California
Discover California
One of the most diverse states in the Union, California has a culture ranging from the easygoing surf spots on the beaches of Southern California to the glamor of Hollywood, and the counterculture and thriving businesses of the Bay Area. The state, which is on the west coast of the U.S., also varies greatly in natural beauty, from redwood forests on the North Coast to the ski resorts of the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains and the harsh desert of Death Valley. The largest state in the U.S. by population and the third largest by area, California boasts world-famous attractions and sights: Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Napa Valley wine country, and the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. California is geographically varied, ranging from warm beaches to snowy mountains to fertile farmland to extreme desert. In the middle of the state is the farmland of the Central Valley, which provides produce to the whole country. The conventional wisdom is that there is a huge difference—and also rivalry—between the Southern California area around Los Angeles (or as Californians often say, “LA”) and Northern California centered around the San Francisco Bay Area.
What to Experience in California
Famous Beaches
Taste of California...
California doesn't have a single, well-defined cuisine of its own, but rather has a remarkably diverse food scene defined by its large population of immigrants of varied ethnic backgrounds and its access to one of the most productive agricultural regions on this side of the planet. The culinary style referred to as Californian cuisine or California fusion focuses on imaginative fusions of other cuisines, typically with heavy attention to presentation and an emphasis on using freshly prepared local ingredients, and has been somewhat subsumed into the general trend of "New American" cuisine. Californians take fresh food for granted. Most food you will eat in California was harvested within 300 miles (480 km) of your plate, with the exception of certain cereals and tropical crops. California is the leading global source of tree nuts (almonds, pistachios, walnuts) and also leads North America in the production of dairy products and many kinds of fruits and vegetables. Out-of-season crops are usually imported from South America, especially Chile and Brazil. With such bounty for restaurants to draw upon, almost any dish you can imagine can be found somewhere in California. The cuisines of the Americas and Asia are heavily represented, and those of nearly every other country are also available to a lesser extent.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped California into what it is today.
Human settlement in California goes back 50,000 years; California was home to 30 different tribal groups prior to the arrival of European explorers in the 1500s and now over 120 tribes are left. The first Europeans to discover what is now California were the Spanish and Portuguese. Spanish colonialism was established through twenty-one missions built throughout California by the late 1700s. These missions still survive today, stretching from San Diego on the Mexican border to Sonoma in the northern San Francisco Bay Area. After the Mexican War for Independence in 1821, California became a part of Mexico for 25 years until 1846, when many of its residents declared a sovereign nation (the California Republic, also called the Bear Flag Republic) before it was annexed by the United States in 1846, and has since then had an image as the "land of opportunity" and the final destination of luck-seekers. The 1848 discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada mountains kicked off the California Gold Rush, and California's non-native population surged from 15,000 to over 300,000 within two years. People who moved to California during the Gold rush were often called "49ers", a term that was adopted as the name for the San Francisco football team. California became a state in 1850, and its population has increased steadily since then....
Climate
The state's climate varies from subtropical at the coast to the brutal winters of the mountains to one of the world's hottest regions in the deserts. Rainfall is more common in the northern part of the state than in the south, and snow is rare except in the mountains. Most precipitation occurs during winter, but California experiences frequent droughts. This has prompted people to install drought-resistant landscaping. In some years, farms lie fallow due to lack of water for irrigation. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, 134°F (56.6°C) was at Death Valley in 1913, and temperatures here regularly exceed 120°F (50°C) during the summer. In contrast, winter temperatures in the mountains can drop below 0°F (-20°C). In between these extremes there are great local variations in climate due to topography and the influence of the Pacific Ocean upon precipitation and temperature, with temperatures becoming increasingly moderated nearer the coastline.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsSan Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are the most popular entry points with a wide variety of flights from Europe, East Asia, India, Oceania (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Tahiti, etc.), Latin America and from various cities in the U.S. on a variety of U.S. and foreign flag carriers. To a lesser extent there are also direct flights from the Middle East (Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE) to Los Angeles. They are however also the most crowded and the SFO-LAX route is one of the busiest air corridors in the world causing frequent delays due to congestion. Delays at San Francisco airport due to fog are also somewhat common. If coming from within the U.S. and from Mexico there are other alternate airports in California that are less crowded and may be closer to your final destination. They are: Amtrak serves several routes into and out of California....
Regions
Explore AreasCalifornia is geographically varied, ranging from warm beaches to snowy mountains to fertile farmland to extreme desert. In the middle of the state is the farmland of the Central Valley, which provide…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
California is the third largest state of the U.S. by area (after Alaska and Texas). It compares in size with Sweden. However, getting around California can be simple. In addition to interstates and US highways, California has one of the most expansive state highway systems in the United States. As with all long-distance trips in the United States, a car is generally the best way to get around and see destinations, especially rural ones. However the trip from the northern end of California to the southern end can take well over ten hours as the state's varied and in places rugged terrain can pose obstacles to the road network. The coast routes (State Route 1 and U.S. 101) are much slower and windier than Interstate 5, and GPS travel estimate times may be inaccurate, especially on Highway 1. Most California drivers are courteous and careful (although speeding is rampant), and the safety and ease of driving in California is comparable to most wealthy countries.
Money & Budget
Usually US dollars and common credit or debit cards are the only accepted modes of payment. Many stores can take contactless payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. You might have some luck with Mexican pesos near the immediate border area, but the exchange rates are usually terrible. California stores no longer give out free plastic bags, except for fresh grocery produce and meats. Reusable plastic bags cost a minimum of ten cents (by state law). Many stores sell cloth bags for one or two dollars. The state sales tax is 7.25%. However, counties and cities are allowed to levy their own sales taxes on top. In most areas you visit, the actual sales tax will be around 8% or 9%. In certain parts of the counties of Alameda and Los Angeles, actual sales tax is over 10%.
Language & Talk
Although the California Constitution states that English is the official language of the state of California, in reality, California is a multilingual state. American English is the main language and Spanish is the de facto second language, and a knowledge of even rudimentary Spanish is useful in most cities from Sacramento to San Diego. Los Angeles has some of the largest Hispanic populations north of Mexico. The state is highly influenced by Spanish culture due to its history, and it is not uncommon to see store and street signs written in both English and Spanish. "Spanglish" (a mixture of English and Spanish) is often used and heard throughout the state.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Due to California's proximity to the international boundary with Mexico, visitors should be cautious while in areas near the border. Thousands of U.S citizens visit the state of Baja California, Mexico from California every year, with the majority of travelers returning from an enjoyable experience. However, a minority of travelers do experience difficulties and serious inconveniences while traveling to Mexico. Before traveling to Mexico, ensure that you have the proper documentation and are familiar with the recommendations for foreign travel from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs There are six border crossings between California and Mexico: two between San Diego and Tijuana, one between Tecate and Tecate, two between Calexico and Mexicali, and one between Andrade and Los Algodones. The United States operates a consulate-general in Tijuana and a consulate in Mexicali.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of California
Golden Gate Bridge during daytime
cars on road between high rise buildings during daytime
Redondo Beach street.
Sunset
houses near road with palm trees
people on beach during daytime
low angle photography coconut tree
California Coastline
people walking on beach during sunset
View of Oceanside pier at sunset.
Golden Gate Bridge during daytime
cars on road between high rise buildings during daytime
Redondo Beach street.