California is one of the largest states in the US and is commonly refered to as the Golden State, so called because of the gold rush of 1849. It is located along the west coast of the United States, and is one of the most visited places by tourists. The capital, Sacramento, is located in the central part of the state.

Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and is located in the southern half of the state. It is a great and very diverse city; from Hollywood to East L.A. you can find every possible lifestyle represented in this microcosm.

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to the city of San Francisco, generally seen as one of the coolest places on the planet; the liberal haven of Berkeley; and Silicon Valley, home to a multitude of high-tech companies. The wine-producing Napa Valley is a short distance to the north.

The Central Coast runs between L.A. and San Francisco. It is a great area, with Santa Barbara as its most important city. The coastline of the Cental Coast is very beautiful, and very scenic. North of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo has maintained its old main street, famous for Farmers' Market on Thursday night.

San Diego is located in the south of the state and offers good beaches and water sports. There are many cool things to visit in San Diego such as Sea World, Mission San Diego De Acala, the Wild Animal Park, and the World Famous San Diego Zoo.

Southern California is also known for it's theme parks, like Disneyland, California Adventure, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, and many more. These places are very fun to visit, and continue bring in tourists by the millions every year.

Some of the most beautiful spots for hiking and other outdoor activities are Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake, and Yosemite in the High Sierra. Reaching as it does from the Mexican border in the south to the Pacific Northwest in the north, California must have one of the most diverse climates of any state. If you can stand the heat, try exploring one of California's many deserts, such as Death Valley. On the other end of the climate spectrum, the redwood rainforests of the North Coast are truly a sight to behold and offer a very different glimpse of a beautiful state!

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