Introduction
There are many historic landmarks in California. However, not all of them are worth visiting. My friend, Matthew Davies, is loves to travel and he has visited almost all of the important destinations in California.
Where should we go?
He has helped me compile the following list which includes the best historic sites in California. They are as follows –
- The Stagecoach Inn – This historic museum is located in Newbury Park, CA and is currently owned by the Conejo Recreation and Park Department. It was built in 1876 and originally used to be a hotel and stagecoach stop that provided a resting area for people traveling from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. Back then, it was known as the Grand Union Hotel.
Throughout history, it has been used as a church, military school, post office, and even a restaurant. It is also one of the most famous haunted places in California. You can visit the Stagecoach Inn any day between Wednesday and Sunday, from 1-4 pm.
- Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village – Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village is located in the Simi Valley, CA. It is an art environment which was created by Tressa “Grandma” Prisbrey between the 1950s-1970s. The ‘Bottle Village’ consists of sculptures, buildings, walkways, and shrines. Everything was made using discards from the local landfill and recycle items.
It is truly an amazing display of the 20th-century folk-art in California.
The village has been closed since 1984. In fact, it was also damaged quite considerably during the 1996 Northridge earthquake.
- Bodega Harbor – The Bodega Harbor has an area of approximately 5 square km and is located in Sonoma County, about 64 km northwest of San Francisco. It has two fishing ports, two marinas, a campground, a boat launch, and many waterfront restaurants. It is an ideal place to learn or practice kitesurfing and windsurfing due to its shallow water depth.
Between 1811 to the 1840s, the harbor was used by Russian fur traders who were a part of Fort Ross or the Russian Ross Colony. It is also famous for being the primary location of the movie called ‘The Birds’, which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park – The Big Basin Redwoods State Park is located about 36 km northwest of Santa Cruz, in the Santa Cruz County. Big Basin was established in 1902, making it the oldest State Park in California. The area of the park covers around 18,000 acres. You will find a number of waterfalls in the park along with lush canyon bottoms and even sparse chaparral-covered slopes.
Animals such as raccoons, deer, and bobcats can be found living in the Park. It also has a rich bird life. Some of the birds that can be found here are herons, Steller’s jays, acorn woodpeckers, and egrets.
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk – The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is one of the few oceanfront amusement parks on the West Coast of the USA. It located in Santa Cruz and was founded in 1907. Thus, it is the oldest seaside park in California.
Except for the year 2015, this amusement park has won the ‘Best Seaside Amusement Park’ award from ‘Amusement Today’ since 2007.
The park includes a large building known as the ‘Neptune’s Kingdom’, which is a pirate-themed recreation center. It was originally known as ‘The Plunge’ and contains a miniature golf course and a video arcade.
Conclusion
If you love to travel like my friend, Matthew Davies, these places are a must-visit.
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