Page 86 - FHM - Australia (December 2019)

Travel

L OVING

Welcome to the magnificent Golden State of sunny California, or Cali as some would call it. Here,
there’s everything from first-world cities, to majestic marvels of nature all topped with a wonderful and
diverse community of residents. Interestingly enough, although it’s cool for most outsiders to say use
the term Cali, it’s totally uncommon for any of California’s natives to use the phrase. And while we are
on the topic of interesting things, did you know, it’s common for people to think the term ‘Golden State’
refers to California’s sunny skies, bronze beaches, richness in minerals or even because it’s basically the
home of cinema thanks to the unmatched success of the Hollywood film industry. But no, it’s none of
the above. The name actually comes from the discovery of gold in 1848 – but wait, there’s more... you
may not know this, but California was originally referred to as the Grizzly Bear State. Now the official
Californian flag is starting to make a bit more sense, right?

Back to today, California is an amazing assemblage of varied cultures, geographic segments, and social classes meaning there are
several fascinating and breathtaking aspects to explore. With its vibrant cities, beaches, amusement parks, and natural wonders
like nowhere else on earth, California is a truly intriguing land of possibilities for avid travelers and locals alike. In the following
pages, we’re going to explore some of these awesome venues, places like the gateway cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles
which are home to some of the state’s most well-known sites including the Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood, and Disneyland. But
mand-made marvels are not all on offer here, California’s national parks cover a wide variety of terrains like mountains, forests,
deserts, coastal areas, and islands which all provide their own outstanding experiences... And Eureka! Here they are!