California is the 31st state and entered into the union in 1850, population(2006) is 36,756,665 making it the most populated state in the USA. The capital city is Sacramento with a population of 1,374,724. The state bird is the California Valley Quail, state flower is the Golden Poppy and state tree is the California Redwood. In the south, the city of Los Angeles California is one of most famous tourist attractions (twenty-four million people per year) in the world and best known for beach activities such as surfing, water skiing, kite boarding and much more! In addition to having some of the most popular beaches in the world such as Redondo, Venice and Santa Monica beaches, there is a classy little vacation destination called La Jolla. The most popular place to visit is the cove area (Prospect streets) is where you will find Art galleries, trendy restaurants and jewelry stores as well as Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s. You will also find sailing, jet skiing, snorkeling and seal watching to be tourist favorites. In a sheltered inner bay, you will see baby seals playing along the shoreline, and for the adventurous travelers you can camp at the beach for an unlimited vacation stay. For the affluent traveler, Palm Springs is located in a desert valley and is most popular for golfing, upscale shopping and restaurants. If your family is on an extended stay vacation, hotels of every kind are in endless supply, especially in the original Disneyland area in Anaheim. You will also find universal studios and several water parks located there, making this area one of the most visited family vacation destinations in the entire world.
Home to several movie studios, Hollywood is also known for the legendary wax museum, Chinese theater and the ‘walk of fame’ on Hollywood Blvd. You can easily access a map to movie stars homes in Beverly hills. Northern California, in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley are home to the largest fine wine production in the USA, as well as many other cities throughout the state. Most of them offer free tours and wine tasting. Death Valley is located 150 miles east of L.A. near Nevada. In addition to the extreme climate (daytime temps 140 f) it is the most desolate and the lowest desert point in the state. The ‘Big Sur’ coastal drive is a 100 mile pacific ocean experience that will wind you through rocky headlands, sea cliffs, tiny secluded beaches and exquisite vistas at every turn. One of the most popular tourist areas in California is Yosemite National Park. With nine water falls (highest 2425 ft) and granite walls at 3000 ft high, it attracts serious mountain climbers from all over the world, and Yosemite accommodates the climbers by lighting of the wall at night so they can rest. (5% of Yosemite is designated as wilderness, with more than 800 miles of hiking trails and only 200 miles of roads. If your seeking 300 ft. high Sequoia trees, panoramic views and beautiful alpine meadows from the highest peak of 9,945 feet, this is the place for the entire family. Lodging accommodations include classy Luxury Hotels, extended stay motels, cabins and tent cabins for any type of extended vacation. If you are seeking an outdoor playground that is less crowded, there is Canyon National park located in the Sierra and Nevada mountains. This area is known for back packing and is considered to be one of the best places for wilderness exploration throughout the state. This area is not as popular as Yosemite, but they take pride in peaceful atmosphere, roadside markets as well as numerous family lodging choices. From the rich & famous to outdoor wilderness, California has it all. But just remember that this state has so many tourist attractions and visitors, that you should book your room at extended stay motels well in advance to ensure the best hotel rooms for you and your family.
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