California, the Golden State, has its own particular lifestyle and culture. It is a state that has everything: the sun, sand, surf, spectacular mountain ranges, forests and vast, hot deserts. People believe California is where dreams are made, where anything is possible. That is the reason why it is the most densely populated US state. Even the 900 km-long (559 mile-long) San Andreas fault which extends from Mexico to just north of San Francisco does not deter those who choose to live on or near the fault line.

California lies on the west coast of North America and includes the State of California and two Mexican states, Baja California Sur and Baja California Norte. California is the third largest of the American federal states, covering an area of 404,808 km² (156,297 mile²), almost twice the size of Great Britain. California is surrounded by diversity: the redwood forests of Oregon, the deserts of Nevada and Arizona and Baja California. Overall, the climate is mild with warm summers and cool winters. English is spoken by the majority of the population with Spanish as the second language. With near-perfect conditions, California’s climate and environmental features are ideal for sport enthusiasts as well as for those who just want to explore and relax.

Dominated by vast forests of redwood trees along a treacherous coastline, the Northern Coast is ideal for hiking. With the moist climatic conditions, the flora and fauna along the coast is beautiful. Locals from San Francisco migrate for weekends to the villages of the Sonoma Coast and the Russian River Valley, but it is the Mendocino Coast that offers the quaint, weathered coastal towns. The Humboldt Coast has been rated as one of the most beautiful coastal counties, with its dense forests and peaceful atmosphere. Eureka is the major town along the Humboldt Coast, playing an important role in the shipping of mainly redwood. Roads such as the well known Avenue of Giants extends for miles through the canopy of trees which almost blocks out the rays of sun creating an eerie feeling. One of the most popular national parks, the Redwood National Park can be found in this region. The park is home to some of the most impressive trees in California as well as the tallest tree in the world, which stands at an impressive 367 ft (112 m). The climate of the coastal regions closely resembles that of the Mediterranean with dry summers and wet winters. The average summer temperatures rarely rise above 22 °C (71.6 °F).

The sheer size of Greater Los Angeles or even just the city of Los Angeles is often difficult to comprehend even for the local city dwellers. To absorb and appreciate all that Greater Los Angeles has to offer, it is necessary to spend at least three weeks exploring the region.

The highly energetic downtown area of the city of Los Angeles is complemented by docile and often beautiful areas in the Westside such as the Mid-Wilshire area with its numerous museums and the world-renowned and exclusive Beverly Hills, which is home to Wilshire Boulevard or Department Store Row and the most famous Rodeo Drive with its designer shops and galleries as well as the University of California (UCLA). And then, of course, there is Hollywood and all the glitz and glamour of the movies, but besides Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame, a landmark of famous hand and footprints, Hollywood has become very run-down and seedy. To enjoy the excitement of the movies, take a guided tour of Paramount Studios or visit the Hollywood Wax Museum and definitely Universal Studios Hollywood. Other attractions are the daredevil rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita Valley and the Hollywood Bowl.

Breaking away from the city, the Coastal region consists of 80 miles (129 km) of seemingly neverending beaches and this include the most famous and funky Venice Beach in the Santa Monica Bay as well as Paradise Cove, Mission Beach, Hermosa Beach and Zuma Beach. Further south are the beaches of Orange County such as Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, to mention a few. Other areas to visit are Long Beach, Santa Monica, which has one of the best piers in California, Malibu with the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Valley Region, which includes the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel and Pasadena. Catalina Island is 26 miles (42 km) across the sea from LA. It has a quaint town and relaxed atmosphere.

The city of Los Angeles is enormous and overwhelming and is dominated by a complex web of freeways. Statistically it is the largest city in the state of California and the second largest in the US with a population of approximately 3.5 million people. The climate is warm and dry.

Everyone, seems to be drawn to the dazzling city of Los Angeles and the chance to make their dreams come true. The attractions within the city are numerous and include Chinatown, Griffith Park (a 4,000 acre (1,619 ha) recreational park with jogging and cycling routes, pony rides, a golf course as well as the stunning 113 acre (46 ha) Los Angeles Zoo (http://www.ci.la.ca.us/dept/ZOO/), the Griffith Planetarium and Observatory, Travel Town and the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum), Little Tokyo/Japanese Village Plaza, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum, the Farmer’s Market and the vast variety of museums, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), the Museum of Neon Art, the Museum of Tolerance and the Museum of Flying. Three major museums, the California Museum of Science and Industry, the California Afro-American Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History are all found in Exposition Park, a 114 acre (46.1 ha) park that also houses the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the site for both the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games.

Approximately 200 years before the first mission station, Mission San Diego de Alcala, was established on Presidio Hill in 1769, Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer landed in San Diego Bay as it is today and declared it to be under Spanish rule. Today, the first European settlement or ‘Old Town’, as it is known today, is being protected in a State Historic Park, but most importantly, the rich Spanish-Mexican heritage is still distinctively evident throughout the county.

