California
Photo: Golden Gate Bridge by Regis Lefebure, courtesy of the
San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau
California Trivia      Famous Californians     California State Parks

California’s mild climate and great expanse of land, made it the ideal place to settle and farm. It is unique in that it offers desert, mountain and coastal areas that are divided into 12 regions to explore.
  The San Francisco Bay area is alive with a myriad of cultures, fantastic dining and world-class wineries. San Diego County boasts a scenic coast, a diverse back country and a downtown bustling with live entertainment. Orange County offers warm beaches and plenty of family entertainment while Los Angeles County is home to the entertainment industry, a cosmopolitan lifestyle and busy harbors. The Central Coast harbors small scenic towns surrounded by sheer ocean cliffs and the Central Valley is full of agricultural riches. The Deserts have their own ruggedness offset by beautiful sunsets and starry nights and the Gold Country brings back the gold rush days. The High Sierra region has three national parks and numerous lakes; the Inland Empire offers snow skiing, apple picking and hot-air ballooning; the North Coast offers forests of the tallest trees in the world; and the Shasta Cascade area is picturesque with snow capped volcanoes, lava beds and mountain lakes.
  Culture & History: Before the arrival of Europeans, the indigenous people had developed permanent settlements, farming techniques and complex hierarchies. Since that time the state has been in the hands of the Spanish, the Mexicans and finally the Americans. A trail of Missions mark the coastline as a memorial to the presence of the Franciscan priests and their systems that forever changed the Native Americans history.
  California has a rich heritage of Native Americans, Mexican and Spanish peoples. When gold was discovered and gold fever seized the nation, prospectors, fortune seekers, and adventurers known as the ‘49ers arrived in droves, chasing Mexican miners off their claims, exterminating local Native Americans and throwing out the conventions of the eastern states. Out of this violence, by 1870, California, emerged as the financial capital of the west coast and the 10th largest city in the country.
  Entertainment & Shopping: From Disneyland to the San Diego Zoo, California has more theme and amusement parks than any other state and Hollywood is a major draw to those interested in the film and music industries. Casinos with top class entertainment and racetracks add to the excitement of California. Boutiques galore from the quaint to Beverly Hill’s finest, offer you the ultimate in shopping experiences.
  Food & Wine: With California’s history of farming, it is not surprising that it is a mecca of fine wine and food. The first vineyard in California was planted at Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1779. Since then, the famous Napa Valley, Sonoma and other wine regions have grown to over 800 wineries, producing more than 90% of all wine in the US. In addition, California leads the US in producing 350 different crops including almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, olives, pistachios, pomegranates, prunes, raisins, and walnuts--all US crops grown exclusively in California.
  Nature & Adventure: California has 8 National Parks covering 4.1 million acres; more than 272 state parks (the largest state park system in the world); 1,264 miles of coastline of which 9,970 acres are state parks with over 420 public beaches; over 420 recreational lakes; and over 200 official wildlife viewing areas. It has mountains, deserts and coastal areas to explore. California has something for every one interested in the outdoors; birding, rafting, hiking and biking, gold panning, all forms of aquatic sports, water and snow skiing, mountaineering and caving.
  Sports: Golfing, fishing, baseball, basketball, surfing--California has it all.

State Bird: California Valley Quail
State Butterfly: California Dogface Butterfly
State Insect: California Dogface Butterfly
State Mammal: California Grizzly Bear
State Marine Mammal: California Grey Whale
State Freshwater Fish: California Golden Trout
State Saltwater Fish: Garibaldi
State Reptile: Desert Tortoise
State Tree: Coast Redwood, Giant Sequoia
State Flower: California Poppy
State Gemstone: Benitoite, Blue Diamond
State Rock: Serpantine
State Fossil: Sabre-Toothed Cat, Smilodon californicus, Pleistocene period
State Poets Laureate: Al Young, Charles B. Garrigus
State Song: I Love You California, words by F. B. Silverwood, music by A. F. Frankenstein
State Motto: Eureka  I have Found It!
State Capital: Sacramento
California Cities: Alpine, Angels Camp, Arnold, Big Bear, Borrego Springs, Columbia
Copperopolis, Dinuba, Encinitas, Exeter, Escondido, Fallbrook, Groveland-Yosemite, Idyllwild, Jamestown, Joshua Tree, Julian, Kennedy Meadows/Dardanelle, Lindsay, Long Barn, Mi Wuk Village, Murphys, Oceanside, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pinecrest, Porterville, Ramona, Reedley, Sacramento, San Marcos, Sonora, Soulsbyville, Stockton, Strawberry, Squaw Valley, Temecula, Three Rivers, Tulare, Tuolumne, Twain Harte, Twentynine Palms, Ventura, Visalia, Vista, Wrightwood, Yucca Valle
State Nickname: The Golden State
State Colors: Blue and Gold. (Blue represented the sky and gold the color of the precious metal found by forty-niners in the state's hills)