California, the third largest state in the US and home to more than a tenth of the American population, has always been about new opportunities and chasing dreams.
| Country: | USA |
|---|---|
| Capital: | Washington, DC |
| Population: | 306,373,479 |
| Time Zone: | GMT -8 |
| Currency: | US Dollar |
From the Gold Rush of the 1840s to the flower-powered invasion of San Francisco in the 1960s and the tens of thousands of starry-eyed wannabes who head to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune every year.
There’s so much to do in the San Francisco Bay area, destination for the Clipper 09-10 fleet in April 2010. Walk across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge or view it from a distance, visit the former prison on Alcatraz, the craggy outcrop in the mouth of the bay, head to the wine region of the Napa Valley or ride the big dipper at Santa Cruz – the world’s oldest rollercoaster.
In San Francisco you can immerse yourself in the culture of the place. Ride on one of the trolley buses to Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf or head for Haight-Ashbury, the focal point of the Summer of Love in 1967. It still retains its bohemian atmosphere despite the gentrification of the last couple of decades. Chocoholics will be in heaven at Ghirardelli Square.
The movie business reigns supreme in California – even the Governor is an A-lister. San Francisco has starred as the backdrop to films too numerous to mention. Perhaps the most memorable of all is the Oscar-winning Bullitt which gave us Steve McQueen’s classic car chase. Ford Mustang versus Dodge Charger through the streets of San Francisco - classic Americana.