California Mini Guide
California is a state which has always summed up the archetypal American dream of heading west to a land of plenty. The state is extremely fertile and has been an ideal location to grow crops, which in turn has attracted a large amount of migrant workers to California. Today Mexican culture, along with customs from a huge number of other ethnicities, is ingrained into the laid back Californian way of life.
Car rental in
San Diego is a good way to start the journey of a lifetime heading north up the California coast. San Diego has been voted one of the world’s best cities to live in, not least because of the amazing beaches on the Pacific coast which are easily accessible from San Diego.
Miami
Your journey should then take you up to the breath taking Big Sur coastline which has acted as an inspiration to many writers and artists over the years. The magical highway 101 winds along Big Sur, an area of pine trees, hidden coves and secluded beaches where seals and other wildlife can be seen.
No visit to California would be complete without going to
Los Angeles, and indeed most tourists will fly into the huge
LAX international airport. Car rental Los Angeles allows you to cruise down the incredible Sunset Boulevard where the movies are made and the stars like to hang out at clubs such as Whiskey A Go Go.
Beaches?
While you’re there, take a trip down to Venice Beach where the beautiful people try to see and be seen and the sand is white and inviting. Another amazing coastal stop is at the charming town of Santa Cruz where a forest of giant red wood trees sits atop a cliff looking out over the coast and some great surfing breaks. Your final stop on the tour can be at San Francisco, the incredible hilltop city which overlooks Alcatraz prison and the Golden Gate Bridge.
California in the News;
Back in December 2010, whilst Europe had been subject to a Big Freeze, the normally sunny state of California has weather problems of its own. The US state has just declared a state of emergency, under the guidance of ‘governator’ Arnold Schwarzenegger, due to heavy rainfall and widespread flooding.
While California is normally known as the Golden State for its famous sunny weather, massive storms have created flash floods and there have also been huge snowfalls in mountain areas. That includes the Mammoth Mountain ski resort which had 13 feet of snow over the weekend.
The Pacific Coastal Highway, which is one of the most used highways in the state, has also experienced mud slides and land falls which have made driving dangerous. Orange County and the San Gabriel Valley have been particularly affected with serious flooding. Fans of the reality television show Laguna Beach will be sad to hear that much of the surrounding area has turned into mud.
They were among many parts of Southern California which experienced seven straight days of rain. In Laguna Canyon a number of animals including seals had to be rescued before the rainwater swept through. So severe is the weather front that the state of emergency applies to six Californian counties. That includes the area of downtown Los Angeles which had six inches of rainfall in under a week, which is one third of the estimated rainfall for the entire year.
Jamie Meier of the National Weather Service said: "Californians have just been in the line of fire from a series of rainfall cells."