1. California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) Stats.

2. Find Yourself on a California Beach.

3. California Has Gone to the Dogs.

4. Ecotourists Love Green California.

5. Golfers Flock to California for 2008 U.S. Open.

California is a golfer’s paradise – with pleasant temperatures year-round, the green is always calling. The 2008 U.S. Open will be held at Torrey Pines Golf Course near San Diego June 12-15, drawing scores of fans. Visitors can also experience the famous Pebble Beach course or take a swing at any of the hundreds of specially-designed courses around the state – San Diego alone has 92. Golf lovers can purchase custom-fit golf clubs or receive special golf massages while staying in private suites – complete with their own putting greens.

6. California Knows How to Do Wine and Food.

The California Travel and Tourism Commission is partnering with the Wine Institute to celebrate California’s wine and cuisine. With more wineries than any other state and famous chefs serving the freshest ingredients, California is one of the world’s top wine and food destinations. A fabulous new promotional campaign, including a new 30-second spot featuring famous winemakers, chefs, and California wine and food icons, debuts in February 2008. In addition, CTTC is rolling out a brand new center for Wine and Food on the Web – www. landofwineandfood.com. The site will host new itineraries, the best of California’s wine and food hotspots, celebrity bloggers, and other fun and informative surprises for consumers.

7. California Highs and Lows.

Where else can you visit the highest and lowest points in the lower 48 states – in the same day? From the 14,495-foot-tall Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park, it’s just a couple hours to Badwater in Death Valley National Park – 282 feet below sea level. Travelers can hike up the mountain from Lone Pine and marvel at the pristine Sierra Nevadas, then get their desert fix with Death Valley’s incredible scenery (and temperatures). This breathtaking journey of opposites is just one example of California’s enormous variety of climates and landscape – deserts, beaches, mountains and wide open valleys are all represented.

8. Visitors Find Their Inner Selves in California.

California offers a variety of spiritual vacation opportunities for people who are trying to find their true selves in a hectic world. From the world-renowned Esalen Institute in Big Sur to the famed magnetic energy of Mount Shasta, those who look within have plenty to guide them in California. Don’t miss the drum circles in Orange County’s Aliso State Beach and San Diego’s Chopra Center for preventative wellness. Holistic healing, massage, energy work, Buddhist meditation, cleansing diets and special retreats are all available – there are even opportunities to combine yoga with hiking! Those seeking to commune with nature can find vegetarian meals and the chance to grow closer to the natural world. Visitors come to California to take a break from the stress of everyday life.

9. A Year of California Anniversaries.

Several destinations throughout California are celebrating exciting anniversaries in 2008. Both historic Cannery Row and fascinating Hearst Castle are celebrating 50th anniversaries, with special tours and other events. Fresno will play host to celebrating Pulitzer-Prize winning author William Saroyan on the 100th anniversary of his birth. In August, Bigfoot celebrates his own 50th – visitors can head to the Willow Creek museum to get the full story. The Long Beach Aquarium and Palm Springs Art Museum also have special things in store throughout the year. Join in the many celebrations of California’s vast cultural and heritage history!

10. Eat and Drink Green Across the State.

There’s an eco-revolution, and California’s restaurants and vineyards have always led the way. Restaurants across the state have turned to sustainable ways to support the environment, along with local farmers and ranchers. From the freshest produce at hundreds of farmer’s markets to numerous farm-to-fork operations, California began the trend of producing the finest and most abundant array of organic, slow, locally grown, vegetarian, vegan and eco-friendly food. Visitors can tour the farm their produce came from, eat while listening to the farmer explain his methods, or learn first-hand where milk and cheese come from, providing a deeper connection to the food they eat. Wineries embracing green winegrowing and winemaking practices also provide tours and offer tastings of sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines. There’s never been a more delicious way for consumers to go green!

11. California’s Regions Make Travel Easy.

Even though California is the third-largest state in land area, covering 158,693 square miles, visitors travel easily within its 12 regions. With the regions divided into bite-size pieces, with several itineraries on www.visitcalifornia.com for each, visitors enjoy spending time in the North Coast, Shasta Cascade, Gold Country, San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, High Sierra, Central Coast, Los Angeles County, Desert, Orange County, Inland Empire and San Diego County regions. From the coast to the desert to the mountains to urban oases, California has a little slice of heaven for every audience – and something every visitor will love.

12. California Icons Continue to Draw Visitors.

Whether it’s their first trip to California or their hundredth, there are some things in California that are just absolute must-sees. Whether taking pictures in front of the Hollywood sign or on the Walk of Fame, posing with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland, or crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, these only-in-California icons create the ultimate memory. Many travelers return until they’ve checked everything off their lists! Other musts include a drive along Highway 1, a glimpse of (or hike up) Half Dome in Yosemite, and a California ski-and-surf vacation. But it’s not just about sights – a glass of California wine is an absolute requirement, as is California sushi and pizza creations, made with the freshest ingredients.

