Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-11
TOUR ALONG COAST
IS CHARM OF WEST
LOS ANGELES-SAN FRANCISCO
TRIP A WONDER
Description of Various Points of Inter-
est That Are Passed Along
Historic FL Canine
Real

To the tourist of Southern or Central
California there Is no more inviting
prospect than that of a trip from San
Francisco to Los Angeles or the other
way around. The distance is 500 miles,
but there is no spot on the road that Is
much like any other, and by picking
his route the motorist is able to vary
his Journey through mountains and
valley with an occasional spin along
the beach or the high cliffs which front
the sea.
There is scenery that beggars de-
scription, there are historic buildings
and places along the road that are
part of the history of the state-of the
whole west. And there are hotels, min
eraI springs and summer and winter
resorts, the names of which are known
all over the country and in Europe.
Starting from San Francisco and go
ing southwark down the line of the
coast railroad, the way leads first into
the Santa Clara valley, perhaps the
most fertile of California's wonderful
valley lands. Every foot of the way
for a hundred miles is through the
richest farming region of the world,
and the valley floor is studded with
thriving towns and cities, like Santa
Clara, San Jose, San Mateo and others.
Terror of Motorists
Then comes the San Juan grade, the
terror of motorists. 1t is a steep, rocky
mountain road, washed into a stony
path by the rains of winter They are
now building a way around it, but the
view back into the valley and over the
foothills beyond is worth the struggle
to reach the top.
. Salinas, the center of a wide sweep
of cattle and grain country, lies off
the main road to the west. 1t is an
old-fashioned town and well repays
visit to the motorists who are not
seeking records. The road, in fact, is
better that way, although several miles
longer.
From Salinas on the way winds
through the Salinas valley, and this is
the most unpicturesque part of the
trip. The roads for many miles are
not particularly good, but they are
level and a good speed is possible,
which takes the travellers quickly to
the mountains again and over another
summit this time by broad, well sur
veyed roads.
The next point of interest is Paso
Robles, with its hotels and hot springs.
San Luis Obispo, another cattle and
stock center, is the next town of i'm
portance reached.
Maria there are three kinds of road
good, bad and Indifferent. The trip
is enlivened, however, by a dash over
the low-lying coast hills to the west,
a drop almost to the waters edge
along the shores of San Luis bay and
run of several miles along the cliffs.
1t is the first glimpse of the ocean from
the time San Francisco is left behind.
Before the traveller comes to Santa
Maria the road dives back into the
hills again, crossing the Arroyo
Grande and the town lies in a wide
valley There is a good deal of sand
to be encountered on this part of the
! trip.
South of Santa Barbara
| On heading out of Santa Barbara the
way to the southland lies close to the
shore line for some distance. The first
stretch is along the Ocean boulevard
and from that the machine sweeps
into the county road, shaded and shell
tered by tall trees. 1t swings slowly
inland and the travellers find them
selves back in the mountains almost
before they know 1t. 1t is the last hard
pulling of the trip, but it is made over
fine roads and through a thick growth
of trees and underbrush.
Ventura is the next town, although
tbpra are dOzan villa and