Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INTRODUCTION
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Enchantment lingers whenever the mention of California appears. It is the number-one destina-
tion for travel and tourism in the entire United States. More than $75 billion of direct travel spending
occurs in California. More than 65 percent of the total travel dollars comes from Californians them-
selves, while they are simply enjoying and exploring the multifaceted environs of their vast state.
Friendly and carefree Californians enjoy a greater number of climates, landforms, and geo-
graphical regions than residents in any other state in the United States. The many varied types of
terrain range from mountains, beaches, forests, and huge cities to rolling hills, lakes, and deserts.
Historian Kevin Starr described the climates along the coasts and valley as the “American Mediter-
ranean.” The California coastline stretches for 1,264 miles from Oregon to Mexico with some of the
most breathtaking scenery in all of America. More than half of the people reside in the coastal area
and most of those live in San Diego Bay, the Los Angeles Basin, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The semiarid or steppe climate covers areas of the San Joaquin Valley and the edge of the Mo-
jave Desert. Much of this region is the reason for including the state in the Sunbelt. The Central
Valley is located between the Coastal Ranges and the Sierra Nevada, more than 400 miles long and
about 50 miles wide. It is the most fertile and productive agricultural area in the state, and arguably
one of the most fertile and productive areas in the world.
The desert climate resides in the southeastern third of the state and the alpine is located in the
highest elevations of the Klamath Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and the Modoc Plateau. Mt. Whitney,
the highest point in the United States outside of Alaska, rises 14,495 feet above sea level in the Se-
quoia National Park. Residents love to indulge in the accompanying sports, history, and varieties of
fresh food. Whether it is mixed greens on the golf course or in the salad bowl, California is known
for plenty of excellent outdoor activities and fresh and lively foods.
California boasts countless travel and tourism destinations with food, entertainment, and sports
for all ages and interest. The state is a paradise for travelers, especially history buffs, to enjoy the vast
array of sites from missions to hotels, seascapes, bridges, and forested parks.
Only California has the quail as the state bird, the grizzly bear as the state animal, the California
coast redwood or Sequoia as the official tree, and the golden poppy as the state flower. The beauty
of the state is further depicted with the state marine mammal as the gray whale. The golden trout
is the state fish and the desert tortoise is the state reptile. Furthermore, gold is the official mineral of
