Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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The jewel of the Central Coast is Monterey Bay. In 1797, Mission San Juan Bautista was founded
near Monterey Bay by the Spaniards and is now the highlight of a state historic park and plaza.
Cannery Row in Monterey was made famous by author John Steinbeck and is home to quaint res-
taurants and shops. The Mediterranean villa, Hearst Castle, former home of the great newspaper
publisher, is located in San Simeon. The first motel in America is in San Luis Obispo, a one-day's
drive from Los Angeles in the early 1900s.
The Central Valley, or California's breadbasket, stretches for 450 miles down the center of the
state from Orland to Bakersfield. Vast expanses of vegetable fields give way to some of the larg-
est vineyards in the state. Huge farms of almonds, raisins, and prunes are fed by the San Joaquin,
Merced, Kings, and Kern rivers.
