A State To Enjoy 52 Weeks a Year
Published May 27, 2009
Kiteboarders soar at Ocean Beach, which, like Marin Headlands, is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Tourists flock to California to enjoy – for a week or a weekend at a time – the state’s multiple attractions and exceptional climate. The people who live here can do so, of course, 52 weeks a year.
“The great thing about California is that there are so many different activities to experience – you can even snow ski and ocean surf all in one day,” says Carolina Beteta, president and chief executive officer of the California Travel and Tourism Commission. “There are world-class entertainment cities and majestic mountain adventures, and wildly beautiful coasts and deserts. No other state offers our diversity and abundance of inspiring landscapes and engaging activities.”
Recreational adventures range from hiking in the High Sierra to kayaking amid sea otters on the Pacific Coast. The landscapes include the highest point in the continental United States (14,505-foot Mount Whitney) and the lowest point on the North American continent (Badwater in Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level).
In fact, the topographic and recreational options in California are so diverse that tourism officials have separated the state into 12 destination regions: Central Coast, Central Valley, Desert, Gold Country, High Sierra, Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, North Coast, Orange County, San Diego County, San Francisco Bay Area and Shasta Cascade.
“Each of the state’s 12 regions has its own character, and to travel from one to another can give you the impression you’ve traveled into a different country entirely,” Beteta says. “There are mystic redwood forests of the North Coast, magnificent granite peaks of the Sierra Nevada and stunning beaches of Southern California. This state simply possesses a spectacular array of landscapes for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
A Boon to Employee Recruitment
The abundant recreational options also help employers attract the kind of talent needed to keep their companies in high gear.
“There are so many positive things happening here, including the fact that California is a leader in innovation,” Beteta says. “Creative people enjoy living in a creative atmosphere, and California is also a leader in attracting such talent.”
Beteta adds that California’s weather is a major reason why the quality of life is so exceptional. Not only is the climate ideal for active lifestyles, but it is a key component in why the state has such a vibrant agricultural industry.
“As the top producer of agriculture and wine in the United States, California offers the greatest opportunities to experience the best in food and wine – not only in taste but in harmony with the land,” she says. “Great food and great wine also attract visitors, and are simply two more reasons why California remains one of the most desirable tourism and recreation destinations in the world – and always will be.”
In fact, with more than 350 million annual travelers, California is easily the most-visited state in America. Collectively, tourists spend an average of $100 billion annually, and nearly 20 percent of that spending can be attributed to international travelers.
Travel spending in California directly supports 925,000 jobs and a payroll of $30 billion.
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Jeff Adkins
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