California [1] is a state on the west coast of the USA. It is also the third largest state by area and the largest state by population in the USA. The state offers something for everyone: Southern California is home to such popular attractions as Disneyland, Hollywood and the beaches that inspired the television show Baywatch, while the northern part of the state offers the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the hills of San Francisco, and the vineyards of Napa Valley. Further away from the state's major cities California is home to some of America's most rugged national parks, incredible skiing opportunities, and quiet northern forests.

Get in

All major road and airport entrances (including entrances from other US States) to California have agricultural inspection stations to ensure that some fruits and vegetables do not cross into a region where they may come into contact with the farms in the Central Valley. Often, travellers are subject to border inspection (somewhat strict for domestic travel) and asked if they have been on a farm or are carrying organic matter with them. These measures are likely to be increasingly stringent as extreme biosecurity problems arise from travel-carried fruit and vegetables, imported plants and animals, or even from packing material that may carry bioinvader species.

Get around

California is the third largest state in terms of land size, and is larger than many countries. However, getting around California can be quite simple. In addition to interstates and US highways, California has one of the most expansive state highway systems in the United States. As with all trips in the United States, a car is usually the best way to get around and see all destinations. However the trip from the top of California to the bottom can take well over ten hours. Flying may be a more reasonable option. Many major (like American and United) and low fare airlines (like jetBlue and Southwest) link cities within the state of California.

For those that don't wish to drive, one can also use the state's various rail services, which provide cheap and reasonably comfortable way to see and get around much of the state. Caltrain operates commuter service in the Bay Area, between San Francisco and San Jose. Amtrak and Amtrak California offer more traveller-oriented services throughout much of the state. Visit their websites, and this Wikitravel article for more information.

• Ski at one of the great resorts near Lake Tahoe or Big Bear.

• Try your hand at surfing or work on your tanning The OC or Santa Monica.

• Climb a mountain and camp in the Sierra Nevadas or Shasta Cascades.

• See California's amazing wildflowers.California Wildflower Hotline, (818) 768-3533, [4]. From March through May, the California Wildflower Hotline at (818) 768-3533 or visit www.theodorepayne.org offers the latest information on the best places to view wildflowers throughout California. The hotline and website are updated every Thursday evening. The hotline covers Southern California and the website covers the entire state. More than 90 wildflower sites are included. The hotline, now in its 25th year, is operated by the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, Inc.

• Northern California Blues Festival, [5] Fastest growing festival of its kind comes in June to Sacramento County around Father's day each year and usually features a spectacular line-up of Blues artists. Event benefits Through the Mind, a non-profit providing free alternative mental health to America's Veterans.

Eat

Almost anything you can imagine can be found somewhere in California. Immigration has had a strong influence on the state's culinary landscape, with the cuisines of Central America and Asia heavily represented, and those of nearly every other country available to a lesser-extent. More "American" fare includes everything from burger shacks to vegetarian, organic and even completely vegan restaurants; the Californian love for food has left it with one of the most diverse restaurant scenes in the States. The large cities have the most variety, while things get simpler and more meat-heavy as you get more rural.

Drink

California is known for its fine wines. Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino are premier wine districts north of San Francisco, but there are others in the Central Coast region and even the San Diego region where suitable microclimates have been found. The inland Central Valley region has hotter summers and traditionally produced inexpensive bulk wines, but quality has been improving with winemaking innovations.

Californians tend to view wine as a natural accompaniment of food or socializing, overlooking its alcoholic content more easily than with distilled spirits. However police crackdowns on drinking and driving are increasingly severe with roadblocks and random checks. Conviction for driving with a blood alcohol level over .08 percent is likely to bring serious legal and financial consequences. Drivers with lower blood alcohol can still be convicted for DUI (driving under the influence) if they fail field sobriety tests such as walking a straight line. You must be 21 years of age to drink any alcoholic beverage.