California is one of the largest, richest and most diverse places on earth.
In California, no one ethnic or racial group makes up a majority of the population
and some of the oldest forests in the world share a state with some of the
driest, most desolate deserts in the hemisphere. California doesn't lend itself
to generalizations, but all Californians share something more than geography.
California is a place of, by and for dreamers.
Spanish explorers first glimpsed California in the 16th century, and named
it after a fictional island paradise. In 1849, tens of thousands of Americans
flocked to California with dreams of plucking gold from the hills. Today,
new Californians are made as buses drop off aspiring stars in Hollywood. Striking
it rich (and famous) has always been part of California's myth. But people
here want to do things differently too. "California Dreaming," topped the
charts in the 1960s, when barefoot hippies invented the term "alternative
lifestyle" in San
Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. And without the quirky visionaries
and dynamic thinkers of California's Silicon Valley, chances are you wouldn't
be reading this right now.
California's dreamy, forward-looking self-image can sometimes overtake the
state's everyday reality. Most Californians don't live in the shadow of the
Hollywood sign, or on one of California's fabled beaches. But with a dream
behind almost every corner, life in California is never dull.
Moving to California, there are a couple facts you'll want to keep in mind:
- California is the most populous state in the Union, with 33,871,648 residents.
California's capital is Sacramento.
- With nearly three million acres, San
Bernardino County is the largest county in America.
- The Hollywood Bowl, in Los
Angeles, California is the largest outdoor amphitheater in the world.
- California's state motto is "Eureka," a Greek word that means "I found
it!" The motto refers to the state's early days as a Mecca for gold hunters.
- The California Grizzly is the official state animal, though the last
grizzly sighting in California was in 1922.
- Scientists have detected up to half a million earthquakes in California
during a single year, but the vast majority are too small for people to
feel.
- In Blythe,
California, local law prohibits anyone from wearing cowboy boots unless
they own at least two cows.
California is filled with attractions that a Californian can enjoy every day. And no, it's not the beach. Read below to see what type of "non-beach" activities your can partake in:
- Walk of Fame: Walk down this Hollywood sidewalk and view the 2,000+ five pointed stars filled with the names of fictional and human celebrities who've contributed to the entertainment industry.
- Universal Studios: You don't have to go to Florida to see Universal Studios. At this true Hollywood attraction, you can go on rides and tours featuring some fo your very favorite movies.
- Griffith Park: This 4,000+ urban park is one of the largest such in the world. It's filled with attractions such as a history museum, observatory/planetarium, theater, and much much more.