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San Gabriel Valley

The San Gabriel Valley is one of the largest valleys in the South of California and belongs to Los Angeles County. The valley, which is inhabited primarily by Hispanics and Asian Americans, has a history that stretches all the way back to 1771 when the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel was founded on what is now the present day San Gabriel. Sitting to the north of the beautiful Puente Hills, it lies east of Los Angeles city, and its namesake is the San Gabriel River which flows through the valley.

The typical weather of the Los Angeles area is the typical weather of the San Gabriel Valley; hot summers and mild winters, that is, a very Mediterranean climate. It doesn't rain very often, and when it does, a rainy spell doesn't last very long at all, just one of two days. Snow is not a common occurrence, though a Christmassy touch can be added to the area in winter time with the nearby San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino getting their peaks covered in snow. These mountains can be viewed on a clear day, though smog can blow in to veil the view. Fortunately, after a spell of rain, the smog clears away, leaving local inhabitants with the lovely mountain views yet again.

The San Gabriel Valley, California, is broken down into many cities and communities which are found there. Some of these include the city of Alhambra, the city of Monterey Park, the community of Charter Oak, Pasadena City and the community of Citrus, to name but a few. Within all of these cities and communities, there is a lot to see and do. The Santa Anita Park in Arcadia is a horse-racing track which is known for being the location for prominent horse races during autumn and winter.

The Pio Pico State Historic Park in Whittier was the final home of Pio Pico, the last governor of Alta California under Mexican rule. Restored in 1909, it is now a Californian State Park. Also in Pasadena, and also a cultural visit, is the Norton Simon Museum which houses a beautiful collection of sculpture, paintings and tapestry. The museum is beautiful, as is the land on which it is found. In San Gabriel Valley, there are enough things to do to last a lifetime.