California is a state blessed with sunshine all year round, making it a perfect place for outdoor activities. If indoor activities are more your style, northern and southern California offer unparalleled world-class theater, art, and shopping experiences.

From the north to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the eastern border, with an average of 284 sunny California days, there are countless exciting things to do throughout the state.

Having lived in California for more than 40 years, I am eager to share my favorite places here, divided into three regions — northern, central, and southern California.

The Geography Of Sunny California

California stretches almost 900 miles from north to south, boasting 840 miles of coastline. The narrowest section of the state spans 350 miles. California encompasses an area of 25,000 square miles of desert, as well as giant redwood trees in the temperate rainforest to the north, one of the world’s largest alpine lakes (Lake Tahoe), and the highest mountain (Mount Whitney) in the contiguous United States, standing at 14,505 feet.

International airports serve all three regions of California in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.