California

As the most populous and third-largest US state, California is a destination of distinction. From the Sierra Nevada and Coastal Range Mountains to Death Valley, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, from the stars and glitter of Hollywood to the natural abundance of the northern wine country and the state's natural vistas, this land of plenty lives up to its nickname: The Golden State. Major cities include state capital Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. The California economy is thriving, prosperous, and, at $1.5 trillion a year, astonishingly the fifth largest in the world. Corporate concerns include technology and engineering, fashion and design, film and music production, and tourism. Popular tourist destinations across the state include the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown in San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, the wine country of Napa, and Palm Springs, San Diego and Long Beach in the southern tier of the state. Nature lovers make annual pilgrimages to Lassen Volcanic, Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks. Preservationists pay homage to the ancient sequoias of the nature preserves and families worship Mickey and company at Disneyland in Southern California.