Everything is perfect in San Diego County: the climate is superb with warm, sunny days and little rain, the sandy beaches seem to go on forever, the attractions are both various and entertaining and for sporting and outdoor enthusiasts, San Diego County is paradise, offering almost endless opportunities. The most important part of the county is the natural harbour which holds much cultural significance. The harbour plays an important role in the lives of the 2.5 million residents. It is the base of the world’s largest fleets of fighting ships. Across the Coronado Bridge to Coronado Island one finds the incorporated city of Coronado and one of the largest and finest beaches in the county, Coronado Beach. North of the city of San Diego is North County with the coastal towns of La Jolla, Del Mar and Solana Beach. It is the ideal region for outdoors types with beautiful beaches, excellent golf courses, mineral springs, the Quail Botanical Gardens, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the 1798 Mission San Luis Rey, and Del Mar Plaza with its wide variety of restaurants and shops. Further inland in Inland North County is Escondido which is famous for its 2,200 acre (890 ha) San Diego Wild Animal Park. For a stunning view of San Diego County, ascend Mt Helix in East County. Finally South Bay, along the southern coast, is home to several nature preserves and parklands.

Despite the fact that San Diego is California’s second largest city and the sixth largest in the US, with a population of approximately one million people, it still has the atmosphere of a smaller town. The web of freeways, the smog and the pressures that are common in Los Angeles are noticeably absent in San Diego.

The climate is excellent with warm, sunny days and little rain. The various attractions in the city are conveniently close together. The 1,400 acre (567 ha) Bolboa Park contains what is considered to be the world’s finest zoo, namely the San Diego Zoo which has more than 3,200 exotic Asian and African animals some of which are endangered. It also contains the San Diego Wild Animal Park,a variety of museums, such as the San Diego Museum of Art and the San Diego Aerospace Museum, the 200 ft-high (61 m-high) California Tower which dominates the main walkway through the park, the Old Globe Theatre, the Reuben H Fleet Space Theatre and Science Centre, which is California’s only Omnimax theatre, Spanish Village Arts and Crafts Centre and, of course, Spreckels Theatre and Spreckels Organ, the biggest open-air organ in the world today.

But it is downtown San Diego that is the centre of the entertainment, history and culture. The streets are lined with posh hotels, trendy sidewalk cafés and restaurants that offer fine dining. Gaslamp Quarter, which used to be San Diego’s main street in the 1800s, has been restored to preserve the fine examples of Victorian architecture. A few stylish restaurants and antique shops can be found in this area which has been designated a National Historic Monument. The Horton Plaza, a modern, uniquely designed shopping centre that has become the centre piece of downtown San Diego, offers a completely satisfying shopping experience with only first-rate shops.

Embarcadero, San Diego’s waterfront, attracts not only visitors but seals and seagulls as well. The waterfront walkway is lined with restaurants, yachts and other boats and is close to the Maritime Museum of San Diego where three ships, including the 1863 Star of India windjammer, one of the oldest of seaworthy ships in America, are moored. Further north is Mission Bay Park, the largest aquatic park in America as well as the world. The 4,600 acre (1862 ha) park has something for everyone, be it biking, skating, jogging, picnicking, fishing, water-skiing, sailing, windsurfing or merely sightseeing. The attraction that dominates the park is the 135 acre (55 ha) Sea World which draws millions of people each year to its marine life shows, of which the Shamu show is the most noteworthy.

The High Sierra refers to the 150 mile-long (241,5 kilometre-long) region of impressive peaks, mountain ridges, lakes and highlands of the California’s most dramatic natural feature, the Sierra Nevada.

The snowfalls of the Sierra Nevada are the most important source of water for Southern California. The High Sierra is perfect for hiking, backpacking and camping with the high mountain lakes and rivers, endless forests and the occasional hotel set against the mountain. In winter, however, it is the excellent skiing conditions and isolated ski resorts such as the Heavenly Ski Resort that attract the visitors. Mammoth Lakes is one of the most popular ski resort in the US with the town transforming into a major playground throughout the year. The summer season offers opportunities for mountain biking, hiking and rock-climbing. One of the main attractions in this area is the Devil’s Postpile, vertical basalt columns that were formed thousands of years ago when lava flowed through the Mammoth Pass. So whatever the season, the town of Mammoth Lakes is ideal for sports and basically having a good time.

Added to the beauty of the Sierra Nevada is Lake Tahoe, North America’s largest alpine lake and the one of the highest, largest, deepest and coldest lakes in the world with water of incredible clarity.

The lake attracts thousands of visitors every summer and winter when some of the finest skiing conditions are offered. Because the lake lies on the border between California and Nevada, the neon lights of the casinos can be seen reflecting on the waters of the eastern side of the lake.

