California is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil.

It is located on the West Coast of the United States, and is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the northeast, Arizona to the southeast, the Mexican state of Baja California to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Its four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. The state is home to the nation's second and sixth largest metropolitan areas as well as eight of the nation's fifty largest cities. It is known for its varied climate and geography, as well as its diverse population.

California is the third-largest U.S. state by land area, after Alaska and Texas. Its geography ranges from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the east, to Mojave desert areas in the southeast and the Redwood–Douglas fir forests of the northwest.

The center of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. California is the most geographically diverse state in the nation, and contains the highest (Mount Whitney) and lowest (Death Valley) points in the contiguous United States.

Los Angeles is the largest city in the state of California and the second largest in the United States. Often abbreviated as L.A. and nicknamed The City of Angels. Los Angeles has an estimated population of 3.8 million and spans over 498.3 square miles (1,290.6 km2) in Southern California. The Los Angeles Metropolitan Area is home to nearly 12.9 million residents.

Los Angeles Attractions

Los Angeles California USA Hotels

San Diego, named after Saint Didacus (Spanish: Diego de Alcalá), is the second-largest city in California and the ninth largest city in the United States, located along the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of the United States. The US Census Bureau estimates the city's population at 1,279,329 as of 2008. This coastal city is also the county seat of San Diego County as well as the economic center of the San Diego–Carlsbad–San Marcos metropolitan area. As of 2008, this metropolitan area is the 17th-largest in the United States with a population of 3,001,072 and the 38th-largest metropolitan area in the Americas when including Tijuana, Mexico. According to Forbes the city of San Diego ranks as the fifth wealthiest in the United States. San Diego's biggest industries are manufacturing, the military, and tourism.

San Diego Attractions

San Diego California USA Hotels

San Jose (meaning St. Joseph in Spanish) or San José is the third-largest city in California and the tenth-largest in the United States. The county seat of Santa Clara County, it is located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region commonly referred to as Silicon Valley. Once a small farming city, San Jose became a magnet for suburban newcomers in new housing developments between the 1960s and 1990s, and is now the largest city in Northern California. Its estimated population by the US Census Bureau as of 2008 is 948,279.

San Jose Attractions

San Jose California USA Hotels

San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the 12th most populous city in the United States, with a 2008 estimated population of 808,976. It is the eighth most densely populated city in the U.S. and is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the larger San Francisco Bay Area, a region of more than seven million people. The city is located at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Francisco Bay to the north and east, and Daly City and Brisbane to the south.

San Francisco Attractions

San Francisco California USA Hotels

Fresno is a city in California, USA, the county seat of Fresno County. As of February 27, 2009, the population was estimated at 500,017, making it the fifth largest city in California and the 36th largest in the nation. Fresno is located in the center of the wide San Joaquin Valley of Central California, approximately 200 miles (322 km) north of Los Angeles and 170 miles (274 km) south of the state capital, Sacramento.

Fresno Attractions

Fresno California USA Hotels

Long Beach is a large city located in southern California, USA, on the Pacific coast. It is situated in Los Angeles County, about 20 miles (32 km) south of downtown Los Angeles. Long Beach borders Orange County on its southeast edge. Long Beach is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the sixth-largest in California. As of 2008, its estimated population was 492,682. In addition, Long Beach is the 2nd largest city within the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Long Beach Attractions

Long Beach California USA Hotels

Sacramento is the capital of the U.S. state of California, and the county seat of Sacramento County. Located along the Sacramento River and just south of the American River's confluence in California's expansive Central Valley. With a 2007 estimated population of 460,242, it is the seventh-largest city in California. Sacramento is the core cultural and economic center of the Sacramento Metropolitan Area which includes El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties and has a combined population of approximately 2,136,604.

Sacramento Attractions

Sacramento California USA Hotels

Oakland is the eighth-largest city in the U.S. state of California and a major West Coast port city, located on San Francisco Bay about eight miles east of the City of San Francisco. Oakland is a major hub city for the Bay Area subregion collectively called the East Bay, and it is the county seat of Alameda County. Based on United States Census Bureau estimates for 2008, Oakland is the 44th-largest city in the United States with a population of 420,183.

Oakland Attractions

Oakland California USA Hotels

Santa Ana is the county seat and most populous city in Orange County, California, and the 53rd-most populous city in the United States with a 2007 estimated population of 339,555. Founded in 1869, Santa Ana is located in Southern California on the Santa Ana River, 10 miles (16 km) away from the California coast. The city is part of the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Santa Ana metropolitan area which, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is the second largest metropolitan area in the U.S., with almost thirteen million people.

Santa Ana Attractions

Santa Ana California USA Hotels

Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of January 1, 2009, the city population was about 348,467, making it the 10th most-populated city in California and ranked 54th in the United States. The city anticipates that the population will surpass 400,000 by 2014 due to rapid development in its Platinum Triangle area as well as in Anaheim Hills area. Anaheim is the second most populous city in Orange County (after Santa Ana) and second largest in terms of land area (after Irvine), and it is known for its theme parks, sports teams, and convention center.

Anaheim Attractions

Anaheim California USA Hotels

10 Great California State Parks - California is a beautiful state where there is a great opportunity to see a diverse range of nature. From the deserts of Death Valley to the beauty of the Pacific Coast, California is filled with different types of weather, flora, fauna and vistas. Visiting the top ten cities of California would give you great insight into the urban and rural life of the area but if you are specifically interested in studying the state’s natural attributes then you should forego the cities and check out the following ten great California State Parks instead.

California Holidays - When going to California for a vacation, one should not miss the opportunity to visit its one-of-a-kind tourist attractions. On top of the to-do list is to visit the Magic Mountain which can be found on the east of Los Angeles. To get the full experience, one should allot a day to walk around and enjoy the rides of the amusement park.  The best days to visit are weekdays for a lesser crowd and shorter queues. One of the main attractions of the park is its collection of roller coasters of different sizes for all ages. Next to the long list of must-sees during a California vacation is Disneyland.

• California State Parks cutbacks widespread - Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer - Tuesday, October 27, 2009 - (10-27) 17:49 PDT San Francisco -- The California State Parks won't be closed, except during the week and in certain seasons and, really, most of the time, according to a list of cutbacks released today. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decreed last month that no parks would be shuttered, but the $14.2 million he cut out of the state parks budget means many of the 278 parks in California will be open only on weekends and almost all will have to endure partial closures...
• California Manufacturers Report $125M Sales from CMTC Services - California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) - Release date: October 1, 2009 - TORRANCE, CA - Southern California's small to medium size manufacturer's receiving consulting services from California Manufacturing Technology Consulting(TM) (CMTC) reported an overall $125 million increase in sales. When including business improvements from CMTC services, which helped avoid losing business due to current economic conditions, an additional $557 million in retained sales was reported...
• Video shows California police beating student - AP - Monday, October 26, 2009 - CALIFORNIA, USA (AP) - A cellphone video that shows police officers repeatedly hitting an unarmed university student with batons and a Taser gun has prompted a criminal investigation into the officers' conduct, a San Jose police spokesman said. The video, posted by the San Jose Mercury News on its website late Saturday, shows one officer hitting 20-year-old Vietnamese student Phuong Ho with a metal baton more than 10 times, including once on the head. Another officer is seen using his Taser gun...