California

1. Disneyland Resort (Anaheim): Disneyland is the most famous theme park in the world, known as the Happiest Place on Earth. It features iconic rides, beloved characters, and immersive themed lands like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Fantasyland.
2. Yosemite National Park (Central California): Yosemite is famous for its towering granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoia trees. Visitors come to marvel at natural wonders like Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls, and to explore its breathtaking hiking trails.
3. Hollywood Walk of Fame (Los Angeles): The Hollywood Walk of Fame celebrates the biggest stars in film, television, music, and more. Tourists come to see the more than 2,600 stars embedded along Hollywood Boulevard and to visit nearby attractions like the TCL Chinese Theatre.
4. Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco): One of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge spans the San Francisco Bay. It’s famous for its bright orange color, stunning architecture, and panoramic views of the city and bay.
5. Universal Studios Hollywood (Los Angeles): This world-renowned theme park offers thrilling rides based on popular movies and TV shows, including Harry Potter and Jurassic World. Visitors can also tour actual working movie sets at Universal Studios’ backlot.
6. Alcatraz Island (San Francisco): Once a maximum-security prison, Alcatraz Island is famous for housing notorious criminals like Al Capone. Now a museum, visitors can explore the prison’s history, tour the cellblocks, and enjoy views of San Francisco from the island.
7. Big Sur (Central Coast): Big Sur is known for its dramatic coastal scenery, where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. The scenic drive along Highway 1 offers breathtaking views, with popular stops like McWay Falls and Bixby Creek Bridge.
8. Death Valley National Park (Eastern California): Famous for being the hottest and driest place in North America, Death Valley offers surreal landscapes, including salt flats, sand dunes, and colorful badlands. Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, is located here.
9. The Getty Center (Los Angeles): The Getty Center is a world-class art museum perched in the hills of Los Angeles. It’s known for its impressive art collection, beautiful architecture, and stunning views of the city and Pacific Ocean.
10. Lake Tahoe (Northern California): Lake Tahoe is a popular year-round destination known for its crystal-clear waters and surrounding mountains. In the winter, it’s a major skiing and snowboarding hub, and in the summer, visitors enjoy boating, hiking, and beach activities.

1. California is home to the world’s largest tree: The General Sherman tree, located in Sequoia National Park, is the largest tree on Earth by volume. It’s a giant sequoia standing 275 feet tall and over 36 feet in diameter at its base.
2. California produces more than 80% of the world’s almonds: California is the top almond producer globally. The state’s vast almond orchards play a key role in the world’s almond supply, especially in places like the Central Valley.
3. There are more people in California than in all of Canada: California’s population is over 39 million, which is larger than Canada’s population of about 38 million. It’s the most populous state in the U.S.
4. Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth: Death Valley, located in California, holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth—134°F (56.7°C), making it one of the most extreme environments in the world.
5. The Hollywood sign originally said “Hollywoodland”: The iconic Hollywood sign was originally an advertisement for a real estate development called Hollywoodland. The “land” part was removed in 1949, leaving the famous sign we know today.
6. California has a ghost town you can visit: Bodie is a well-preserved ghost town in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Once a booming gold rush town, it’s now a State Historic Park that teens can explore to experience a real-life “Wild West” ghost town.
7. California has the tallest and oldest trees on Earth: The coast redwoods, located in Northern California, are the tallest trees in the world, with some reaching over 379 feet. The bristlecone pines in the White Mountains are the oldest living trees, some over 4,800 years old.
8. There’s an official state dinosaur: California’s official state dinosaur is Augustynolophus morrisi. This dinosaur roamed the state during the Late Cretaceous period and was designated the state dinosaur in 2017.
9. Los Angeles is the world’s largest producer of movies: Known as the entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood and Los Angeles produce more films and TV shows than anywhere else in the world, making it a dream destination for aspiring actors and filmmakers.
10. California has its own “Island of the Blue Dolphins”: San Nicolas Island, located off the Southern California coast, inspired the book Island of the Blue Dolphins. The real-life story behind it involves a Native American woman who lived alone on the island for 18 years.

Famous Men

1. Tom Hanks (1956–): Born in Concord, California, Tom Hanks is an Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Saving Private Ryan. He is one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood.
2. Steve Jobs (1955–2011): Born in San Francisco, California, Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Inc. and was a pioneer in personal computing, mobile devices, and digital entertainment. His innovations with products like the iPhone and Mac revolutionized technology.
3. Leonardo DiCaprio (1974–): Born in Los Angeles, California, Leonardo DiCaprio is a renowned actor and environmental activist. He is famous for his roles in films like Titanic, Inception, and The Revenant, for which he won an Oscar.
4. Clint Eastwood (1930–): Born in San Francisco, California, Clint Eastwood is a legendary actor and filmmaker. He is known for his roles in Westerns like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and for directing critically acclaimed films like Million Dollar Baby.
5. George Lucas (1944–): Born in Modesto, California, George Lucas is a filmmaker best known for creating the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. He is one of the most influential filmmakers in history, and his work changed the science fiction genre.

Famous Women

1. Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962): Born in Los Angeles, California, Marilyn Monroe was an iconic actress and model. She became one of the most famous sex symbols of the 20th century and starred in films like Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
2. Cher (1946–): Born in El Centro, California, Cher is a Grammy-winning singer and actress known as the Goddess of Pop. She has had a successful career spanning six decades with hits like “Believe” and roles in films like Moonstruck.
3. Billie Eilish (2001–): Born in Los Angeles, California, Billie Eilish is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter known for her hits like Bad Guy and Ocean Eyes. She is one of the most influential pop artists of her generation.
4. Natalie Wood (1938–1981): Born in San Francisco, California, Natalie Wood was a famous actress known for her roles in films like West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause. She was a beloved star in the 1950s and 1960s.
5. Diane Keaton (1946–): Born in Los Angeles, California, Diane Keaton is an Academy Award-winning actress known for her roles in Annie Hall, The Godfather, and Something’s Gotta Give. She is also a director and producer.