South of Lake Tahoe is Alpine County, which is ideal for hiking, skiing and fishing. In the eastern Sierra, on a high plateau near the Yosemite National Park, is Mono Lake, a large alkaline inland sea that is home to over 300 species of birds. There is no fish in the lake, but the abundance of shrimp is enough to attract the migratory birds. Even though the lake is referred to as the Dead Sea of California, it is far from dead with its abundance of wildlife.

During the gold-mining era, the town of Bodie was booming. Today it is California’s largest ghost town and is protected as a state historic park. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which are famous for the giant sequoia trees, are found in this region. Squaw Valley is also an attraction of the High Sierra. The High Sierra has maximum precipitation occurring in winter which falls as snow in the higher altitudes. Rain usually falls in early spring.

Despite the fact that a major earthquake might occur, the scenic beauty, atmosphere, culture and entertainment of San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, draws thousands of visitors each year and even more permanent residents.

The Peninsula not only holds the city of San Francisco, but also some of oldest and more elite suburbs of the Bay Area. These suburbs, which include Silicon Valley and San Jose as well as some excellent beaches, can be found south of the city. Attractions include The Cannery, Pier 39 and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

The climate in the Bay Area is similar to the Mediterranean climate in Europe with dry summers and winter rainfall.

A drive across the Bay Bridge to East Bay will take you to the two lively towns of Oakland and Berkeley. Even though thirty years has passed since the political uprising, Berkeley still remains the national symbol of political and social activism and, most importantly, it still upholds its idealistic spirit.

The pure, unspoilt beauty of the coast of Marin County makes the trip across the famous Golden Gate Bridge worthwhile. Besides the natural splendour of the mountains, the redwood forests and the ocean, there are also a few affluent suburbs in the county such as Sausalito. Attractions of this county are the Point Reyes National Seashore and Muir Woods wilderness.

The scenic wonders may lure some, but it is the tranquillity of the wine growing regions of the Napa Valley that attract the many others. Within an hours drive from San Francisco, the prestigious wineries of the valley offer unique opportunities to taste wines of superb quality and dine in even finer restaurants. The Silverado Trail that passes through the Napa Valley provides an ideal view of the scenery of the wine country. The Sonoma Valley also provides a break from the city life with its rural, very informal atmosphere.

The tall Victorian houses, the steep hills and of course the Golden Gate Bridge have come to characterise the city of San Francisco as a unique tourist region in California as well as the world.

The vibrant, colourful city of San Francisco is squashed into a very limited area at the tip of a Peninsula with water surrounding it on three sides. But what really gives San Francisco its character and beauty are the forty-eight steep hills that completely dominate the city. Where you live on a hill is relative to your status of wealth. The more affluent of the 800,000 inhabitants live higher up. The most well-known hills are Nob Hill, Russian Hill and Telegraph Hill. It is from Nob Hill that the whole of Downtown San Francisco can be seen.

Downtown San Francisco is the commercial and financial district of the city with Market Street, the city’s main artery, running through it.

The tallest structure in the city, the Transamerica Pyramid which is 853 ft (260 m) or twenty-seven stories tall can be found in the heart of the Financial District. Amazingly, between the skyscrapers and the poorer western areas there are many expensive stores and smart hotels.

And then there is the continuous bustle of Chinatown with its dramatic entrance guarded by two dragons. Other Downtown attractions include Crocker Galleria, a glass domed shopping mall and Coit Tower, a landmark on top of Telegraph Hill.

Some of the city’s best restaurants and entertainment venues are situated in North Beach, which is north of Downtown, at the tip of the Peninsula. Then, of course, there is Fisherman’s Wharf which is nothing more than a tourist trap with the major attraction being tours to Alcatraz. Only a short way from the Wharf is the exclusive neighbourhood of Pacific Heights, followed by the avenues of the Presidio. The Presidio is the perfect spot to appreciate the sight of the Golden Gate Bridge, which without a doubt stands out as the main attraction in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Waterfront includes many attractions such as Pier 39 which used to be a steamship wharf and is now a shopping and restaurant complex, the USS Pampanito, a World War II Fleetship that has been restored, the National Maritime Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum and The Cannery which is a shopping complex. And, as if there are not enough shops, there is San Francisco’s most enticing shopping and restaurant complex, Ghirardelli Square.

Golden Gate Park offers tranquillity in the heart of the city. It is here that one finds large open spaces, fine art museums, gardens, flowers and the city’s only beaches.

Even though the best way to see San Francisco is to walk, a drive along the 49-mile Drive (79 km) will allow you to see all the most important scenic, cultural and historical sights. The route is clearly marked with blue and white seagull signs. Maps of the route are available from the Information Centre on Market Street. The climate of San Francisco is similar to the Mediterranean climate in Europe with dry summers and winter rainfall. In July and August, the city experiences foggy, cold conditions.

Oakland is only 5 miles (8 km) west of San Francisco with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge connecting the two cities. With the close proximity to San Francisco, the climatic conditions are very similar if not the same.

As the name indicates, Oakland was a land covered in oak forests. It was these oak trees and the beautiful redwood stands that attracted the lumberjacks to the area and later the gold­diggers. In 1852 the town of Oakland was founded and rapidly grew in importance as it became the terminus for the transcontinental railway. The 1906 earthquake, which almost destroyed San Francisco, left Oakland virtually untouched. As a result, thousands of people moved to Oakland, doubling the population to approximately 400,000 and providing opportunities for industrial growth. Attractions in the city include the Oakland Museum, the only museum that focuses entirely on the history, culture and works of art of California, the Oakland Symphony Orchestra and some of the best restaurants, live music clubs and bookshops in the Bay Areas.

Everyone travels to Orange County to have the time of their lives and just relax in county’s perfect holiday atmosphere.

Orange County or the ‘happiest place on earth’ is in complete contrast to the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, its neighbour to the north. With its near-perfect climate of mild winters, warm summers, little rain and an abundance of sunshine, excellent beaches, 42 mile-long (67.6 km-long) picturesque coastline and many theme parks to explore and experience, Orange County is definitely a region where everybody can have fun and even relax. Besides the natural, cultural and historical beauty of Orange County, it is the theme parks of Anaheim and Buena Park that draw the people.

Disneyland in the booming town of Anaheim is by far the most well-known theme park in California, not to mention the world, covering 80 acres (32 ha) and providing eight ‘theme’ lands and sixty adventure rides. The lands of enchantment are Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Main Street USA and Mickey’s ToonTown.

Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park is the oldest independently owned theme park in the US, dating back to the 1920s. The park covers 150 acres (61 ha) with 165 rides, such as whitewater rafting and the new Bigfoot Water Rapids Ride.

The park concentrates on America’s past with a Roaring Twenties area, ghost towns and a nineteenth century train that travels around the park. The park is divided into six distinctive areas such Ghost Town and the new Mystery Lodge. Also in Buena Park is the famed Movieland Wax Museum with 300 waxed celebrities and the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum.

For the finest shopping, dining and entertainment, the South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is highly ranked in the world. Surfing is the main focus in Huntington Beach, home of the International Surfing Museum and the Surfing Hall of Fame. The town of Newport Beach is quaint and unique and is only a ferry ride from Bolboa Island with its early California atmosphere and cottages. Just as the surrounding nature of Laguna Beach attracts many visitors, especially artists, so does the fishing and windsurfing conditions of Dana Point attract others. On the other hand, the relaxed atmosphere of Saddleback Valley is the ideal location for golfers. Finally, it is the history of the Mission San Juan Capistrano that was founded in 1776 and the sporting opportunities of San Clemente that attracts the visitors.

Shasta Cascade represents the true outdoors with magnificent mountain ranges, forests as well as volcanoes. Rivers which offer fishing enthusiasts perfect fishing conditions, flow rapidly through the mountains to a variety of picturesque lakes.

In the northeastern corner of California is the unspoiled wildlands of the Shasta Cascade. The Shasta Cascade is a region dominated by mountain ranges, dense forests, powerful rivers and waterfalls, two glaciated volcanoes and beautiful lakes, including the popular Lake Shasta in Shasta County, Trinity Lake in Trinity County, Eagle Lake in Lassen County and Whiskeytown Lake in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, to mention a few. There is, of course, also the opportunity for adventure whether it be hiking, gold-panning, white-water rafting, cycling, horseback riding, golfing, canoeing, sailing or fishing on the many beautiful lakes.

For the less energetic, the town of Redding in Shasta County offers many opportunities to relax. Even though the state of California is densely populated, the Shasta Cascade has a population of only 250,000. Within this region there are seven national forests and eight national and state parks. Evidence of the gold rush era can be viewed in the Shasta State Historic Park in Shasta County.

The tallest landmark in the Shasta Cascade is the dormant and majestic 14,162 ft (4,317 m) Mount Shasta in the Siskiyou County which provides excellent downhill and cross-country skiing in the cold winters and great hiking conditions in the warmer summer months.

Shasta Cascade boasts some of the most unusual natural attractions in California, the most dramatic being the eastern side of the Siskiyou County with its desert plateaus and deep volcanic craters and caves of the Lava Beds National Monument. Besides being home to the second largest natural lake in California, Eagle Lake, Lassen County contains the Lassen National Volcanic Park with its characteristic geothermal mud pots which are constantly bubbling, and fumaroles. The still active Lassen Peak can be found in this area. Extraordinary migratory birds, such as the waterfowl, swans and snow geese, can be viewed in the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge north of the Lava Beds and the nearby Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge. Soaring eagles are a common sight in Shasta Cascade.

