You’re Invited to Be an Honorary Californian "There's no doubt that our visitors want to be honorary Californians," says Caroline Beteta of the California Travel and Tourism Commission. "They come to play, shop and dine where the locals are, and experience firsthand the funky, easygoing and laid-back culture that is so California."
And with 158,693 square miles, divided into twelve regions, California offers visitors many unique experiences. You’re invited to try them all, if you can!  Central Coast Region. Shop for eclectic California art and furniture made by regional artists in the "Funk Zone," located near Santa Barbara’s waterfront. When you’re ready for lunch, the "locavore" reigns supreme. A new health-conscious and earth-friendly movement, locavores eat food locally grown and harvested within a 100-mile radius of where they live. It's as easy as shopping at Santa Barbara's Fishermen's Market and Farmer's Market or dining at area restaurants that use fresh and seasonal ingredients.
Los Angeles County Region. You might see a celebrity at Golden Bridge Yoga in Los Angeles, where more than 100 classes, all open to the public, are taught each week. Yoga Works and Exhale Spa in Santa Monica provides expert practitioners ready to heal, educate and soothe the weariest travelers. Keep the health vibe on at Juliano's Raw and Euphoria's Raw Revolution for some of the best raw, organic, "living" food. If you’re into vintage clothing, Retro Row near downtown Long Beach is the place to shop.  High Sierra Region. In addition to California's thousands of skiable acres, resorts now offer non-ski attractions that exemplify the California spirit. Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe recently debuted its Heavenly Flyer, an elevated zip line cable ride that travels at speeds up to 50 miles per hour, with a vertical drop of 525 feet. Camping is also very Californian, and Yosemite National Park offers some of the country's most popular campgrounds in a truly spectacular setting.
 San Francisco Bay Area Region. For visitors who would rather don wetsuits, Santa Cruz offers the quintessential California culture: boards and big waves. It’s one of the best places to learn to surf. Sheltered point breaks with sandy bottoms, such as Cowells Beach next to the Santa Cruz Wharf, make for optimum learning conditions. Richard Schmidt Surf School or Club Ed Surf School will get novices up on their boards.
 Orange County Region. Huntington Beach is a local favorite for wiggling your toes in the sand. For the ultimate California experience, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa even offers a Beach Butler. After a long day at the beach, stop by Surf City Grocers to pick up a s'mores kit for roasting marshmallows at one of the property's blazing fire pits.
Central Valley Region. California sports nuts head to the fields to soak up the sun and watch their favorite teams. A Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, the Fresno Grizzlies, play baseball at Chukchansi Park. The Central Valley Coyotes play professional arena football at the indoor, 11,000-seat, Selland Arena. Fresno County orchards, nurseries and estates allow the public to pick their organic vegetables, such as corn, tomatoes and squash North Coast Region. Visitors learn firsthand how to go green at the 12-acre Solar Living Institute in Hopland, which offers workshops, exhibits and the annual August SolFest Festival, which strives to promote understanding of how we can live in harmony with the earth. Nearby Humboldt County makes for a great venue to ponder these sustainable living technologies, especially when dwarfed by old growth forests such as Redwood National Park, home to the world's tallest trees.  Deserts Region. Palm Springs homes and buildings exemplify the Mid-Century Modern architectural style, featuring many residences with ample windows and open floor plans that open up interior space and bring the outdoors in. Take a tour during Modernism Week, February 15-24, to enjoy these gems. Then, visit the locals favorite mid-century haunts for furnishing and accessory originals at Vintage Oasis and Retrospect on South Palm Canyon Drive and North Palm Canyon Drive. In Joshua Tree National Park, Mother Nature's architecture is on display in the form of Joshua Trees, peculiar-looking, slow-growing trees that branch after they bloom.
San Diego County Region. The warm year-round weather of the region has attracted top skateboarding professionals. Visitors can dip, kick and flip their boards at a variety of skateboard parks with settings that include the dynamic downtown, the Coronado waterfront and the flatlands of the Anza-Borrego Desert. Californians know the best way to finish off a day boarding is with San Diego's signature dish , fish tacos, especially when enjoyed at one of the city's many beach grilles.  Inland Empire Region. Rock climbing is big here in the heart of California’s mountains. Visitors learn the basics of outdoor climbing via guide services. Castle Rock near Big Bear Lake, has more than 30 routes with up to 100 feet of climbing surfaces. Keller Peak near Running Springs offers the best crag in the area, called Hungover Wall.
Gold Country Region. Being Californian doesn't necessarily mean taking it to the extreme. Visitors can embody the California vibe by simply getting outdoors and running, walking or taking a leisurely bike ride. A local favorite for all these is the American River Bike Trail, a 23-mile trail that winds along the American River from Old Sacramento to Folsom. At Sacramento's McKinley Park at H and 33rd Street, the mile-long dirt, loop trail makes for a fantastic morning, lunchtime or early evening jog. Cool down in the park's 1.5 acre rose garden, which features more than 1,000 rose bushes, tree roses and blooming annuals.  Shasta Cascade Region. Californians traditionally take to the rivers, streams and lakes to fly fish. A great place for stocking up on your waders, flies and leaders is The Fly Shop in Redding. This shop has been one of California's fly fishing headquarters for nearly 30 years and offers guide service, private clinics and a kid’s fish camp.
And when you’re finished with all that, California has even more to offer. You might say that the fun never ends in the Golden State. Photo Credits: Balboa Beach, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Rock Climbing, San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge, Joshua Tree National Park, Mt. Shasta: Robert Holmes/CTTC. Skiing: North Lake Tahoe/Tom Zikas. Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market: Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau/Greg Peterson. Edited by Ellen Schofield | 