Traveling through California can be like taking a trip around the globe or recounting the pioneer days of the American West. You'll be pleasantly surprised as you discover frontier towns as alive today as they were in 1848 when gold was first discovered. Or, you might find yourself in the middle of thriving cosmopolitan cities in which you'll experience delightful neighborhoods where different cultures create an exciting blend of Eastern and Western traditions. California's unique and rich mixture of people, cultures, and natural resources has inspired activities of every kind. In addition, visitors have within their grasp numerous theme parks, fine restaurants, outstanding wineries, distinctive resorts and hotels, world-renowned museums and galleries, and the unparalleled entertainment industry.
Dramatic contrasts mark the landscape here, offering an enchanting choice of vistas.
Drives along the twisting, rugged coast bring unexpected and exhilarating views. Vineyards and wineries, redwood forests, and rolling hills offer tranquility and beauty. Spend your nights in picturesque 19th-century towns dotted with cozy inns. It's all available in this Redwood empire. Sonoma, the last of the mission towns to be established, was fortified in the 1830s to protect Mexico's frontier from encroaching Russian settlements to the north.