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Places to Visit in California

• San Francisco Bay
• Napa Wine Valley
• Central Coast (Carmel)
• Santa Cruz
• The Sierras

My favorite things

Only in California could you get an Actor who turned President and a foreign born Body Builder who is now Governor!! I love the Californians “Anything goes” mentality

Driving tips/rules.

The USA has VERY strict drink drive rules and each state is a little different so please check the rules before you drive..better yet... DON’T drink and drive even in the hire car you rented in California, remember that the car hire company has a 'swipe' of your credit car and they will charge you for any traffic fines you incur in their vehicle .

Remember... in the US you will be on the wrong side of both the road AND the car. You are used to judging the greater distance on your left side but now the width of the car will be on your right, the gear change (shift) is on the right, the person to scream at / talk to, is also over there and it’s an automatic...!! (scared yet??).

Actually, once you get the hang of things, driving in the US is a breeze..the roads are very good and well signposted. Just try not be in LA at rush hour if you have a deadline that evening..traffic can be (read usually IS) a nightmare!!

Also note that in some (not all) States there is a “right turn on red” rule..which means; if you come to a traffic light that is red and you want to turn right, you can do this as long as you come to a complete stop first and are sure that the road is clear to your left..(this is a very basic explanation so check with whatever State you are visiting to make sure of the specifics)

Interesting facts

• California is bigger than eighty-five of the smallest nations in the world.
• Totaling nearly three million acres, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the entire United States.
• The area around Geyersville just north of San Francisco, is the largest geothermal area in the world.
• California holds within it the most diverse environment on the planet.
• The California redwood is a prehistoric tree. All trees are descended from the redwood. California foresters plant an average of 7 new trees for every one harvested. For the last 25 years, tree growth has exceeded harvest in California forests.
• The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has enough steel wires in its cables to circle the earth at the equator 3.5 times.

Local food/drink

• Napa wines
• Clam chowder
• San Francisco sourdough bread

Weather

Gorgeous!!! Seriously though.....the climate varies greatly from arid to subarctic depending on latitude, elevation and proximity to the coast. Coastal and Southern parts of the state have a Mediterranean climate with somewhat rainy winters and dry summers.

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