About California

California’s fabled history has always been about new opportunities and chasing dreams, and the people who make them happen. From the young men who arrived during the Gold Rush to those who looked for a new start during the Depression, and every starry-eyed aspiring actress who heads to Hollywood today, the state has nurtured the dreams of men and women throughout its exciting and varied history.

California takes its strength from its diversity, and celebrates it. California's immigrant populations lend a flair to the state that you won't find anywhere else. Here, 39% of the population speaks a language other than English at home, meaning California has more foreign language speakers than any other state in the country. On city streets from San Francisco to Los Angeles, you'll hear Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Tagalog, Russian, Italian and more.

New age spiritualism, liberal politics, non-Western healing practices, and environmentalism flower here as nowhere else in America. You’ll find organic produce and vegetarian dishes on the menu at restaurants and mom-and-pop cafés alike. Independent bookstores still sell the works of the Beats, plus all manner of broad-minded literature. You will also feel the alternative vibe take a side-trip to reclusive Bolinas in Marin County.

Things To Do in California

Arts and Culture

California has a reputation as a haven for people with creative minds, and you can see this in its multifaceted cultural offerings. Arts abound here in four main formats: large-scale, world-class organizations; smaller, quirkier museums, often showcasing the Golden State’s history and its abundant idiosyncratic subcultures (think surfers, Silicon Valley techno-wizards, and Peanuts aficionados); music venues galore; robust artists’ communities, and cultural offerings through California State Parks and the California Museum's Hall of Fame and Legacy Trails.

Golf, Sports and Outdoors

California is a golfer’s paradise – with pleasant temperatures year-round, the green is always calling. Tournaments around the state draw scores of fans, and visitors can also experience the famous Pebble Beach course or take a swing at any of the hundreds of specially-designed courses around the state – San Diego alone has 92. Golf lovers can purchase custom-fit golf clubs or receive special golf massages while staying in private suites – complete with their own putting greens. With hundreds of public access facilities and resorts across the state, head to California to golf near the ocean, among the pines, or in the middle of the desert. Plan your trip today!

Gold was what brought the world to California more than a century and a half ago. Gold of a different vein — nature’s gold — draws the world to California today. National parks , lakes, rivers, deserts, redwood glens, and wind-tousled peaks; Yosemite, Death Valley, Big Sur and Mt. Lassen — the list of California’s most precious commodities goes on and on. Not to mention the California State Parks system has treasures as diverse as the state: herein you will find the largest and most diverse natural and cultural heritage holdings of any in the nation. To grasp California’s true gold, you must leave the words behind and go to one of the state’s many special places. Experience the outdoor magic at the edge of Lake Tahoe. Hoist a backpack and head for the backcountry of the Los Padres National Forest near Ojai, where you can hike to a swimming hole framed by a granite gorge. You can even take a boat out to one of the five islands of Southern California's Channel Islands National Park and camp where sea lions outnumber campers a thousand to one. And, families travelling in California will appreciate the state’s commitment to strengthening children’s connection to the great outdoors, with the California Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights.

Shopping

Shopping is an art form in California. Whether you're in search of the perfect cocktail dress or an authentic Mexican piñata, you'll find it here. Looking for a handmade ceramic bowl? Check out one of the many artist enclaves dotting the state. Simply looking for a great bargain on shoes? California has some of the largest outlet centers in the country. Or are you looking to indulge in the latest designer wear? Then head to our high-end shopping districts or malls.

Wine and Dine

Want a taste of California? Visit a farmers’ market where celebrity chefs and foodie insiders pick out the finest organic produce. Step into sleek restaurants serving innovative, ultra-fresh California cuisine. Taste a gelato made with local chocolate and toasted hazelnuts, or handmade cheeses from local farms. Drive down a tree-lined lane to wineries in grand chateaus, or relaxed, family-run vineyards where the guy pouring and chatting in the tasting room is a world-class winemaker. Everywhere you turn in California, there are endless ways to taste, sip, savor, and enjoy.

To learn more about California: http://www.visitcalifornia.com

For more information: please email nkats@upcea.edu or call the UCEA National Office at 202.659.3130.

University Professional & Continuing Education Association | One Dupont Circle, Suite 615, Washington, DC 20036 | 202.659.3130 Phone | 202.785.0374 Fax | www.upcea.edu