Nickname: Golden State Population: 32,609,000 (1st) Area: 163,710 sq miles (3rd) Birthplace: Steve Jobs & Richard Nixon Tourism: 800.862.2543 Road Conditions: 916.445.7623 A says: Home sweet home. In spite of the over-inflated prices, the ever-growing list of regulations and special taxes, and the ridiculous concentration of people in the cities, California has one over-powering thing going for her: California is a duck. Ducks can walk, swim and fly. California has got it all, too. Forest, mountain, desert, ocean, valley, farmland, rivers, and on and on. Plus, there's the cheese. :) B says: Gorgeous California Hwy 1. Sacramento river delta. Terrible traffic. Yosemite. Home. Expansive forests. Desolate deserts. San Francisco. Epic surfing, snowboarding, windsurfing. Mexican food. Just-picked fresh fruit. Expensive housing. Attitudes. People that are excited about exploring the adventures that their state has to offer.