danced at CAST Academy, or at least seen your friends in a show at the historic theater. The community theater is really a big staple of the community.

3. Camp Pendleton

At this point you are so used to the noise that comes from explosions on the nearby Marine Corp base, that you hardly notice it. If anything, you notice when there is not noise.

4. Live Oak Park

This park is a major gathering place for the community so if you’re from Fallbrook, it is pretty much guaranteed that you’ve been to the park countless times for everything from a casual park day to your friends birthday parties. And if you went there as a kid, you know you played in the stream even though you probably weren't supposed to.

5. Hot Summer Nites

These get-togethers in downtown on Friday nights during the summer are always great. There’s great food, great music, fun things to do, the classic cars, and great people. And it’s free!

6. Fires

We all remember 2007 when most of us were evacuated due to the fires that came straight through Fallbrook. Besides that, I can’t even keep track of how many times growing up that I either smelled or saw smoke from my house.

7. Food

Fallbrook has great food, especially the Mexican food. El Jardín, Pedro’s, Mi Amigo… need I say more? And also a special shout out to another one of my favorite places, Dominick's Deli! All the restaurants are so authentic and so good.

8. Small community

With a decently small population, you know a lot of people, and even if you don’t know someone, it is pretty much guaranteed that you, at the very least, know someone they know.