13. No Girls (or Boys) Allowed.

Girlfriend getaways and “mancations” are growing in popularity for California travelers. Whether for a special occasion (bachelor and bachelorette parties are top destination drivers) or just a great bonding session, visitors to California love trips that cater to their every whim. Limousine wine tasting tours are a favorite for everyone, and shopping, chocolate-tasting, spas, beach-hopping, surfing, golfing, fishing and camping (or “glamping” – glamour camping) make great settings for getaways among friends. Plus, California’s incredible nightlife plays host to the perfect place to mix and mingle with the other sex.

14. Oenophiles Love California Wine.

Wine lovers around the world flock to California for a taste of the good life. With more than 2,700 wineries, California produces 90 percent of U.S. wine, offering consumers a great selection of varietals, styles and price points. Wine regions spread from the best-known Napa Valley and Sonoma County to new and emerging favorites in the Paso Robles, Lodi, Livermore, Monterey, Santa Cruz Mountains, Sierra Foothills/Gold Country, Temecula and Santa Barbara (made famous in the movie Sideways) areas. With favorite varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay still going strong, California’s varied micro-climates, soil and topography also lend themselves to less common varieties, such as Mourvedre and Viognier. With award-winners by the dozen and incredible opportunities to taste, tour and learn, California’s wine country spreads across the state and is the stuff of wine lovers’ dreams.

15. Visitors Seek Nature and History at California’s State and National Parks.

California’s hundreds of state and national parks provide incredible opportunities for communing with nature and learning about California’s fascinating history. From state beaches covering most of the 1,264-mile coastline, forests filled with the largest trees in the world, and museums and historical sites preserving priceless cultural artifacts, California’s 4.1 million National Parks acres and 1.3 million State Parks acres offer a place for the entire family to learn, grow and participate in the most exciting adventures. Visitors can camp, hike, swim, ride, bike and play for days, all while seeing some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.

16. Dine on Diverse Delights from Every Culture.

California’s incredible mixture of cultures from across the globe makes for an equally dynamic cuisine. From American and new-wave California Cuisine to exquisite gourmet selections, little of California’s culinary selections exist without a dash of another vibrant culture, allowing foodies to take their taste buds around the world. With Ethiopian, Chinese, Hmong, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Caribbean, British, Czech, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, Swiss, El Salvadoran, Mexican, Greek, Middle Eastern, Basque, Danish, Indian, Japanese and the best sushi outside of Japan, California’s ever-shifting ethnic cuisine landscape is a show-stopper.

17. Families Love to Play in California.

A fun-in-the-sun California vacation is the ideal adventure for an exciting family getaway! From perennial favorites Disneyland (and Disney’s California Adventure) and Universal Studios for tweens and teens and Knott’s Berry Farm for the little ones, to newer adventures at Legoland, SeaWorld and Santa Monica Pier, families can find fun for every member. California is a roller coaster hotspot, with attractions launching new thrill rides all the time. Visitors can find exhilaration in spots such as Six Flags Valencia, but also history – the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s Giant Dipper roller coaster was built in 1924.

18. Catch a Show or Concert in California.

California is one of the best spots to catch a jaw-dropping performance or first-rate concert. From live music in restaurants and bars across the state to music festivals throughout the year, along with amazing venues old and new, the spotlight shines brightly on music and entertainment in California. Catch “Wicked” until May in L.A.’s Pantages Theatre, or the San Francisco Ballet February through May. Don’t miss the new Walt Disney Concert Hall or Shakespeare and concerts in the open air at Lake Tahoe. Listen long enough, and you might help discover the next superstar!

19. Finding a Purpose in California.

California is a great place to take a vacation with a greater purpose. Volunteer opportunities abound, from riverbed restoration, beach cleanup and other ecological causes, to raising awareness about causes or building homes. It’s a great way to get kids, students and families involved in something outside themselves, and a perfect way for individual men and women to really make a difference in their world. California “voluntours” are leaving their mark across the state.

20. Rural California Offers Surprises Around Every Corner.

There’s more to California than bright lights and big cities. Hundreds of rural areas across the state hold hidden treasures and unexpected surprises, not to mention fun events and festivals throughout the year. Hit Murphys for some gold country goodness, or Red Bluff for the annual Round-Up. Visitors can hunt for ghosts in Calico or herbs in Squaw Valley. A few steps off the beaten path can reveal incredible scenery, fun museums (learn about Pez in Burlingame!) and engaging people.