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 favourite. The spectacular beauty of the rugged coastline at Big Sur, the alpine splendour of Yosemite Valley, the impressive grandeur of the giant Sequoia forests all combine to make this one of the favourite vacation destinations for hikers, bikers, campers, wilderness backpackers, skiers and just plain tourists. Fertile valleys are nestled beneath rugged mountains, grapevines cover the hillsides and the tallest trees in the world stand high above a rocky ocean shore.

Travelers may be the ones who come closest to finding a utopia in the state. There are so many wonderful things to see and do there that it`s hard to pick what not to see and do. At the end of every trip to the region, travelers lay out plans for the next time around. 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. 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.