The Central Valley is the most fertile region in California and the US as it is fed by a vast network of lakes and rivers. The regions fertility has allowed the Central Valley to become the one of the most productive farming area in the world. The capital of California, Sacramento, is located in this region.

Besides the agricultural prospects of the Central Valley, this region is known for its unbelievable beauty, rich history, culture, flora and wildlife. As in the rest of California, the recreational opportunities seem almost endless. White-water rafting conditions are ideal at the Upper and Lower Kern rivers east of Bakersfield, a major oil-producing area, and at the Kings River near Fresno, the cultural centre of the Central Valley. Other activities include cycling, hiking, walking in the fruit orchards, game viewing in the reserves (such as the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area) and watching the 200 species of birds at the Grassland Wetlands of Merced County. Merced County encompasses five national wildlife refuges. There are other reserves throughout the valley, such as the Tule Elk State Reserve near Buttonwillow which protects the native elk and the Kaweah Oaks Preserve near Visalia, one of the oldest towns in the valley.

Excellent boating and fishing conditions can be found at the Delta where the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Mokelumne rivers meet. The Delta area is characterised by a web of waterways and unique waterfront towns such as Isleton and Brentwood.

The most important city in the Central Valley is Sacramento, the state’s capital. Rather than Los Angeles or San Francisco adopting the role of capital, Sacramento became California’s capital because of its proximity to the site on the American River where gold was first discovered. One of the best attractions Sacramento has to offer is "Old Sacramento", an authentic functioning ‘city’ that has been remodelled to resemble the Gold Rush era. ‘Old Sacramento’ has been declared a historic park. Other attractions in Sacramento include the California State Indian Museum which displays Native American artefacts of California’s first citizens and Sutter’s Fort, the valley’s first non-native settlement.

The Central Coast is the most dramatic and scenic coastline that runs for 248 miles/400km between the two bustling cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Besides the few medium-sized towns the two largest towns are Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara County in the south, a town that has drawn the wealthy and Santa Cruz in the north. A characteristic that binds all these towns is the truly relaxed, informal cosmopolitan atmosphere as well as beauty and charm.

The sparsely populated coastline which is lined with long stretches of sandy beaches, is very dramatic especially along Big Sur Coast. Even though Big Sur is a small town south of Carmel, the name is often used to refer to the sensational coastline and two-lane road between Carmel and San Simeon. The road, which passes four state parks, has a number of lookout points from which the migrating grey whales can be seen in the winter months. The climate of the coastal regions closely resembles that of a Mediterranean climate with dry summers and wet winters. The average summer temperatures rarely rises above 22 °C (71.6 °F).

The Central Coast provides the peace and tranquillity that is missing in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The most well-known attraction in this region is Hearst Castle, the palace of the publishing magnate, William Randolph Hearst or "Citizen Kane".In the eighteenth century, numerous Spanish mission stations were built along this coastal region. These mission stations were the foundation from which developed almost all of the Central Coast towns.

During Spanish and Mexican rule, the harbour town of Monterey in Monterey County was the capital of California. Today remnants of this time is still evident in the remaining nineteenth century architecture and old adobe houses. The rock headlands of the Monterey Peninsula is the northernmost point of the Big Sur Coast. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is popular with its exhibits of over five thousand marine creatures including sharks and octopi, its pool of otters and kelp forest tank.

Three miles (4.8 km) to the south is the one square mile million dollar village of Carmel. The real attraction to Carmel is not the town itself, but the surrounding untouched countryside and coastline. Otters at play in the coves can be appreciated from the Point Lobos State Reserve. At the end of the peninsula lies the quiet town of Pacific Grove still with many of the original cottages of 1875. For wine lovers, there are more than thirty wineries which include many honoured vintners in the Santa Ynez Valley. San Luis County offers a more agricultural feel to the Central Coast.

The mountain ranges of San Bernardino, Santa Ana and San Jacinto surround the lakes and resorts of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake providing a unique opportunity to waterski and snowski on any day, to play golf and to go fishing, swimming, hang gliding and hiking. Besides the sporting challenges of the mountains, there are plenty of shops, restaurants and other forms of entertainment. At an elevation of 7,000 ft (2,134 m), Big Bear lake is a popular destination for snow skiing in winter and hiking, fishing, mountain biking, boating and horseback riding in the warmer months.

Even though the city of San Bernardino in the San Bernadino Area is at a lower elevation, the city is inundated with parks, lakes and other recreations areas. Nearby communities are the centre of the apple-growing industry. Many of the farms offer tourists a chance to pick the apples or taste apple cider.

Other areas in the Inland Empire include the Riverside Area which has many cultural and historical elements, the Ontaria Area with the Graber Olive House and its famous olives, as well as the local wine and citrus industries, the Lake Elsinore Area which is an ideal location for waterskiing, Hemet and finally Temecula Valley, the gateway to California’s youngest wine country and many well known wineries.

The 300 mile-long (483 km-long) area at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada is known as the Mother Lode which is divided into the Southern and Northern Mother Lodes each containing different elements of the region’s history. The town of Oakhurst provides an overview of the history of this region.The Gold Country holds the remains of the mining era, which includes the American River, the site of the first gold discovery by James Marshall in 1849. Many of the mining camps and towns that were built in the nineteenth century have disappeared or become ghost towns but some still exist as small vibrant resorts. The ghost town of Bodie is a well-known example. Nevada City is a typical gold town. Highway 49, the Golden Chain Highway that extends through the Gold Country offers every visitor a rich supply of history, nature and, of course, outdoor recreation.

The Gold Country is a mountainous region with white-water rivers and thick forests which are ideal for hiking, camping and canoeing. Other attractions in the Gold Country are the Moaning Cavern and the Boyden Cavern and Calaveras Big Trees State Park where the giant sequoia grows in abundance. The Gold Country has maximum precipitation occurring in winter, which falls as snow in the higher altitudes. Rain usually falls in early spring.

It is often hard to believe that most of the southern half of California is desert, a desert that attracts thousands of people with its dramatic landscapes, colourful flowers and unique wildlife.

Even though the city of Los Angeles is actually situated in the desert, the true desert region only begins east of the metropolis. The desert regions of southern California are in complete contrast to the mountains and vineyards of the rest of the state.

Even though most of the deserts hold little value to the visitor, there are many state and national parks that have been designated to highlight the beauty and interest of the region. The Mojave Desert is renowned for the California poppy which blooms from March to May. As in other desert regions, there is an abundance of cacti as well as larger trees and, of course, wildlife.

Death Valley where the average summer temperature is 45 °C (113 °F) is a large desert area which is nearly completely surrounded by mountains and unique scenery. To protect the fauna and flora, parks and preserves have been developed in the desert region.

Anza-Borrego is one of the largest state parks in the US which is characterised by several good walks, the California fan palm, smoke trees and the elephant tree, which is unique to this park. Other parks and preserves include the Death Valley National Park, the Joshua Tree National Park, which was named after the Joshua Tree found in the area, the Mojave National Preserve and a Desert Tortoise Reserve, north of Mojave.

It is advisable to visit the deserts between late Autumn and mid-May because in summer the days are unbearably hot and nights freezing cold. The small towns in this region are small, nondescript and rarely worthwhile visiting, but the oasis in the desert is Palm Springs which attracts thousands of Americans every year between December and May. The summer months can be unbearably hot as temperatures reach up to 45 °C (113 °F). In contrast to the surrounding arid land, Palm Springs is lush, tropical and very inviting to visitors. Other towns in the desert include Barstow and Mojave.

Time

Tourist Offices

Maps, brochures and general information about California is available at the California Office of Tourism. Welcome Centres with large amounts of tourist information are located along major highways close to the California border.

Visitor centres or ‘Visitors Bureaux’ can be found in the large towns. They are typically open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00. The addresses of the visitor centres are listed in the Yellow Pages. For more specific information and local maps, contact the Chambers of Commerce.

California Office of Tourism
California
USA
Tel. 800-TO-CALIF (toll-free USA and Canada)
Tel. 1-916-322-2881

Visitors Bureau
685 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles
CA
USA
Tel. 1-213-689-8822
Hotline 1-213-777-4636

Division of Tourism
PO Box 1499
Sacramento
CA
95812
USA

Convention & Visitors Bureau
1200 Third Avenue no. 824
San Diego
CA
92101
USA
Tel. 1-619-232-2101

Convention & Visitors Bureau
201 Third Street no. 900
San Francisco
CA
94103-3185
USA
Tel. 1-415-391-2000
24-hour recording 391-2001
Fax. 1-415-227-2602

Visas & Passports

Valid passports and non-immigration visitor’s visas are essential for visitors from Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and other countries.

When visiting the United States for a brief time, Canadians often need only a form of ID. But for longer stays a passport is necessary and for stays that will exceed ninety days, a visa is necessary too.

Duty-free allowances for visitors include 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2 kg of tobacco (if you are over seventeen years old), a litre of spirits or wine (if you are over twenty-one years old) and USD 100.00 worth of gifts. Food, agricultural products, drugs, any articles from Vietnam, North Korea, Kampuchea or Cuba, illegal publications, lottery tickets, chocolate liqueurs or artefacts from pre-Columbia are not allowed to be brought into the USA. The penalties are often severe. There is no limit on the amount of currency imported or exported from the country but anything over USD 10,000.00 must be declared.

