Make Yourself Famous in California

California is the third largest state in the country, and probably the most famous. Home to Hollywood, the television and film capital of the United States, California has earned the reputation of being the hotspot of “the beautiful people.” Movie stars, musical talents and athletes often start a second career and become politicians, such as the nation’s 40th president, Ronald Reagan; and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, renown for his role in the science fiction movie classic “Terminator.”

Resting on the West Coast of the United States, California is bordered by Oregon to the north and Mexico to the south. Western border states are Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. The name is derived from Califia, an island paradise from the novel “Las Sergas de Espandian” written by Garci Ordonez de Montalvo in the 1500s.

Sacramento is the state capital. Other major cities include Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Barbara. The state has a population of 36.8 million.

All national professional sports franchises have at least one team in California; some have 2. As a result, enthusiasts can catch football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and hockey games during the season. Motor sports and concerts are also popular venues throughout the state.

There is much to see and do for visitors and residents of every age. Most of the state is warm and sunny year-round. Much of the Golden State features green landscapes and rolling hills. Two deserts, the Colorado and the Mojave, are hot and dry. The mountainous region of the basin and range province features the White Mountains, with a highest point of elevation at 14,252 feet. Mount Whitney is the highest point in the state at 14,949 feet. Death Valley is the lowest point in the nation, descending 282 feet below sea level.

Napa Valley is wine country. Its beautiful vineyards produce some of the finest wines in the world. Tour the countryside and sample the wares of one of California’s most prominent industries.

Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco is a chocolate lover’s dream, hosting the world famous Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop, The Wattle Creek Winery and several fine restaurants.

No one’s California experience is complete without at least one trip to Disneyland. The Anaheim theme park was established in 1955 and is the only one to be built and designed under creator and animator Walt Disney’s supervision. It hosts 40,000 visitors daily.

Mother Nature hits California hard with various natural disasters. Some of the earth’s most active tectonic plates move deep below the surface of the breathtaking landscapes.  The state experiences more than a half million seismic tremors annually. Movement along the San Andreas Fault is notorious for causing earthquakes. Wild fires have affected many areas, especially in Northern California. Residents are resilient and manage to rebuild and prosper.