California is too large and diverse a place to describe with one paragraph and a couple photos. It is an amazing state which offers every type of atmosphere one could imagine. The southern portion offers a few booming metropolis such as Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Soaring up from the central midlands are the Sierra Nevada Mountains which are some of the most impressive in North America and are home to Mount Whitney which is the highest peak in the continental states at 14,494 feet above sea level. Northern California is beautifully wooded and less populated. 800 miles of spectacular coastline stretch from the Mexico border in the south to Oregon in the north. Activities are limitless, from surfing to skiing, desert offroading to alpine hiking and Hollywood to quiet countryside. If you plan to visit California, don't expect to see it all in one trip!