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         WESTERN USA
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This means California with all
the magic that this name
conjures up. The two main
areas are the cities of Los
Angeles and San Francisco.
California is known as the
"Golden State" because of it's
sunny climate and the
discovery of gold there in the
pioneering days.

Its a mixture of beaches,
mountains, rugged coastline,
Hollywood glamour, desert
woodland and orchard. It is
the most populous state in the
USA and apart from LA and San
Francisco, other major resort
and tourist areas include San
Diego and the lush resorts of
Santa Barbara and Palm
Springs. Also worth seeing are
the artists communities at
Laguna Beach and Mendocino.

Los Angeles is an acquired
taste and many people comment
that it seems to have no
centre to it. Popular tourist
attraction here include
Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Long
Beach, Anaheim (for
Disneyland), Pasedena and
Santa Monica. From LA you can
easily reach the great variety
of terrain to be found in the
rest of the state from
snowcapped mountains to vast
deserts.

San Francisco is a charming
and enjoyable city and its
famous gravity powered cable
car system is well-worth
seeing. So too is the
spectacular Golden Gate Bridge
and the now disused prison
island of Alcatraz (trips by
boat from San Francisco
harbour area).

Inland from the coast, the
Yosemite national park is an
ideal spot for a touring
holiday. Los Vegas and Grand
Canyon although not in the
State are within reach too.