Santa Cruz
Hit hard by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the City of Santa Cruz has rebounded with ferocity. The downtown area has been completely renovated and now houses unique and interesting eateries, galleries, theaters, and high tech office buildings. Still drawing crowds are the 75 year old "Giant Dipper" rollercoaster at the Boardwalk and miles of surf and sand. The old pier is home to the fishing industry, leaving visitors happy as clams as they feast on fresh seafood. In the Eucalyptus grove at Natural Bridges State Park, the Monarch butterflies roost for the winter.

The Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountain range extends from Half Moon Bay in the north to Mount Madonna in the south and lies in San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. The cool coastal atmosphere and rugged mountains are some of the influences that provide for premium wine grape production. Over thirty family owned wineries have made their home in the region. Hand crafting the wines and maximizing the potential of the grape is mastered by the sense of family values and spirit of independence that distinguished the winemakers of the 1800s.

Capitola
Sporting one of the finest views of Monterey Bay, Capitola has a craggy coastline that opens on to a wide beach. Elegant private homes, small inns and eclectic shopping make this a popular stopover.

From the majesty of the coastal Redwoods in the north to the beauty of the magnificent Monterey Bay in the south, the Northern Coast is a 300-mile stretch featuring some of the most beautiful scenery and historic towns in California. Some of the cities and historical spots you will find include -- Eureka, with its elaborate Victorian homes; Fort Bragg, with its turn-of-the century old West storefronts; Bodega, where Alfred Hitchcock filmed "The Birds;" and Monterey, with its lovingly restored buildings of Spanish heritage and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, largest of its kind.

Though the Northern Coast is rich in history, it has been rediscovered today for its excellent shopping, fine dining, beautiful bed and breakfast inns, and wonderful fishing and recreational opportunities.



The Gold Country is another 300-mile stretch, mostly along Highway 49 -- known as the Golden Chain Highway. It stretches from Oakhurst in the South, near Yosemite, to Sierra, north of Lake Tahoe. Towns you might recognize include Sonora, Angels Camp, Placerville and Nevada City.

The discovery of gold in 1848 changed California and America forever. Miners rushed in from around the globe, brnging with them a cosmopolitan air such as this sleepy little backwater area had never experienced. Most of the miners are long gone, but they left a legacy of warm hospitality and the history of a special part of the Golden State. Treat your entire family by wandering the side roads and byways as you follow those argonauts of not long ago.

The California Gold Rush celebrates its 150 anniversary in 1999, and California commemorates its 150th anniversary of Statehood in 2000. Check out our links page for some links to websites gearing up for these special events, and also our own Sesquicentennial News!

Like the Northern Coast, the Gold Country is as rich in modern amenities as it is in history, offering an ideal setting for outdoor recreation, water sports, and fine dining and shopping.