Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-29
WHERE 70 GO.
THE SUMMER RESORTS OF CALI
FORSIA-RoUTES To THEE.
Some Account of the Charms of
Mountain and Lake Scenery
in this State,
FIRST PAPER,l

comes to spy out the land and locate Il
home, and at the same time to see its
curiosities, or solely for the latter purpose.
In any case his motive is commendable
If he comes TO locate a home. we claim
that he has visited the most available and
promising part OF creation, and that central
and northern California are the best of that
where his energy viii be best applied and
yield the largest measure of good to him
self ard his fellow-men. and the broadest
pleasure and most complete human hap
piness. There is no field of
HUMAN ACTIVITY
That he may not engage in here, and no
sort OF tickling of the belly of earth that he
may not profitably employ in these sections.
Assuming that he comes to see our won
ders and 10 feast his soul upon the glories
of our scenery. or TO rest his weary body
and rehabilitate his wasted physical energies
at our watering places and health
restoring resorts this article is
prepared by the RECORD UNION, and
those TO follow, for his information not,
however, as dissertation upon or compar-
ison of points of interest, but as a brief
guide in the form of a rapid glance at the
points and objects of chief interest in this
State. that the tourist may easily plan his
routes and estimate how best, TO crafty his
own tastes, he can parcel out his time in
California. We do not pause to dwell upon
the wonderful variety and
BEAUTY OF OUR SCENERY,
Or the prodigious character of our natural
wonders. 1t must suffice to say that not in
the mountains of New England the glories
nft tho PI,,a DiI,ra no Of cnft i,
lantic shores, the marvels of the
Rocky Mountains, the grandeur of the
National Park, the splendors of the
Adirondacks, the promise of the
Virginia. or any Western springs, the
charms of the Southern coasts, or the lake
delights Of the northwest, are there any
wonders, charms or attractions to rival sue
cessfully those California has to offer in
the majestic glories of the higher Sierras,
the subhmity of the Pacific coast, the SUI
perb valleys, the magnificence of our
forests, and the awful grandeurs of our
glacial and waterworn gorges, or the de-
lights and promises of our health-giving
springs and healing waters. But the tourist
must not expect to find all the comforts.
elegances or cOnveniences that meet him
at the resorts of the older States, where
age, lavish outlay of money. and assured
patronage have made the pleasure spots of
the Atlantic coast 50 attractive. We offer
him nature
IN HER NEWER ROBES,
Mountain and plain. sea coast and spring,
where the art of man has but little en-
croached upon the wild free charms of viz
gin nature. In indicating the routes
TO the natural wonders of California, and
sketching the attractions at the chief of
these, We have drawn not only upon our
knowledge of the location, and the expe-
rience of a quarter of a century in the State,
but upon all available reliable sources OF
information, and upon none so much as
the admirable and thoroughly reliable
handbook, edited by the graceful and &C
complished writer, Major Ben. G. Truman.
whose Tourists illustrated Guide" should
be in the hands of all visitors, and upon
the statements of which they may i'm
plicitly rely. The third and latest edition
of this work is issued from the press of III.
S. Croker q Co, San Francisco and Sac
ramento, and bears the Endorsement of the
Southern Pacific Company, over whose
lines of travel most tourists will pass.
YOSEMITE.
The Yosemite Valley, the supremest of
our natural wonders and unquestionably
the grandest of all continental scenery. is
reached by rail and stage. BY the first
from either end of the State over the South
Gil dGlllC lliltS 10 AaucTd. IlcDcG DIV q
branch line twenty-five miles, from which
terminus snort stage route leads to
Clark s. and thence into the valley, the en-
tire trip taking but a little over twenty-four
hours from either Sacramento or San
Francisco. The staging is only about
thirty-siX miles in all, and is over one of
the loveliest mountain routes possible to
imagine. 1t will be choice to enter by
way of Inspiration Point, and thus reach
the floor of the valley in coach, or to go
from Clark's along the highest ridge of the
Sierras TO Glacier Point, where is obtain
able unquestionably the rarest view of the
wonderful panorama of waterfall, gorge,
valley and snow-capped mountain nights
thence descending into the valley by trail
In the estimation of many this latter is the
preferable route, since it obviates the me-
cessity of climbing the trail to Glacier
Point at later date in the visit for one
must view the valley from this unequaled
vantage point. In our visit we preferred
the ascent and the descent each disclosing
to us new wonders. But both tastes may
be accommodated by coming into the valley
by one route and going out by the other
There are other methods of reaching
the valley. One is TO leave the rail at Mer-
ced and stage it via the historic old mining
town, Mariposa, to Clarks, seventy-eight
miles. Another Is to depart from the city
vi otOShlOil Nv 10 hlilOn, lnlltX miles
thence stage 1t over picturesque and in
teresting route to the valley, eighty
miles passing en- route one of the famous
groves of big trees. A slight variation of
this route takes the tourist bv stage
through still another of the groups of
mammoth trees, concerning the size of
which II has been found impossible to con-
vince the Eastern visitor save by ocular
demonstration. OF these we shall speak
lna 40 saNNfg g. i
ranged 1t is not long, a tedious or an ex-
2ensive
TRIP TO YOSEMITE.
We have yet to meet one who has made if
and regretted either the outlay or the nee
essary fatigue. 1t has grown into an
aphorlsm that words cannot depict the
giories of Yosemite, and so many have con-
fessed their ignominous failure in the effort
TO do 1t, that the bare recital of this fact
viii suffice 10 sufficiently awaken the
fancy of the stranger, and excite his
widest curiosity. 1t may, however
be said that il is the one bit of
scenery on the footstool of the Creator CON
corning which no expectation whatever
Will suffer disappointment. The valley is
a narrow gorge, deep between almost ner-
pendIcular walls of rock, ard shaped some
what like the letter S, and is about SIX
miles in length. 1t is less than a mile in
width. Inc s1oor OF the valley is about
1000 feet above the level o. the sea. This
floor is well wooded, is bisected Longitude
naily by the &erced river. flowing here in
crystal parity, and is provided with fine
roads and good trails. These latter wind
up and about the walls of tho valley to the
various points % superior view. The roads
and trails are owned by the SITE. and the
carriers thereon. as well as tie places of
entertainment scd supply in the valley,
are regulated in their char res ai,d the ac-
eommSdations Afforded by Commission
oil the State, and thGs imposition rpon the
traveller is well nigh impossible. When
y is attempted, there IS ready appeal TO the
Huardisn- who resides in the valley. and
prompt remedy is sr3lied The State is
nov engaged in buildiEg a fine hotel in tbe
valley 10 insure the greater comfa-t of
visitors and the best acsommodations nos.
sihle IN SO remote a place, where ths g.
sons OF production are exceedingly 49,
and the carrying in of supplies labor;as,s,
and necessarily at heavy cost. 1t is nor ~
purpose 10 dwell upon the stupendons vsr
teal lift of Che walls OF tie valley tbs
awful depths c! the gorges, the maryels ~
us waterfalls or the glories snd expanse
OF views from