CALIFORNIA
From the gold rush days of 1848 to the present there has been a migration of people to California. It was not just the gold, but a pleasant climate, abundant resources and a beautiful landscape that attracted people until today approximately 55,000,000 people live there. Even for those never having set foot in the state, there is a recognition of the impact California has on our lives. Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Disney Land, Death Valley and San Diego are familiar names that have likely affected our life in one way or another. When we see ideas that have swept the country they likely had their origin in California. The spectacular coastline covers some 1264 miles of beautiful ocean beaches with sea and air traffic embarking from several major seaports and international air terminals. On the East side of the State, the Sierra mountains rise majestically in the North and give way to a desert on the south providing a variety of things to see and do and places to live.
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CALIFORNIA THEME PARKS
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ne of the oldest and best known parks is Disney Land. It has attractions for all ages and interests which are high quality and memorable. From the Haunted Mansion to the Screamin' Coaster, which will give you the ride of your life, memories are made which will stay with you for a life time. All of the California theme parks offer superb entertainment. In addition to Disneyland, if time allows, visit the Universal Studios, which emphasizes Hollywood shows and the Entertainment industry. Other parks are located in the Los Angeles area as well as the World famous Sea World in San Diego.
LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles is a significant point of departure for air and sea transportation to Hawaii, the Far East, and Western Mexico. It is a melting point of cultures from all areas of the world. Los Angeles County has just under 10 million people. California was originally owned by Mexico who, after obtaining their independence from Spain mostly ignored California. In 1848 they ceded all lands North of the Rio Grande just a short time before the gold discovery at Sutter's mill. Los Angeles was designated as the territorial capitol during this era. The first official census took place in 1850 and showed a population of 1650 for the town and about twice that for the county. The discovery of gold, along with the very favorable climate, brought an influx of people, to California, who stayed to obtain their “fortune” though for most it was not in gold. There is an almost limitless supply of things to see and do in Los Angeles and the surrounding cities and other areas. The area is home to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the major theme parks and scores of museums, major sporting events and other cultural events.
SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco is unique in many ways. The architecture sets the city apart and provides the visitor lots of opportunities to admire and appreciate the planning and forethought that went into building it. Perhaps the most recognized structure is the “Golden Gate Bridge”. It is breathtaking to look at as well as travel across, and for those arriving or departing by sea, to travel under. San Francisco's ethnic communities are authentic. Chinatown has existed since the 1850's and much of the food, herbs, and clothing items there are not found in the normal shopping areas. Likewise the Mission District is as Hispanic as it gets. Visitors usually insist on a trolly car ride, from Market Street to Fisherman's Wharf. The Golden Gate Park is a 1,017 acre park located within the city complete with a visitors center with displays and highlights the history and features of the area.
SAN DIEGO
The year around “perfect” climate of San Diego offers the visitor lots of opportunity to view world renowned sights such as Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. San Diego is home to many U.S. Navy organizations with tours available to several famous and magnificent ships. A tour of many of the old Spanish Missions gives an appreciation of the area's early settlers and their work and lifestyle. San Diego also offers enough world-class attractions to keep you busy during your stay, including the Gaslamp District, Old Town, Seaport Village, Coronado Island, Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, Seaworld, Legoland and, of course, plenty of beautiful beaches.
Redwood Forests
Most of the Redwoods in California are located in State and National Parks along the Northern California
coasts between Cresent City and Orick. Major parks in this area are Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek Redwoods. Beaches, marsh lands, and rugged coast lines contrast with the redwoods and make this a very spectacular visit. Many of the beaches in this area are treacherous for swimming and surfing so great care should be taken Nature is never more majestic than when you view these beautiful forests with spectacular trees, some of which, are thousands of years old. There are visitors centers in the larger parks which offer displays exhibits and information on hiking, camping, and biking trails.
Yosemite National Park
This beautiful area of the world is in central California and lies on the Western slope of the Sierras. Much the geology was created by giant glaciers which carved out the features that exist today. Native Indians lived in the area for thousands of years but in 1851 Abraham Lincoln set an area aside as the nations first state park. It later became a National Park. Yosemite is open daily all year. There are many things to do ranging from hiking and camping to visiting sites such as Mariposa Grove, which is a grove of giant sequoia trees, or The Grand Canyon of The Tuolumne. The highest waterfall in North America is Ribbon Falls which drops 2,425 feet. Fishing and horse back riding are available. Wilderness permits are required for overnight back packers. Some roads are narrow and shuttles are a good option during the busy times of the year.
Death Valley
Death Valley represents many of the extremes of nature. It is the lowest spot in the Western hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level and just a few miles away rises to 11,049 feet at Telescope Peak It has approximately 2 inches of rainfall per year however the evaporation rate is many times that amount. In spite of this, over 1000 species make this area home and have adapted to the harsh conditions. Animals and birds also inhabit the area and migrate up and down the mountains or burrow deep into the ground to mitigate the extreme conditions. High temperatures have been recorded in the 134 degree range thus most visitors elect to see this fascinating area from October to late April. A visitors center is located at furnace creek. Don't forget to visit Scotty's Castle and learn the interesting story behind it and see the beautiful furnishings and art.
