Vacation Rentals in California
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Travel destination California.
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Destination
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Overview of California
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| Size |
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410,000 sq km (158,302 sq mi) |
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| Population |
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35 million |
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| Language |
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English |
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| Time Zone |
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8 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-8 GMT). |
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| Electricity |
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120 V, 60 Hz. |
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| Clothing |
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If you plan on doing a lot of outdoor activities, bring loose, comfortable clothing
and sturdy walking or hiking shoes. Hat and sunglasses are important when outdoors at any time of year.
If you'll be visiting the snowfields in winter, warm, layered clothing is a must. Ski jackets, beanies,
gloves and snow goggles are a very sensible investment. |
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| Religion |
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Christian: 75%, Jewish: 2%, Muslim: 2% Other Religions: 3%, Non-Religious: 3%. |
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| Currency |
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US Dollar (USD)
Currency Converter |
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Location of California
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California is one of the largest states in the US (trailing Alaska and Texas in size) and is referred
to as the Golden State, which originates from the gold rush of 1849. Very few miners did anything but
become broke, while those that supplied the miners with materials grew very rich. California is located
along the west coast of the United States and is one of the most visited places on the planet. The capital
has moved over time but is currently in Sacramento, located in the central part of the state. Los Angeles
is the most populous city in California and is located in the southern half of the state. It is a great
and very diverse city; from Hollywood to East Los Angeles you can find every possible lifestyle represented
in this microcosm. Los Angeles is home to traffic jams, smog, and political power in the state. |
Climate of California
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Summer is a dry period over most of the State. With the northward migration of the semi-permanent
Pacific high during summer, most storm tracks are deflected far to the north. California seldom
receives precipitation from Pacific storms during this time of year. Occasionally, however, moist
air drifts northward during the warm months from the Gulf of Mexico or the Gulf of California.
At such times, scattered, locally heavy showers occur, mostly over the desert and mountain portions
of the State. Within the boundaries of the State are to be found areas of moderate temperatures
and other places where temperatures reach extreme values of either heat or cold. The lowest
temperature recorded recorded in the State was at Boca, 5,532 feet in Nevada County, when a
reading of -42°C (-45°F). Tornadoes have been reported in California, but with a frequency of
only one or two per year. They are generally not severe, in many cases amounting to little more
than damage to trees or light buildings. In addition, pilots occasionally report seeing funnel
clouds aloft, particularly off the southern California coast. |
Best Time to Travel to California
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Any season has its pluses and minuses. A park is least busy in winter, especially on weekdays.
However, winter is the rainy season, you'll find more rides and attractions closed for repairs, or
putting up and taking down holiday decorations, and the park is open fewer hours per day. Any school
holiday or three-day weekend will be busy. Summer is very busy, but hours are longer and most of the
attractions will be open. Spring and fall, when the kids are in school, may be the best time to go. |
Attractions in California
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The San Francisco Bay Area is home to the cities of San Francisco and Oakland.
San Francisco
is best known for its picturesque Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and the former prison on Alcatraz
Island. Generally seen as one of the most liberal places on the planet, the Bay area also boasts the
Silicon Valley, home to a multitude of high-tech companies and venture capitalists and Stanford
University, legacy of capitalist titan Leland Stanford Jr. Worthwhile attractions in San Francisco include
1-hour bay tours, Alcatraz tour with audio (book days in advance the use Will Call window at pier 42),
Cable Car from Market & Powell to Chinatown, Ocean beach and windmill, Golden Gate bridge (right lane
car park on far side and walk back on bridge), and Presidio (former Army base that is green and beautiful),
and Fisherman's Warf (only for the view and restaurants. An hour north of San Francisco begins a part of the
state's renowned wine country starting with Napa and Sonoma Counties and extending to Mendocino
and Lake Counties. There are several hundred open-to-the-public tasting rooms within an hour drive
of each other.
View the famous Hollywood sign. Nestled in the hills above the city, the sign stands as a constant
reminder of the presence of the film industry. The Central Coast runs between Los Angeles and San Francisco
with Santa Barbara as its most important city. The Central Coast is beautiful and scenic. North of Santa
Barbara, San Luis Obispo (SLO) has maintained its old main street, famous for Farmers' Market on Thursday night.
San Diego is located on the southern end of the state and offers good beaches and water-based
sports. It is home to the west-coast submarine fleet for the US Navy. There are many family-friendly
things to visit in San Diego including Sea World, Mission San Diego De Acala, and the Wild Animal Park.
Southern California is also known for its theme parks: Disneyland, California Adventure, Knott's
Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, and many more. Some of the most
beautiful spots for hiking and other outdoor activities are Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake, and Yosemite
in the High Sierra. Reaching as it does from the Mexican border in the south to the Pacific Northwest
in the north, California must have one of the most diverse climates of any state. If you can stand
the heat, try exploring one of California's many deserts, such as Death Valley. On the other
end of the climate spectrum, the redwood rainforests of the North Coast are truly a sight to behold
and offer a very different glimpse of a beautiful state! |
Events in California
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Thousands of events each year! That's what happens in California. Every day is a celebration and
the year is punctuated by these various and diverse events that leave their stamps on the life,
from the coast to the depths of the desert. How is it possible to choose from so many top-quality events? |
Food in California
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California, with over 35 million residents, is easily the most populous and ethnically diverse state
in the nation. Combine that with the fact that California is the leading agricultural state and you
have an interesting mix of food, which is exactly what California cuisine is: a fusion of food from all
over the world but with a twist of fresh local ingredients. California cuisine is not limited to
certain dishes (although the Cobb salad can certainly qualify). California cuisine is a reflection
of the diversity and ingenuity of the people of the state of California.
While California cuisine has no set rules, trends do exist. Many dishes include avocado, artichoke,
citrus fruits, almonds and mushrooms (not all on one dish—but that is a possibility) because these
are very common locally grown ingredients. Furthermore, rice and pasta replace potatoes and corn as
the prime source of starch. And due to California's long coastline, seafood is fairly common. As for
meat, beef and chicken are used more frequently than lamb or pork.
California is also the most important wine growing area in the United States, producing 90% of the
nations wine. The famous Napa and Sonoma regions produce balanced and richly textured Chardonnay,
Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. California's cool coastal valleys are ideal for producing
sweet, white, German style varieties, while the hot Central Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills are
home to robust Zinfandel Cabernet Sauvignon. |
Society in California
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California, with over 35 million residents, is easily the most populous and ethnically diverse state
in the nation. Mountains and valleys, a majestic coastline, great cities and tiny hamlets, and a population from
every corner of the globe. And stores. Lots of stores to satisfy any customer. Nightlife, entertainment -
there are few places in the world that can rival California’s nightlife. |
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