Money

US notes or bills are issued in denominations of USD 1.00, USD 5.00, USD 10.00, USD 20.00, USD 50.00 and USD 100.00. Rarer, larger denominations are also available, but it is advisable for travellers to avoid these . Be sure to have plenty of USD 10.00 and USD 20.00 denominations for daily use. The bills are all the same size and colour and therefore may be confusing at first. The coins consist of one cent (a penny), five cents (a nickel), ten cents (a dime) and twenty-five cents ( a quarter). It is advisable to carry change with you for buses, vending machines, parking metres and telephones..

Foreign currency can be exchanged at airports or commission-free at authorised dealers such as Thomas Cook and American Express,. Most banks do not provide foreign exchange facilities. Hotels do not exchange foreign currency. There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency travellers are allowed to bring into or take out of the country, but any amount over USD 10,000.00 must be declared at customs.

Business Hours

Transport

All major roads are well-maintained and well-surfaced with all the necessary signs clearly visible. Motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit is generally low at 55 mph (88.51 km/h) on highways(roads) and freeways(motorways), 65 mph (104.6 km/h) on rural freeways and between 35 and 25 mph (between 56.3 and 40.2 km/h) in urban areas. There are even severe fines for driving too fast or too slowly (in the left-hand lane of freeways). The different symbols used to indicate the different roads are I for Interstate freeways, US for US highway and SR for state route. Due to the fact that cars are a preferred means of transport and also the best way to see California, there is never a shortage of petrol (gas) stations.

It is unnecessary to possess an International Driver’s Licence, only a valid driver’s licence from any country signatory to the 1949 Geneva Agreement.

Public Holidays

Peak Seasons

Post & Telecommunications

Telephones are cheap and easy to use, accepting 5, 10 and 25 cent coins. Telephones that allow you to use your credit card are available at airports. The US is known for its abundance of toll-free numbers which begin with the prefix 800. One must insert a 10c or a dime to make a toll-free call. The money is returned when you hang up. International calls are relatively expensive and it is therefore advisable to phone between 23:00 and 07:00. Unless you use the international operator, it is not advisable to make international calls from a public phone. For international calls dial 001, the country code and the number.

The international codes are:
Australia 61
Canada - no code necessary when phoning from the US.
Ireland 353
New Zealand 64
United Kingdom 44
South Africa 27
Local directory information 411
Long distance directory information (area codes) 555 1212

Most hotels have a fax service. Standard airmail costs for letters to Europe is 45c. Postage within the US to Canada and Mexico is 25c. It is important to check postage rates as they are frequently changing.

Electricity

Disabled Travellers

In 1500 California was inhabited by 105 native American tribes. While looking for gold and spices in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered San Diego Bay. In 1579 Francis Drake in his ship, the Golden Hind, landed in a bay which is present day San Francisco and claimed it for England as Nova Albion.

The first European settlement was established in 1769 in San Diego by Father Junipero Serra and Juan Gaspar de Portola. In 1776 Mission Dolores, which was later known as San Francisco, was established. Beating the overland Mexican expedition, Juan Bautista de Anza reached San Francisco. In 1781 Los Angeles was established with about forty-one settlers.

Due to four mission stations being destroyed in an earthquake, the Russians established a trading post at Fort Ross near Bodega Bay in 1812. In 1814 the first non-Spaniard, John Gilroy, settled in California. During 1820 approximately 3,500 non-Indians lived in California of which 650 lived in Los Angeles. Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821. In the following year, as a result of Mexico’s declaration of independence, California announced its allegiance to Mexico. In 1826 Jehedia Smith became the first white man to conquer the Sierra Nevada.

In 1846 an unsuccessful ‘Bear Flag Revolt’ was attempted by the US settlers. Due to the war between Mexico and the USA, Mexico lost California to the USA in 1848. During this year Yerba Buena also had its name changed to San Francisco and James Marshall discovered gold along the American River. As a result of the sudden gold rush, the population of San Francisco soured to 24,000 in 1849. During the next year, California became the twenty-third state of the Union with the first capital being San Jose. In 1854 Sacramento became the fourth and final capital.

In 1869 the east and west coasts were joined by the link of the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific railroads. In 1873 the first cable car started to run in San Francisco. Congress established Yosemite National Park and Sequoia during 1890. In the next year, oil was discovered in Los Angeles.

During 1906 the great earthquake, followed by fire virtually destroyed the city of San Francisco, but during the same year Beverly Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles, was founded and the first film studio came into operation in Los Angeles. In 1915 the first Pan Pacific Exhibition took place in San Francisco. During 1920 it became known that the population of Los Angeles now exceeded that of San Francisco at 576,673. Two years later the Hollywood Bowl was opened. In 1930 refugees arrived from the Midwest. In 1932 the Olympic Games were held in Los Angeles. The new wonder of the world, the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937. The year, 1940 was a monumental year, because the first motorway, the Pasadena freeway in Los Angeles, was completed.

