Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-26
CALIFORNIA WATERING PLACES.

I0rula Qultt pouut.iuiiy Will ConNCniChs
and agreeable watering places, but with
one or two exceptions Man has done very
little to make these gifts more available.
The one principal exception which will
occur to every one is the venerable old
town of Monterey, which must always be
favorite with Californians, both because
of its historical associations and its agree
able situation. At this place the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company have expended
very large amount of money. They have
made most beautiful and attractive spot
at Del Monte. The hotel there is in all
respects the most complete and well-kept
on the coast. No expense has been spared
to make the grounds pleasant and beauti.
full. A few weeks ago Mr.. Huntington
bought two farms for over 100000, in
order to secure the water rights OF the
Carmel river, that he might carry that
stream to Del Monte, there to employ it
for irrigating and supplying fountains in
the hotel grounds. A road eighteen miles
in length, and almost as smooth as
billiard table, has been constructed out
by Point Cypress and other sights of the
neighborhood. improvements of one kind
and another are constantly proceeding. The
water OF. the ocean being cold, fine COW
cred Bathing House has been built, where
in the.invalid or delicate person can make
choice between four different temperatures
OF heated salt water, and where, in the
spacious tanks, the youth of both sexes
can disport to their hearts desire. In
short nothing that enterprise can suggest
or unlimited means supply has been omit
ted to make of Monterey the chief and IA
vorite watering place of the State. Ali its
good points have been drawn out and made
the most Of Real wonders have been
achieved by the unlimited employment of
capital. And as result place has been
literally created which does unquestion-
ably supply all the elements of comfort and
satisfaction that watering place can af-
ford, for limited time. As resort for
those who seek repose and quiet, indeed,
Del Monte is unrivalled, and it must al.
ways be the one great "show place" of
the coast. But when everything is said
which can be said for Monterey, it has to
be admitted that its attractions are limited,
and that as regards natural advantages it
stands no comparison with its near neigh.
Dor, Santa Cruz.
The latter indeed has been most lavishly
endowed by Nature. 1t is not an exagger-
alton that there are few lovelier places in
the world than Santa Cruz, and but few
which combine the most striking and dis.
tinctive charms and scenic beauties of sea
shore and mountain. broken rolling coun-
try and primeval forest. In fact Santa
Cruz is quite an ideal watering place. 1t
combines the most different advantages
One has the opportunity of bathing ia sea
or river, of fishing in sea or river, of hunt
ing and fishing in she mountains, and in
every direction are situated the most
charming scenes, all within easy reach of
the town, and all accessible by roads which
if they were well kept would be themselves
part OF the pleasure of the drives. We
know of no place which has around it so
many really beautiful drives. On the one
hand there are dozen Beaches, each with
some special attraction. On the other
hand are many inland points, all affording
some novel and lovely point of view. And
the scenery is of kind so varied as to suit
the most diverse tastes. There is grandeur
sufficient for the most exacting in Powder
Mill Canyon and its neighborhood. A
little further off soft rolling country
varies the landscape. Deep, rugged gorges,
shaded by towering timber, and made
pleasant by bright streams magnificent
redwoods, giants of the forest orchard
and pasture, corn land and wheat, succeed
ing one another splendid dairy farms on
one hand, and inaccessible mountain can
yons on the other. Surely there can no.
where be found more delightful combina.
ton of scenery.
But if Nature has done much for Santa
Cruz, Man has done little. As a water.
ing place, its chief attraction must always
be the bathing, and the accommodations
for the bathers are at present very far from
wha. they should be. The dressing-rooms
are primitive, shabby, and mean-looking.
The bathers are compelled to walk about
hundred yards through the crowd on the
beach, in entering and leaving the water.
This is really very serious drawback to
the pleasure of the bath, and it is specially
disagreeable to ladies, and in fact the ar.
rangement is very bad. 1t would cost but
trife to erect two covered ways, of can.
vas and light framework, from the dress.
ing rooms to the water, and then the
bathers conld pass up and down without
feeling that five hundred eyes were crit.
cising their every point, and that they
were literally being placed on exhibition.
But in truth scarcely anything has been
done to make the bathing pleasant or con-
venient, and this is a reproach to the pub
lie spirit of Santa Cruz It is also discred-
liable to the town that more care of the
roads leading 20 various external pleasure
resorts is not taken. Thus the road to the
Big Trees has not been watered this year,
and generally speaking is in very disa-
greeable state. The advantage of attend
ing to these matters is so obvious that
neglect appears almost a proof of com.
munity stupidity, in fact,
There is no place in the State which will
SO well and quickly repay a judicious
expenditure of capital as Santa Cruz, how
ara. Tha Santhor, Paa;Ea Ra;lraal La.ro