California

Once again, the problem of seeing the United States is that it is so huge.  California is a perfect example of this problem.  From the Oregon border in the north to the border with Mexico in the south is almost 700 miles or 1,240 kilometers. It is about 250 miles or 400 kilometers wide.  As I did my imaginary trip for you, Amtrak is one way of seeing a lot of the country, but not everyone wants to look out the window most of the time and make a few stops here and there.  If you fly from city to city, it runs into a lot of time in airports, not to count the expense of all those flights.  Then you still have the problem of how to get around in each city since not all cities have public transportation.  If time and money are both plentiful, then the best way to see California – or the entire USA – is by car if you can handle driving with all those crazy Americans on the right side of the road.  That way you can see the top attractions and also take little side trips to see some of the less well known places. 

Everyone wants to go to California.  It’s always been the place of dreams – first the settlers moved west to California for wonderful land to farm – then the gold rush brought those who dreamed of getting rich.  During the depression, people left the dust bowl of the Midwest to find jobs and the hope of a new beginning in the Golden State.  Hollywood and the movie world brought those who dreamed of fame and fortune.  A mild climate, beautiful land, beaches and cities for young dreamers has kept California the desirable destination for many generations.  California continues to grow and people there seem to continually dream big dreams.  Silicon Valley is one of the more recent places where dreams became reality for many.  Who knows what will be dreamed up next in this golden land?

Today there are many destinations for those who travel.  Most travelers already know the destinations where they want to visit because the whole world knows of the famous places in California.  As always, I suggest you check online for the state website to guide you in finding the places that appeal to you. The state is one of the largest in the United States and borders the Pacific Ocean. It has beautiful fertile valleys, deserts, scenic mountains, fascinating cities, wonderful parks in addition to many fun places for youngsters such as Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland.  Sports of every kind are available from skiing to surfing.

Vintage postcard of the burning of the Cliff House

It is impossible for me to imagine what I could possibly tell you about California that you don’t already know.  I am going to give you a few suggestions of some places that are not so well known.  If you are in San Francisco, you will probably see the Golden Gate Bridge.  The Golden Gate National Recreation Area has expanded and the Cliff House is now part of the park.  The Cliff House has a long and interesting history, having been destroyed and restored several times.  On the deck of the Cliff House is a room sized camera obscura.  



Lombard Street



Lombard Street in San Francisco has been called "the crookedest street in the world and people enjoy driving up or down the street. 



Alcatraz Island is a great place to spend a few hours exploring the prison and the island itself.  It has a very colorful history and many people have left their stories here.



Lick Observatory (Vintage)

South of San Francisco is San Jose.  About 20 miles to the east from San Jose is the Lick Observatory, a state of the art observatory for the University of California.  Be aware that the road was built years ago and is narrow in places as it winds up the mountain.  (No gas at the top.)  There are historical displays and visitors are welcome to see the Great Lick Refractor and a 120 inch reflector.   



Sequoia National Park



As I talked about in my imaginary trip, the Redwood or Sequoia Trees are one of the most unique things in California.   Sequoia National Park has many of the trees that are large in diameter, including “General Sherman” which is the largest tree in the world by volume.  The Redwood National Park includes the tallest trees in the world.  These trees are amazing to see.  At one time you could drive through one of the trees in Yosemite National Park but it fell in the late 1960s. Any of these parks are well worth the visit just to see the trees.  Of course, there are also many other attractions to see in the parks.



The Bells of Mission San Juan Capistrano



In California there are 21 Mission Churches that were founded between 1968 and 1853.  They range from San Diego in the south to Sonoma, 40 miles north of San Francisco.  The Presidio in San Francisco is one of these Mission Churches.  The one In San Miguel, where I used to live, was damaged by a 2003 earthquake.  It has been partially restored.  The murals in this mission have been preserved well and are very colorful.To visit one of these Mission Churches would be very enjoyable .



Scotty's Castle in Death Valley



Death Valley actually has an 11,000 foot high mountain known as Telescope Peak!  There is more to the desert than just wasteland.  The desert blooms when the weather brings rain.  There is also a castle in the northern part of Death Valley called Scotty’s Castle.  It is built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style and was built by a wealthy man and his wife as a vacation home in the 1920s.  Walter Scott, a flamboyant friend, considered it his “hideaway”. Tours of both the house and the underground tunnel system are available.

I could add dozens of other places to visit, but I think it’s best if you find the treasures by yourself.  Those special places that you discover always result in the best memories.