During 1942 a detention camp was set up for the Japanese. In 1945 the United Nations Organisation was founded in San Francisco. Disneyland was opened in Anaheim in 1955. During 1960 researchers found that, in ten years, the population of California had increased by 50%. In 1963 California overtook New York state as the most populated state in America. Ronald Reagan is elected as the thirty-third governor of the state in 1967 and was re-elected four years later. Also in 1967, San Francisco became known as the centre of the hippie movement.

A fivefold increase in the population occured in 1980, with the population reaching a high of 23.6 million. In 1984 the Olympic Games were held in Los Angeles. During 1989 the San Francisco Bay Area was hit by the most severe earthquake since 1906 causing serious damage in San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz and in Silicon Valley.

From 1982 to 1988 California was the leader in economic development, but from 1988 the global downturn in the economy resulted in California facing a recession and a slowing down of its economic growth. In 1996 the Olympic Games were held in Atlanta.

Population

Government

The centre of the government and governmental policy of the United States is the state capital, Sacramento which is second only to Washington DC. It is here where future congressmen, presidents and Supreme Court Justices are trained.

The centre of the government and governmental policy of the United States is the state capital, Sacramento which is second only to Washington DC. It is here where future congressmen, presidents and Supreme Court Justices are trained.

Today, California is looking towards a better future as it focuses on issues such as welfare reform to curb the government deficit, growth management to control suburban sprawl, environmental issues to improve the air and to stop the destruction of the redwood trees and finally demographic changes to prevent the exodus of the younger population to other states and countries. Recently, top priority has been given to public safety and the eradication of gangs, education, tax issues and unwanted pregnancies.

Language

Religion

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Shopping

Overall, California is a shopper’s paradise where anything and everything from designer clothes to electronic goods can be found and bought often at low prices. Classic American souvenirs, such as baseball caps, Disney memorabilia or even gold nugget jewellery from the Gold Country, can be found in most cities and towns.

Parks & Reserves

Festivals

Throughout the year there are jazz festivals, concerts, film festivals, rodeos as well as simple county fairs that attract both foreign and local visitors. Often the most entertaining of all festivals are the numerous community farm festivals. The most popular of these farm festivals are the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival which draws up to 150,000 people. The dates and venues of these events are supplied by the California Office of Tourism. The entertainment section of city newspapers also provide detailed listings of the current events taking place in the city.

Sports

Climate

It is the sheer size together with the soil conditions that makes California a world within itself in terms of its natural environment. The state is divided into twelve regions or "twelve Californias" as they have come to be known. Each region is environmentally and climatically different. There are numerous climates each functioning as part of regional climatic zones.

The climate of central California around San Francisco is very similar to the Mediterranean climate in Europe with dry summers and winter rainfall. It is Southern and Northern California, the interior and the mountains that each have distinctive climatic zones:

In the Coastal Range the climate corresponds closely to the Mediterranean climate with dry summers and winter rainfall, but the average summer temperature rarely rises above 22 °C (71.6 °F).

The Sierra Nevada has a mountainous climate and is characterised by maximum precipitation in winter which falls mostly as snow due to the high altitude. The snow virtually disappears in the summer months and rain falls in early spring. The precipitation in the Sierra Nevada is of vital importance as it provides the source of California’s water supply.

The warm, dry climate of Southern California results in Los Angeles receiving less annual precipitation than San Francisco in Northern California as well as higher daytime and night-time temperatures. The climate gets steadily drier the further south one moves with Los Angeles having a Mediterranean climate and San Diego a prairie climate with higher temperatures.

The Mojave Desert, as the name indicates, has a desert climate due to its southerly location. Extreme temperatures are often reached in the lowest points of Death Valley and the Sierra Nevada. Rainfall is highly irregular and very low. Sudden rainfalls of more than 10 mm (0.4 in) erode deep gorges that often remain for years. The average maximum summer temperatures can exceed 45 °C(113 °F). Winter nights with minimum temperatures of 3 °C (37.4 °F) have heavy frosts. It is the warm winter desert days that are ideal for sightseeing and especially the month of March when the desert starts to bloom.

California should be seen at its best from April to June and September to November. In the two months of July and August, the temperatures soar in the deserts of southern California. The north coast, including San Francisco, is cold and foggy. Cold, wet conditions prevail between December and March, but it is at this time that skiing conditions are at their ultimate in the High Sierra.

Health

For all emergencies, whether you need the police or an ambulance, dial the national emergency number 911. Most major hospitals have emergency rooms that are open 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of doctors can be obtained from hotels or found in the Yellow Pages under 'Clinics' or 'Physicians and Surgeons'. For mild illnesses it is advised to go to a pharmacy (drugstore). Visitors must remember that many pills available over the counter in other countries require a prescription in California as well as the rest of the US. Medications are also expensive.

Safety