LOCATION

Nicknamed the Golden State because of the 1849 Gold Rush, California is a located on the west coast of the US. It is by far the most populous state in the country as well as the most physically diverse. Sacramento is the capital city.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

GOLD COUNTY: The region is well known for one of the biggest gold rushes of all times. Visit the California State Capitol, Empire Mine State Historic Park and Grass Valley for hard-rock gold mine. Enjoy the Amador County Flower Fields, Calaveras County Caverns, and California State Indian Museum at Sacramento. At Nevada, visit the Nevada Theatre where Mark Twain lectured.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: This area is well known for its climate and scenic beauty. Visit the Alcatraz Island, an island fortress to find out how criminals like Al Capone and the Anglin brothers once lived. For the culturally inclined, a visit to the Paramount Theatre in Oakland is a must. The theatre, an example of the Art Deco architecture, is exquisitely decorated and lovingly restored. At Angel Island State Park, Tiburon, catch a ferry to Fisherman's Wharf, Tiburon or Vallejo to bike, hike, or tour. At Ano Nuevo State Reserve, Pescadero, north of Santa Cruz, watch the gigantic elephant seals gather seasonally. Try the San Jose Trails, a developing 100-mile network of trails, many along beautiful valley creeks and rivers.
For kids there are Bay Area Discovery Museum at Marine Headlands and Chabot Science & Space Center. The former has six learning halls for children. The latter has the largest public telescope in the US and most-advanced planetarium in the world.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY: Known as the location for the Hollywood's dream factory, the state also has much else to offer. The Catalina Underwater Park, Naples Canals and Raging Waters, San Dimas are other interesting places. Of course the biggest are the walk around the Universal Studios, Avenues of Art and Design, West Hollywood and the Sunset Boulevard.

SHASTA CASCADE: If you are a keen outdoor person then this is your Mecca. The land is well known for its dense conifer forests, volcanic mountains and sparse population. The region takes its name from the 14,162-feet-high Mt Shasta, which is located inside the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It's the second highest volcano in the lower 48 states.

Visit the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail, Susanville for birds and hike for 25 miles along river canyon. The Sacramento River Trail, Redding is a 7.5-mile scenic pedestrian and bike trail. At Weaverville visit the 19th-century Chinese temple and the Jake Jackson Museum. For kids there is the National Yo-Yo Museum at Chico.

CENTRAL VALLEY: A haven for agriculture, it is home to recreational opportunities and plentiful wildlife. Enjoy the Fresno County Fruit Trail and Chocoholics Divine Desserts at Clements. The California Delta provides year-round enjoyment and house-boating facilities. The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows has 35,000 acres and six national wildlife refuges and it serves half the migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway.
Among cultural landmarks is Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park at Earlimart and Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno, which has incredible 60-room underground maze covers 10 acres.
For kids there are Explorit Science Center, Davis and Lori Brock Children's Discovery Museum, Bakersfield.

HIGH SIERRA: The Mount Whitney, Sequoia National Park will give you a view of San Joaquin Valley, western Sierra Nevada. Other popular destinations are the Gondola at Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe, Glacier Point and the breathtaking Yosemite National Park. Among the cultural landmarks are Mariposa, home of the state's oldest courthouse and the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, Fish Camp. Plus, there is the Bodie State Historic Park and Hill Thrill Center at Sierra-at-Tahoe.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY: The region is well known for its temperate climate, deep-sea harbors, sandy beaches and Hispanic heritage. Among the interesting sites are the Mission San Luis Rey, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and Del Mar Racetrack, built by Bing Crosby and Pat O'Brien; opened in 1937. For the outdoor types, there is Azalea Glen, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Border Field State Park. The cultural landmarks of the state include the Balboa Park at San Diego, the prestigious La Jolla Playhouse and the Museum of making Music, Carlsbad.

DESERTS: Creosote and Joshua trees sparsely cover the land. The Badwater, Death Valley National Park, is the lowest spot in the hemisphere. Visit the Indian Canyons, Palm Springs, and Desert Tortoise Natural Area, near California City. Among the cultural landmarks are the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and the ancient petroglyphs collections at Ridgecrest.

ORANGE COUNTY: Though best known for Walt Disney's world famous theme park, the region has more to tourists. For outdoor freaks, there is Little Grand Canyon, Lake Forest and Irvine Lake. For beach lovers, there is the Crystal Cove State Park, Big Corona and the Surfside Beach. Kids can have a time of their lives at the Balboa Fun Zone and Lie on a bed of nails or walk through a tornado at the Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana.

NORTH COAST: The region is known for its lush vineyards and pastoral farms. Visit the enthralling Hoopa Tribal Museum, Battery Point Lighthouse and the Grace Hudson Museum and Sun House, Ukiah. Plus there is the Mattole Recreation Site, Petrolia, Clear Lake, Lakeport, and the state's largest natural freshwater lake.

INLAND EMPIRE: Visit this region for the Air Museum Planes of Fame at Chino for a collection of WWII airplanes, fighter jets, and memorabilia. The Riverside Municipal Museum has on display Native American artifacts and early citrus industry exhibits. For outdoor freaks there is the Alpine Slide at Big Bear Lake and Diamond Valley Lake, the largest manmade, freshwater lake in Southern California.