California Coastal Historic Sites

Solvang

Located in the Santa Ynez valley (an hour north of Santa Barbara) in California is a Danish city named Solvang. It was founded in 1911 by Danish immigrants who hoped to make a Danish colony. Most of the new settlers were farmers, but the city continued to grow and expand over time. Currently Solvang is a tourist destination. It is a charming town that still reflects its Danish heritage in look and atmosphere. It feels like you are in Europe when you are here.

Ostritchland is a great place to see Ostriches and Emus. Ostriches can run for a long time at the speed of 43 mph, it’s the fastest land speed of any bird. If it is threatened, it will attack with a kick from its powerful legs. It’s is commonly farmed for its beautiful feathers.  It was fun to see so many of these large birds and to feed them.

Also a trip to the Quicksilver Miniature Horse farm. These horses grow usually around 34-38 inches high. They look almost like a small pony. They are friendly and are bred to interact with people. They are also trained to be service animals for people with disabilities.

San Luis Obispo Mission

This 5^th California mission founded by Father Junipero Serra, September 1, 1772. Named after Saint Louis Bishop of Toulouse, France. It is still an active Parish that is active with its community.

Cambria is a seaside village that is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco along Highway 1. There we found Moonstone Beach named after the moonstones that wash ashore there. Many other gems can also be found at this beach. It’s a hunt for those special moonstones.

About 15 miles north in San Simeon is a Northern elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas. They live in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They spend most of their time at sea and come to land to give birth, breed and molt. The males (bulls) have a large nose and it’s used to make loud noises especially during mating competition. The males can grow to be 14 ft and 5,000 lbs and females grow 11 ft and 1,400 lbs.

Morro Bay is home to one of California’s few remaining fishing fleets. This resort town is dominated by Morro Rock, the seventh in a chain of volcanic peaks called the “Seven Sisters” that follows alongside Highway 1 for 12 miles north of San Luis Obispo. The Rock is home to over 250 species of birds.

Mission Soledad located in the Salinas Valley near Soledad. Founded in 1791 by Father Fermin Lasuen, and is the 13^th mission to be founded in California. It was built to link Mission San Antonio and Mission Carmel. The mission was destroyed by three large floods in 1824, 1828 and 1832 which damaged the buildings and the mission fell further in to decline. It was eventually abandoned, but currently it is undergoing a large master planning project to reconstruct and restore buildings.

Monterey was the capital of Alta California under both Spain and Mexico.  In 1846 the U.S. flag was raised over the Customs House and California became part of the United States after the Mexican American War.  Until the 1950s it was known for abundant fishery. The most famous attracts are the

Monterey Aquarium-  Focuses on marine habitats of Monterey Bay and it was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest. It has led to the revitalization of Cannery Row.

Cannery Row- It is the site of a number of now-defunct sardine canning factories. The last cannery closed in 1973. John Steinbeck used Cannery Row as the setting for two of his novels: Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday. It is now a place of tourism with shops and restaurants.

Fisherman’s Wharf- is a historic wharf constructed in 1926. It is used an active wholesale fish market into the 1960s, the wharf eventually became a tourist attraction as commercial fishing tapered off after WWII when the sardine population collapsed.

Santa Cruz boardwalk was founded in 1907, it is California’s oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast.

Mission San Juan Bautista was founded on June 24, 1797 by Fermin Lasuen and was the 15^th mission established in California. Named for Saint John the Baptist. The mission has served mass daily since 1797 and today still functions as a parish church. Alfred Hitchcock’s film Vertigo was filmed at the mission.

The mission is surrounded by a well preserved historical California town resembling the old west.

Bravoland- Kettleman City Located on the I-5 through Central Valley. It is a 500 ft long strip of fake frontier town buildings.

 It is a perfect rest stop to look at the building and play and to shop in the shops.