Visitors from all over the world make nearly 300,000,000 trips each year to California, America's Golden State. And for good reason. From its mountains to its amusements, from the desert to the sea, visitors to America's most diversified state can select from an endless variety of things to do, places to go and things to see. Visitors are offered an endless list of choices to make 'California Dreaming' a reality. Any time of year, whether for business or pleasure, there's always something to attract and interest anyone and everyone. Where else but California is it possible to experience all four seasons the same day ...to ski in the morning and swim in the ocean the same day. The California tourist industry is well experienced at accommodating the needs of any visitor.

Featured Destination Guides

Los Angeles

San Diego

San Francisco

San Jose

Interesting Places to Visit in California

LOS ANGELES

More than movies, Los Angeles offers a cultural diversity that is reflected in its museums, architecture, art and restaurants. Even the geography is diverse: Where else can you go snowboarding in the morning and catch a wave in the afternoon, or hike deep into the wilderness just off a busy freeway?   Los Angeles county stretches over 4,000 square miles, encompassing high deserts, sparkling beaches, snowy peaks, and meandering megalopolis that, since its inception, has inspired legions of dreamers -from de Mille to Steven Spielberg.

Begin your L.A. experience with the California Welcome Center, Los Angeles. Located in the prestigious Beverly Center, the Welcome Center offers information from attractions to movie tickets and much more. While visiting the Welcome Center, enjoy some of the best shopping in California!   California Welcome Center, Los Angeles 8500 Beverly Blvd., Suite 150 Los Angeles, CA 90048 Tel: 310/854-7616   Directions: Located at the intersection of Beverly Blvd. and La Cienega Blvd. at Beverly Center. From Interstate 10, exit La Cienega, to San Vicente, to Beverly Blvd.

Whether you want to climb the hills of the San Francisco Bay Area or explore the more urban delights of the "Cities by the Bay", you will never run out of things to see and do. Within every neighborhood, from San Jose in the "South Bay", Oakland in the "East Bay", San Francisco or Mill Valley, a diversity of tastes and interests are thriving! You will see it in the cuisine, the boutiques, the theater and the arts, word-class museums and boundless recreational opportunities.

Visit the California Welcome Center at PIER 39 to help plan your visit to San Francisco and the Bay Area. The Welcome Center is located in the heart of the world-famous Fisherman's Wharf area and offers a multi-lingual staff, ATM, Internet access to check e-mail, and airport shuttles. Helpful staff will also assist you with information on attractions, dining, shopping and more. California Welcome Center, San Francisco PIER 39, Second Level San Francisco, CA 94133 Tel 415/956-3493 Fax 415/956-3585 Located on PIER 39 at Beach Street and the Embarcadero, front of the pier, second floor, inside the lobby of the "Great San Francisco Adventure".

California's deserts are a study in contrasts: Golden eagles and red-tailed hawks soar above crawling sidewinders and desert tortoises. Mountain ranges composed of nothing but bare, jagged rock rise abruptly out of flat, sun baked basins, the land sparsely covered by aromatic shrubs and bizarrely twisted Joshua trees. Burning-hot days can turn into freezing nights. And in springtime, amid the deserts' broad duotone of sun-colored earth and bright blue sky, flowery bursts of hot pink and lipstick red sprout from tough cactus leaves. With it's raw and challenging environment coupled with some of the world's best golf courses and resorts, the desert is an unparalleled playground.

Located approximately half way between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, in the Tanger Outlet Shopping Center, the California Welcome Center, Barstow is the perfect stop for California and Desert information. California Welcome Center, Barstow 2796 Tanger Way, Suite 106 Barstow, CA 92311 Tel: 760/253-4782 Fax: 760/253-4814   Directions: Located off of I-15; exit Lenwood Road. Follow the Traveling Bear Signs to the Tanger Factory Outlet Center.

 

MERCED

Situated in the heart of the one of the country's largest agricultural lands, visitors are treated to the charming Central Valley town of Merced. At any given point during the year, Mother Nature treats the senses with some awesome inventory. Awe nuts? You bet. See one of everyone's favorite, the pistachio, makes its way from the golden fields to the grocery shelf. Spring finds travelers take in the sweet heavenly scents of Merced County's Blossom Tour. Rewards of the blossom's harvest line the isles of the "Fruit Barn" featuring out-of-this-world vine-ripened fruits and vegetables. Your next stop should be the Hilmar Cheese Company where appetites are treated daily to savory cheese samplings of a Zesty-Italian Jack, Pesto Jack, Aged Cheddars and freshly baked crackers of course!

Yosemite bound? Your optional gateway entrance is Merced. Along the way, the scenery gets increasingly spectacular along the Merced and San Joaquin rivers with offerings of fishing, swimming and rafting. Elsewhere in the region check out the special family ski packages offered by Dodge Ridge, Bear Valley and Badger Pass, all within a two-hour drive. The contrast of climates, regions, vegetation, wild life and personalities keep friends from around the globe, coming back for more. California Welcome Center, Merced 710 West 16th Street Merced, CA 95340 Tel: 209/384-2791   Directions: Located off Highway 99; exit R Street. When on 16th Street, make left and go down 2 blocks. CWC is on the left side.

For many visitors and most residents, Oceanside is quintessential California. Picture a quaint beachfront community where visitors enjoy a near perfect climate. Known as a mecca for water sports, Oceanside's Harbor offers a convenient boat launch area as well as services for kayaking and jet skiing. The "Beach Boys" probably said it best back in the '60s when they sang, "Surfing is the only life for me, now surf, surf, with me" and surfing in Oceanside is no exception. Surf's up! The 6 miles of beachfront is also perfect for walking jogging, biking or rollerblading. Try your hand at surf fishing along the coastline, or drop a line off the end of the 1,942-foot wooden pier and wait for the fish to bite. Steeped in history just minutes away is Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, the "King of Missions" and nestled behind the Mission is Heritage Park Village and Museum with an idyllic main street lined with many of Oceanside's historic buildings. Cruise down Historic Route California/US 101 to downtown Oceanside, where you can shop and dine at the many downtown businesses. Regional talent abounds at the Oceanside Museum of Art and down the street, learn about the sport and lifestyle of surfing at the California Surf Museum. With Oceanside half way between Los Angeles and San Diego, it's a convenient location for many of California's major attractions and theme parks by car or train commute. Look south and you'll see Legoland California, the World-Famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Sea World of San Diego. Looking north, you'll see Disneyland Park Resort, Knott's Berry Farm and Universal Studios-Hollywood.

So drop the top, break out the Ray-Bans and sun block and head to Oceanside! The California Welcome Center is adjacent to Interstate 5 just 35 miles north of San Diego. California Welcome Center - Oceanside 928 North Coast Highway Oceanside, CA 92054 Tel: 760/721-1101 or 800/350-7873   Directions: From Interstate 5, take the Coast Highway exit and follow the Traveling Bear signs.