talk
The California Constitution states that English is the official language of the state of California, but in reality, this rule is treated as a floor rather than a ceiling, and one should regard California as a multilingual state. Californian English is the main language and Spanish is the de facto second language, and a knowledge of even rudimentary Spanish is useful in most cities from Sacramento to San Diego. Los Angeles has some of the largest hispanic populations north of Mexico. The state is highly influenced by Spanish culture, as California was one part of the Spanish empire until 1821, and then to Mexico for a short while after until ceded to the USA in 1848. In fact, some of its residents declared it an independent country for about a month The Bear Flag Republic in the midst of the Mexican-American War 1846-1848, and many of California's cities were named after saints or phrases in Spanish such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Jose. Store and street signs are sometimes written in both English and Spanish in major metropolitan areas, and "Spanglish" a mixture of English and Spanish is often used and heard throughout the state. Most businesses in California have at least a few employees that are bilingual in English and Spanish. Also, Armenian, Chinese, Japanese, Tagalog, Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi, Punjabi, and Khmer are also widely spoken among Asian Californian populations.
tsunamis
The incidence of Earthquakes in California raises the concern for potential threats of Tsunamis. Though very rare to occur, it should be noted that a great deal of California's coastline is in a Tsunami zone. For more information on the state's hazard assessment, visit the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research website (http://nctr.pmel.noaa.gov...).
crime
The usual inner city crime can be found in the worst parts of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland. Central Valley cities, such as Sacramento, Stockton, and Fresno also have gang problems. Northern coastal cities such as Eureka have an ongoing problem with significant drug activity, primarily the prevalence of methamphetamine, and property crimes. However, most California cities are very safe. As long as you take basic precautions against petty crime and stay out of obviously run-down neighborhoods, you will probably have a safe and pleasant visit. Be smart and you will be safe.
If you are traveling along the Pacific Coast Highway or Highway 101, you may notice there are a substantial number of hitch-hikers along the way. Do NOT pick up hitch-hikers...
Drugs are illegal in California. That being said, California has one of the most tolerant positions regarding marijuana in the country. In the some parts of California San Francisco, Mendencino County, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Parts of Los Angeles, Coastal San Diego, parts of Lake Tahoe a very European attitude toward marijuana can often be found. While possession without a doctors recommendation is still illegal it is considered a minor offense. If you are caught you will either be told to throw it away or at worst given a $100 fine. It is always best to be discreet and avoid doing things that will bring attention in public.
If you find yourself in an emergency situation of any kind, dial 911 on your phone.
wildfires
Wildfires are quite common between May and October. Take a few precautions - throw out cigarette butts into trashcans, clear the area around campfire pits/rings in campgrounds, never leave flames unattended even artifical ones, avoid weapon use in dry areas. The strongest impact from fires is smoke. Smoke affects areas dramatically exceeding the size of the root fire. Travelers with respiratory issues should consult visitor information sites before visiting areas where fires are occuring.
air stagnation
Occasionally, there will be an advisory issued for air stagnation, which is a phenomenon involving an air mass that cannot move and therefore stagnates over an area for an extensive period of time. Pollutants are often unable to be removed from the air and this often causes breathing difficulties for those with existing respiratory conditions.
If you have a respiratory condition, refer to the National Weather Service (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/aq/) website on air quality to see if any such advisories have been issued for the areas you might visit.
california-mexico border
Due to California's proximity to the International Boundary with Mexico, visitors should be cautious while in areas near the border.
Know where you are at all times, follow good safety procedures and use common sense when making decisions.
Do not pick-up hitch hikers.
Keep valuables, including spare change, out of sight and lock your vehicle.
Avoid traveling in well-marked but unofficial "trails."
Avoid hiking or camping in areas of major border activity. If you are visiting a national or state park, consult park staff to help plan backcountry travel in safer areas.
Report any suspicious behavior to the U.S. Border Patrol.
deserts
Along the the southern most border of California-Nevada, as well as the border of California-Arizona, California has elaborate desert landscapes which extend into the south central regions of the state; the most famous or infamous being the region known as Death Valley, where several tourists and hikers have indeed met their fate while exploring the region.
If are planning on traveling or hiking into these locations, follow desert survival guidelines. Be sure to take plenty of water at least one gallon per person, per day, sunscreen and wear light clothing. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to get return.
Be sure to have a full tank of gasoline prior to traveling by car into these regions, as many desert locations are extremely remote and without any services for several miles in some cases nearly 100 miles. To break down in these regions could be extremely unpleasant in the best case scenario, tragic in the worst.
Also, it is best to hike during the earlier part of the day, as thunderstorms tend to develop suddenly during the afternoon. In the event you encounter inclement weather conditions, seek high ground immediately! Thunderstorms can cause flash flooding in canyons and other low laying areas.
disease
Like many western states, California has had cases of hantaviral pulmonary syndrome, 42 confirmed cases in the state since 1993. Realistically, however, hantavirus is of very little concern to the traveler; but sensible precautions should be applied. Do NOT venture in a wild animal's den or handle any dead animals; particularly rodents, as rodents seem to be the primary vector of the illness. There is no cure for the disease, treatment mainly consists of supportive therapies. The main defense against the virus is prevention.
earthquakes
Earthquakes that are large enough to cause extensive damage are rare, but remain a matter of reality for the state. The biggest dangers in an earthquake are falling objects and windows which shatter explosively. In the event of an earthquake, face away from windows and hide under any sturdy table or desk that may be available. If you are indoors, do not run outside! Falling building facades are more likely to cause severe injuries than anything inside. Contrary to popular belief do not stand in a door frame it is not safe at all, this is merely a myth. You're more likely to get your fingers caught in the frame from all the shaking and swinging of the door than gain protection from a falling object. If outdoors, stay away from buildings and stay out from under power lines.