California State Guide

The U.S. has always prided itself on its diversity, but nowhere is this virtue more apparent than in California. The state is known for its multinational heritage, a mixture of European, Mexican, Native American, and Asian traditions that have melded together to form a truly unique culture. California's diversity is also reflected in its varied landscape of sandy beaches, snow-capped mountains, deserts, and forests of ancient sequoias and redwoods. The highest and lowest point in the U.S. (Mount Whitney and Death Valley, respectively) are both located in California, just 80 miles from one another. Even the cities embody the spirit of California's diversity; Los Angeles is a gleaming and modern business center, while San Francisco remains an eclectic, cosmopolitan center of culture (and counter-culture). Industries in California run the gamut from Citrus Valley to Silicon Valley, but none are more iconic than the television and movie studios of Burbank and Hollywood.