California is located on the western coast of the United States. It extends along the Pacific Ocean from the Mexican border in the south for nearly 900 miles (1400 km) to its northern border with the state of Oregon. The state is approximately 200 miles (300 km) wide from its western beaches to its eastern deserts bordering the states of Nevada and Arizona.
California has a series of unique geological features that extend north to south along nearly the entire length of the state. They create a wide variety of scenery and climates that help to make California a great place to visit.
The coastline of California extends from the soft sandy tropical beaches of San Diego near the Mexican border to the rugged northern coasts near Oregon. In the southern part of the state, warm Pacific waters and that famous California surf attract many tourists to its palm shaded beaches. As you go further north, the coastline becomes more scenic, but the waters are cooler and sandy beaches are scarcer. In northern California, hiking along rocky cliffs and visiting secluded beaches to see seals, sea otters or whales are more popular than swimming.
The major city in California is the multi-ethnic metropolis of Los Angeles, home to Hollywood movie stars, business moguls, California surfers and four million inhabitants. San Francisco, the other great California city, is located nearly 400 miles (600 km) to the north.
Between these two major cities, lie many beautiful coastal towns like Monterey and Santa Barbara plus the spectacular scenic coastline of Big Sur. Forests of giant redwoods, and snowcapped mountain peaks are easily accessible in the Sierra Nevada high country just a few hours to the east. The Mojave desert and the resort city of Palm Springs are not far from Los Angeles. California offers many wonderful attractions in such proximity that you are never more than a short drive from another attraction in a different landscape and a different climate.
California is blessed with a unique geological landscape that offers a wide array of scenic attractions and a variety of climates. It has sandy beaches and rugged rocky coasts, bountiful farmlands, barren deserts, dense forests and snowcapped mountain peaks. It is a favorite tourist destination for US natives as well as world travelers.
The warm tropical beaches and surf of Southern California draws many sun-loving vacationers to this state. Los Angeles, that great multi-cultural metropolis with its glamorous suburbs of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, attracts shoppers and sightseers, while the picturesque charm and beauty of San Francisco makes it a tourist favorite. The spectacular beauty of the rugged coastline at Big Sur, the alpine splendor of Yosemite Valley, the impressive grandeur of the giant Sequoia forests all combine to make this one of the favorite vacation destinations for hikers, bikers, campers, wilderness backpackers, skiers and just plain tourists. Here are a few of the most popular tourist attractions in California.
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