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Topics include Kids Beaches, Fall Trips, Laguna videos, memories of friends, chili cook-offs and anything that doesn't make the regular pages of the site or is of note.

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Information about California Beaches, Cities and Tourism

Americans prefer Florida, California, Nevada and New York as the preferred destinations. 85% of the travel in California comes from residents, themselves, and beaches are one of the most popular attractions along the California Coast. With approximately 1,000 miles of beaches, several mountain ranges with skiing, lakes, deserts and a border with another country, Mexico, California features an incredible variety of travel experiences. For tourists, business travelers, students and families on vacation, there are thousands of hotel and resort options in California.

More facts...

More than 105 million person-trips were made by U.S. households to the beach last year. A person-trip is one person traveling 50+ miles, one-way, away from home. 36% of beach trips last seven nights or more. The majority taking these trips don't travel with children but still, four in ten (41%) of U.S. households that visit a beach include children under 18 on the trip. It’s even higher for those households visiting theme or amusement parks, with 59 percent bringing along children. By comparison, just over one-quarter (26%) of overall traveling households include children on their trips.

Travel Information about California Beaches and Cities

California features major theme park attractions that include Disneyland, California Adventure, Six Flags Magic Mountain Southern California, Knotts Berry Farm, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld, Six Flags Magic Mountain Vallejo, Legoland, Golden Gate Park, Universal Studios Hollywood and more. Americans made 79 million person-trips to theme and amusement parks last year. Theme park travelers spent an average of $839 per trip. They also included longer overnight stays compared to the average U.S. trip. More about California Theme Park Vacations

California Cruise Ship Departures include Port of Los Angeles, Port of San Diego, Port of Long Beach and Port of San Francisco.

A chain of 21 missions on El Camino Real route are marked with signs along Highway 101 and are open to the public for visitation. They begin in San Diego and end north of San Francisco.

Over 30 lighthouses stretch along the California Coast and many of them are open for tours.

California features hundreds of wineries offering wine tours. Some charge a fee for tasting and some do not. They are located primarily in Temecula, Central Coast California in the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey and in the northern counties of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino, to name a few.

There are thousands of events in California including hundreds of weekly Farmer's Markets selling fresh produce, marathons, boat races, parades, food and wine festivals, pet celebrations, art festivals, county fairs in approximately 58 California Counties and quirky events such as the Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena or the Duck Dips, Duck Races and Duck-A-Thons in over 10 cities.

The state animal is the California Grizzly Bear.
The state fish is the golden trout.
The state colors are blue and gold.
The California State Flower is the Golden Poppy.
The California quail (Callipepla californica) was named the official California State Bird in 1931.

The capital city is Sacramento.
The largest city is Los Angeles.

Gold was discovered in Coloma by James Marshall on January 24, 1848.

While many found fame and fortune in California, The Donner Party met a sad fate in the mountains heading west to California.

California Travel News.

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Events in California are happening everywhere, every day. We have compiled a list of things to do in many destinations and hope you'll enjoy seeing the fun parades, festivals, food and wine tastings, fireworks shows and more.

Shopping / Malls:  
290 malls  (see list)

California Travel Trips Photos and Ideass

1. California Vacations - California vacations rank Number One as destination vacations in the U.S. according to the Travel Industry Association. More people take California vacations than any other destination.  Perhaps the fact that California is the largest state and 85% of travelers are Californians, themselves ...MORE
2. California Coast Vacations - California coast vacations are the premier form of relaxation. An affordable California coast vacation might include a budge hotel or camping trip to one of California's over 100 state parks and campgrounds....MORE
3. California Beach Hotel - There's a California Beach hotel for every tourist, overnight traveler, business person and family to enjoy. Rockaway Beach - Pacifica is one of our favorite beach hotels in California because you can see and hear the ocean from most every room....SEE PHOTO
4. California Beach Hotels - California beach hotels include thousands of properties from cottages, single rooms and suites with ocean views, garden or patio views and even views of a highway in some instances. That's often where the action is in cities like Santa Cruz...SEE PHOTO
5. California Beach Vacations - California beach vacations can consist of a single afternoon at the beach, soaking up some sunshine and breathing the fresh Pacific Ocean salt mist air, an overnight stay, weekend getaway or blissful week relaxing and enjoying nature's best sunsets night after night...SEE SUNSET PHOTO
6. Disneyland Vacations - Disneyland opened July 17, 1955, with 18  major attractions. Today, there are more than 60 attractions in the Park...MORE
7. Surfing Vacation - This once novel concept is a growing sector of travel...MORE
8. Southern California Vacation - The Southern California vacation experience differs from the Northern California vacation in that the weather tends to be warmer all year long and the wide sand beaches in Southern California are made for sunbathing....SEE PHOTO
9. California Weekend Getaway - The California weekend getaway is a ritual for time-bankrupt Californians...MORE
10. California Spa Vacation - The California Spa Vacation with spa treatments is ideal for couples seeking time together, children and even pets...MORE
11. Orange County California Hotels - There are over 200 Orange County California hotels and resorts...MORE
12. California Family Vacations - California family vacations are not your ordinary beach ball affair with the sand pail and rubber ducky. Though family beach vacations are quite popular, Disneyland Resort vacations still rank number one for family fun as kids desire quality time with the big duck, Donald and his friend, Mickey...MORE
13. California Resorts - There's a wealth of California resorts at the beach, in the desert such as the Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa, Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells and Renaissance Esmeralda Resort where guests can expect Private Balconies, Double Sink, Lush Robes, 2 Golf courses, 2 Tennis Courts, 3 Pools, Motorized Bikes, Bike Rentals and a Spa...MORE
14. California Beach Resorts - California beach resorts are as diverse as their geographic locations. The sandy beaches, fire pits, gondola rides and jogging paths of San Diego beach resorts make San Diego the premier beach resort destination in California if you go by the numbers....MORE

Historical Information and Facts about the State of California

California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850. In 1953 the magnificent California coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) became the official California State Tree. The highest point in California is Mount Whitney - 14,494 Feet.

The lowest point in California is The floor of Death Valley. It is 300 feet below sea level (at Badwater basin) and it is recognized as the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere and one of the hottest places on earth. 134 degrees F was recorded in 1913.

California was possibly named by Spaniard Hernan de Cortes who sailed from the coast of Mexico in search of a mythical island ruled by Queen Califia and called California from an account by Garcia Ordonez Montalvo in 1510.

Food Facts  See California Crops that rank Number One in nation or California Dining ideas

1. California has been the number one food and agricultural producer in the United States for more than 50 consecutive years.

2. More than half the nation's fruit, nuts, and vegetables come from here.

3. California is the nation's number one dairy state.

4. California's leading commodity is milk and cream. Grapes are second.

5. California's leading export crop is almonds.

6. Nationally, products exclusively grown (99% or more) in California include almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwifruit, olives, persimmons, pistachios, prunes, raisins, clovers, and walnuts.

7. From 70 to 80% of all ripe olives are grown in California.

8. California is the nation's leading producer of strawberries, averaging 1.4 billion pounds of strawberries or 83% of the country's total fresh and frozen strawberry production. Approximately 12% of the crop is exported to Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Japan primarily. The value of the California strawberry crop is approximately $700 million with related employment of more than 48,000 people.

9. California produces 25% of the nation's onions and 43% of the nation's green onions.

10. Gilroy, California, "Garlic Capitol of the World," has hosted 2 million at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival.