California, The Golden State, is best known for its breathtaking beaches, splendid weather, and its’ fun filled metropolises, which allow for the state to have a tourist economy unlike any other state in the nation. The Golden State always has something to offer, in fact it contains so much that a tourist would need several months to explore California and all that it is available. However, even then a tourist would still miss out on all of the attractions not found on postcards, the attractions tucked away into the mountains or hidden behind the mega tourist spots. California is a state full of destinations known around the world, ranging from Disneyland to the ever natural beauty of Yosemite. However, one does not normally think of the road that takes one to such destinations. The iconic Highway 1 is a prime example of a forgotten gem, a route full of attractions that even the highway itself has become iconic. In this paper I will examine how a stretch of highway 655 miles long among the 387041 miles that state of California holds contains so much rich history and attractions of all kinds (Dougherty), allowing for Highway 1 to be in itself considered an attraction. An attraction that needs to be maintained and one that conformed to meet the requirements set upon by the geographical terrain it needed to cover.
Tourism plays a large part in the economics of California, for along with agriculture and the technology field, tourism creates a large percentage of the revenue for the state. In 2012 alone, 106.1 billion dollars were spent by tourists vising the state’s various attractions and scenic views that it has to offer (California Travel). Meanwhile, in 2004 visitors spent 81.4 billion dollars, in just a span of eight years the growth is almost double of that of 1995. Tourism has been growing in the state, since the financial collapse of 2008; at a rate of 3.9% a year, tourism is getting healthier as time goes on (California Travel). Jobs in California are very much dependent of tourism, not only, do certain tourism attractions hire many workers, but hotels, dinning establishment, and shopping centers are also effected by the influx of visitors. People are always going to want to buy mementos to show that they have visited certain locations, whether they be a pair of Mickey Mouse ears or a mug with a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge with one’s name printed on it. Tourism is a great way for a state to bring in money, and California is a great example of a successful tourist economy. With an annual GDP of 46.5 Billion, the vacation industry in California is very much healthy and will continue to grow, as California generally draws in outsiders and does a good job of keeping its current residents (California Travel). However, how does a visitor even decide on what to in the state? There is so much to view and do that it really comes down to what an individual enjoys, whether it be the thrill of theme parks, or quiet comfort of lounging by the...
