I love California! This state could as well be a country by itself, so diversified are the people and places. California has it all: very nice and friendly people, excellent universities and research centers, great astronomical observatories, every ethnic food one can dream of, gorgeous nature and National Parks, a relaxed atmosphere and great road races every weekend. And it is kind of close to Hawaii and the Far East, which I love too...

San Diego Skyline

 
One can find several beaches all the way from San Diego to San Francisco: La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Laguna Beach, Corona Del Mar, Crystal Cove, Huntington Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu, McGrath Beach, Santa Barbara, El Capitan, Refugio, Gaviota, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay,

 
Death Valley features some of the most impressive scenery in California: Devil's Golf Course, vast beds of rugged salt crystals which were crossed by the California pioneers in the year 1849. Badwater, the lowest point on the Western Hemisphere, 86 meters below sea level. Zabriskie Point, with its display of beautiful golden sand dunes. Telescope Peak, the highest point in the valley at 3,368 meters. From Dante's View, 1,669 meters above sea level, one may see Badwater, the lowest point on the Western Hemisphere. Death Valley is perhaps the greatest surprise of all the wonders of California. It is not one but a dozen landscapes, not a monotonous expanse of sand dunes but an endless variety of terrain, rock formations, colors and plants.