If you are coming from almost anywhere in the world, you will surely be impressed by the mild climate, beautiful surroundings, and many attractions of Southern California. The mountains and desert are to the north and east, and the Pacific Ocean is to the south and west. Caltech's 124-acre campus is in Pasadena, a city of 135,000 nestled at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, yet only 11 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
You can backpack the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains in the summer and enjoy apline sports there in the winter. Day trips can be made to cross-country and downhill skiing spots in the winter. Outdoors sports, including, golf, tennis, sailing, surfing, hiking, climbing, bicycling, and many other activities can all be enjoyed year round.
In Los Angeles and its many surrounding communities, you'll find you can attend a variety of cultural events, including music, theater, dance, and art. A full slate of professional and college teams play all the major and minor sports. And, of course, Southern California is the movie, entertainment, and amusement park capital of the world.
