California – The Sunny State

California, nicknamed the Golden State, could also be called The Sunny State thanks to the wonderful climate in many areas. California is a large and varied state, with everything from beautiful coastline, fertile agricultural plains, deserts and Mountain ranges. The term something for everyone truly applies here.

Established in 1847 as a U.S. Territory when Mexico surrendered to John C. Fremont, California became a place of magic and dreams to those wanting a new life. They came in droves seeking riches with the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in 1864. Even today, people still come to California seeking riches, but now they focus on the entertainment industry or the high tech world.

The Capital of California is Sacramento, located in Northern California around 80 miles from San Francisco. The leading industries in the state are: Aerospace and defense technologies, agriculture, biotechnology, manufacturing and tourism. There are 58 counties in the state with the largest population centered in Los Angeles County. The state population is approximately 37.2 million according to 2010 census data, the largest of any state in the U.S.

There are many things to do in California which you can find detailed in a good travel guide. Some popular places to visit include Seaworld San Diego, the Napa Valley Wine Country, Disneyland in Anaheim, the Northern California Gold Country in Nevada County, Yosemite and other State Parks and forests throughout the state, as well as the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. There are also many historical sites scattered throughout the state. Along the Southern California coastline there are a number of good places for surfing and swimming but typically northern California coastal waters are a bit cold for swimming without a wet suit.

Winter favorites in northern California are the Lake Tahoe area, Heavenly Valley and Sugar Bowl, and in Southern California, Big Bear Lake and Mammoth Lakes.