San Francisco City and County Share a Government

The City and County of San Francisco has been a consolidated city and county government since 1856, and it is the only such consolidation in the State of California. The government of the City and County of San Francisco also has jurisdiction over the San Francisco International Airport, even though that airport is located within San Mateo County.
- About the County of San Francisco
- City of San Francisco Travel Guide

California Has a New State Amphibian

The California Red-Legged Frog became the official state amphibian of California on January 1, 2015.   This species of frog is probably most well-known for its appearance in Mark Twain's short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County".  It is the largest native frog in the Western United States and it is almost exclusively located in California. See also Other State Symbols of California and the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee.

Films Nominated for the February 2015 Academy Awards

The 87th  Academy Awards ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will take place on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the Dolby Theatre (formerly known as the Kodak Theatre)  in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles.  Awards will be presented for best films of 2014. 
- Nominated Films
- ABC TV Schedule

Catalina's "Inn at Mount Ada" Closed for Two Months

Catalina Island's historic Inn on Mount Ada (an expensive but very special place to stay with fabulous views of Avalon Harbor) is closed in December of 2014 and January of 2015 for cleaning and minor renovations. The property's owner, the University of Southern California, signed a new long-term lease with Santa Catalina Island Company effective Dec. 1, 2014. The historic mansion will continue to operate as a bed and breakfast when it re-opens but it will be under new management, and extensive renovations are planned for the future to completely restore the home and property. 

- Catalina Island Travel Guide

- Inn on Mount Ada Bed and Breakfast

- Other Hotels on Catalina Island

Ten Busiest Airports in California

The 10 busiest Airports in California are also the only airports in California serving more than a million passengers a year:
#1 - Los Angeles Airport (more than 30 million)
#2 - San Francisco Airport (more than 20 million)
#3 - San Diego Airport (more than 8 milliion)
#4 - Oakland Airport (more than 4.6 million)
#5 - Sacramento Airport (more than 4.4 million)
#6 - Orange County John Wayne Airport (more than 4.2 million))
#7 - San Jose Airport (more than 4.1 million)
#8 - Ontario Airport (more than 2.3 million)
#9 - Burbank Bob Hope Airport (more than 2.2 million)
#10 - Long Beach Airport (more than 1.5 million)
The next largest California airports after Long Beach are the Palm Springs Airport, the Fresno Yosemite Airport, and Santa Barbara Airport.  All of the other airports in California serve fewer then 200,000 passengers a year.

Huge Port of Los Angeles Bridge to be Demolished

The Gerald Desmond Bridge over the Port of Long Beach is being replaced with a new bridge that is expected to be completed in 2016.  The current bridge will remain in place until the new bridge is opened to traffic, at which time the old bridge will be demolished.  The Gerald Desmond Bridge connects Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach with Terminal Island in the Port of Los Angeles.  Another bridge, the Vincent Thomas Bridge, connects Terminal Island with San Pedro.
- New Gerald Desmond Bridge Project
- About the New and Old Gerald Desmond Bridges
- About the Vincent Thomas Bridge

Sierra Nevada Travel Guides - High Sierras and Gold Country

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Sierra Business Council have partnered with the National Geographic Society to capture the history and heritage of the Sierra Nevada region of California through an interactive Web site with a printable map, a mobile device app, and a free online map.  The Web site includes visitor information for the High Sierras and the California Gold Country regions in the foothills north and south of Sacramento.
- Sierra Nevada Tourism Web Site
- Yosemite Experience Web Site
Sierra Nevada Travel Guides at California for Visitors:
- High Sierras Travel Guide
- Gold Country Travel Guide