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Montana de Oro State Park - California Poppy

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Things to see and do in California

Alcatraz

Try to escape from Alcatraz (www.alcatraz.us), once the site of the USA's toughest maximum security prison and now a national park.

Ancient forests

In Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (www.nps.gov/seki), famed for their forests of giant sequoia trees, see the 2,500-year-old General Sherman Tree Giant Forest, the largest tree in the world (by volume) with a circumference of 31m (103ft). Kings Canyon is the deepest canyon in the USA.

Beaches

Head to Laguna Beach (www.lagunabeachinfo.org), the 'Riviera of the West Coast' and jewel of Southern Californian beach cities. This charming seaside village is filled with bistros, shops and art galleries, including the famous Laguna Art Museum. Or hang out at one of Los Angeles' famous beaches. Enjoy the picturesque coves of Malibu, or admire the flocks of sailboats at Marina del Rey (www.visitthemarina.com). Venice Beach (www.venicebeach.com) is an eclectic mix of skaters, street performers and buzzing crowds.

Beverly Hills

Shop in Beverly Hills (www.beverlyhills.org), the world's most famous shopping district, and look out for Hollywood celebrities.

Big Sur coastal highway

Drive the ruggedly beautiful Big Sur coastal highway (www.bigsurcalifornia.org) south of San Francisco. Visit the quaint historic coastal towns of Carmel and Monterey, and eat fresh seafood in waterfront restaurants.

Cannery Row and Old Fisherman's Wharf

View the famous 1920s sardine factory, Cannery Row (www.canneryrow.com) and Old Fisherman's Wharf (www.montereywharf.com) in historic Monterey. Sample the traditional clam chowder and sourdough bread.

Clear Lake

Fish for bass at Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in California, known as the 'bass capital of the world.' Attend a local festival, or go waterskiing, fishing, swimming, boating, cycling, birdwatching or rock collecting (www.lakecounty.com).

Hearst Castle

Visit Hearst Castle (www.hearstcastle.org), built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst on an enchanted hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Hiking

Hike or camp in Yosemite National Park (www.yosemitepark.com), which contains the world's best-known glacier-carved valley, spectacular waterfalls, granite monoliths and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Hike or rock climb the eerily remote Joshua Tree National Park (www.joshua.tree.national-park.com). Cross the Mojave Desert to Death Valley (www.nps.gov/deva), the hottest and lowest place in the continental United States at 86m (282 ft) below sea level.

Hollywood

View the famous Hollywood sign in the hills above the city. Film crews can be found on location all over the region, though most of the filming happens behind the well-guarded gates of the various studios scattered across the city.

Lake Tahoe

Explore Lake Tahoe (www.sierratahoe.com), set 1,800m (6,000ft) above sea level. Enjoy clear blue skies, snow-capped mountains, and rich culture and history. Ski Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows (www.skialpine.com) or take a paddle-wheeler cruise across the lake.

Little Saigon

Visit Little Saigon, the largest Vietnamese business district in the USA. The area features an Asian Garden and a wide variety of French, Vietnamese and Asian shops and restaurants.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

Pan for gold at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park (www.coloma.com) where California's 1848 gold rush began. Visit the museum and original and restored buildings at Sutter's Mill in Coloma.

Play golf

Tee off on one of the greens at Pebble Beach (www.pebblebeach.com), home of the AT&T National Pro-Am Golf Tournament and a world-class resort with four golf courses.

Ride a cable car

Ride a cable car up and down the steep hills of San Francisco, overlooking the city's glistening bay and Golden Gate Bridge. View the actual cable-winding machinery at the San Francisco Cable Car Museum (website: www.cablecarmuseum.org).

Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum

Visit the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum, a frontier fortress full of mementoes from the Western stars' films and television shows. The Route 66 Museum (www.califrt66museum.org) displays a collection of artifacts and photographs related to the famous highway.

San Diego Maritime Museum

Enjoy the San Diego Maritime Museum (www.sdmaritime.com) anchored along Harbour Drive, or take an excursion into Mission Bay on a yacht or excursion boat.

San Diego Zoo

Explore the world-famous San Diego Zoo (www.sandiegozoo.org), which houses 800 different species. The entire zoo is designed as a 40-hectare (100-acre) tropical garden, and offers many educational programs including nighttime sleepovers and wild animal camps.

Santa Monica Pier

Walk the Santa Monica Pier (www.santamonicapier.org), the West Coast's oldest pleasure pier, built in 1908, and now an entertainment park with roller coasters and giant Ferris wheel (www.pacpark.com).

Shasta Lake

See the breathtaking natural wonders of the beautiful Shasta Lake (www.shastalake.com), and the dramatic, snow-capped Mount Shasta (www.mtshastachamber.com), one of the nation's tallest mountains at 4,248m (14,162ft).

Wine tasting

Taste premium California wines (www.winecountrygetaways.com) in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, north of San Francisco.

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