  State Overviews    California

  Regional Overviews    Northern California
   Sierra Nevadas
   Bay Area
   Central Coast
   Central Valley
   Southern Coast
   California Desert

  Topical Overviews    Boating/Fishing
   Golf
   Hiking
   National Parks
   Skiing
   Wine Country

  Additional Info    California Almanac

California Overview

California is the most populous state in the United States and the third largest. Its size and breadth mean that you can do more or less anything here. Take to the warm waves of southern California on your surfboard or cast a line into the deep bays of the north. Hike over the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas or scale downward into the deserts of Death Valley. Almost any activity and almost any backdrop can be found here.

California’s broad regions range from green mountains to desert to coast and to cultivated valley. However, because California is densely urban in certain areas, these must also be taken as regions, since the form of the activities changes within such large cities.

We have divided up California into seven regions: Northern California, Sierra Nevadas, the Bay Area near San Francisco, Central Coast, Central Valley, the Southern Coast and the Desert. We have presented overviews of each region below. Click on the name of each region for a more detailed overview.

California's Regions

The landscape of Northern California is an incredible one, from the compellingly isolated Mount Shasta of the Cascades Mountains to the fascinating stretch of volcanic cones and boiling water and mud that is Lassen Volcanic National Park. Closer to the coast grow the tall, ancient trees of Redwood National Park.

Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states and the Sierra Nevadas are, as a rule, a very dramatic range. Yosemite National Park preserves some of the most spectacular portions of the Sierra Nevadas' western slope. Sequoia / Kings National Park is home to the largest tree on earth, the General Sherman Tree.

San Francisco is one of California’s cultural hubs and Napa and Sonoma Valley are its wine country. Although the Bay Area is rich with attractions, it’s also a fantastic place for a walk or a bike ride, or to sit on a pier and watch the fog drift.

California certainly has a lot of coast, and a lot of that coast has large cities resting atop it. The Central Coast is wilder, largely defined by the beautiful Big Sur Coast. Relaxed cities like Monterey and Santa Cruz make for great golf stops.

The Central Valley's endless green fields, criss-crossed by wild rivers, are bordered by mountains, desert and coast. Redding's near the Cascades, Bakersfield is near the Mojave Desert. Sacramento, right in the center of everything, is a quick drive from intense hikes and terrific ski resorts.

The Southern Coast of Southern California is the land of Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County, a land of Hollywood, world-class zoos and shopping strips – as well as some fantastic natural attractions, such as Channel Islands National Park. The mountains near San Bernardino and Riverside are coveted hiking spots.

The extreme heat and aridity of Death Valley National Park and the bizarre foliage of Joshua Tree National Park are just a part of the Mojave Desert. And the Mojave Desert is just a portion of California’s Desert region. Stop by Palm Springs for a resort experience or El Centro for a true “borderland” vacation.

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