Welcome to California

California does extremes like nowhere else. It has the tallest trees on Earth — coast redwoods over 380 feet high — the largest living thing on the planet, the General Sherman sequoia, and the oldest trees anywhere, bristlecone pines that have been alive almost 5,000 years. It also holds both the highest point in the lower 48, Mount Whitney at over 14,000 feet, and the lowest point in North America, Death Valley at about 280 feet below sea level — and the two are less than 100 miles apart. Add 840 miles of Pacific coast, wine country, Yosemite, and the desert, and California is really a dozen road trips in one. Below you will find every California map, trip, guide, and hidden gem we have.

• Nickname: The Golden State
• State animal: California grizzly bear
• State tree: California redwood
• State flower: California poppy
• State bird: California quail
• State mineral: Gold