It will take around 14 hours to drive from the northern border of California to the south.
California is bordered by Oregon to the north. In the south, California shares an international border with Mexico. To the east, Nevada and Arizona share the California border. California meets the Pacific Ocean on the west.
California is the third largest state, behind Alaska and Texas, and runs almost 800 miles from north to south. It is not surprising that it offers a contrasting landscape and a diverse topography. California's general coastline is 840 miles long.
Along much of the coast, the Coast Ranges rise from the shore in steep cliffs and terraces. Southern California has many wide, sandy beaches. California's topography can be characterized by defining eight main regions within the state
Klamath Mountains
Coastal Ranges
The Sierra Nevada
Central Valley
Cascade Mountains
Basin and Range Region
The Los Angeles Ranges
The San Diego Ranges
Find out more about the history of California, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on HISTORY.com.
California's beautiful weather, sophisticated culture and gorgeous scenery make it a natural destination spot for vacationers from all over the world. The list of possible attractions is endless—from the wonders of Yosemite to the glamour of Hollywood—and travelers can spend a full two weeks there and not even scratch the surface of all the things to see and do.
Regardless of where you travel in California, however, it pays to prepare. A few vacation tips can save you a lot of time and grief if you heed them before entering the Golden State shared by Traveltips.usatoday.com.