Spring break is here and summer vacation is just around the
corner, which means it’s time to get the heck out of town. But this
year, instead of the usual road trips to San Francisco, Hollywood
or the places everyone else goes, take a chance on someplace
different.
Spring break is here and summer vacation is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get the heck out of town. But this year, instead of the usual road trips to San Francisco, Hollywood or the places everyone else goes, take a chance on someplace different.
“There are plenty of unusual places to go in California,” said Joyce Patereau, owner of Gilroy Travel LLC. “People who want something more rustic can go to Apple Valley where there are a lot of dude ranches. Catalina is often overlooked by those of us up here in the north, but it’s a great place for resting and relaxation. And for someplace really different, there’s always Death Valley. A lot of people go there in the winter and have a great time, but some crazy people go there in the middle of summer when it’s 120 degrees, and they still love it. It’s a wonderful place to visit.”
Below are five other unusual places in California you may want to consider for your next vacation adventure.
Calico
Near Barstow, off Interstate 15
This ghost town was founded in 1881 by gold prospectors. At its height, Calico was a town of about 1,200 residents, and it was home to 22 saloons and more than 500 mines. Despite most settlers’ desire for gold, the Calico mining district became one of the richest in California by producing more than $86 million in silver.
After 1907, silver prices dropped and the miners moved toward Death Valley, making Calico a ghost town. Today, though a large portion of the town is original, much of it has been restored to its former glory. Mine tours, panning for gold, staged gunfights, hiking and camp sites make Calico a fun place for every member of the family.
Info: www.calicotown.com, www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/parks/calico.htm
Julian
Just east of San Diego
Julian was also founded during the gold rush days of California. Today, historic Victorian buildings still line the quiet streets of the town, which only has one four-way stop sign intersection. During the warmer months, horse-drawn carriages take tourists around the historic area, and actors in period costumes roam the town.
Julian, however, is now best known for its famous apple pies made from the apples in the orchards surrounding the area. Nearly every restaurant in town sells their own version of the all-American delight, and residents of neighboring cities often make day trips to Julian for some shopping, hiking, fishing, star gazing and, of course, pie.
Info: www.julianca.com, www.lakecuyamaca.org or www.observersinn.com
Bodega Bay
Off Highway 1 in Sonoma County
Along with being an ideal spot for ocean sports such as kayaking, fishing and whale watching, Bodega Bay was home to several movie sets including Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” the ’80s cult classic “The Goonies,” and “Forever Young,” starring Mel Gibson. Movie buffs can take tours of areas featured in the films, including the historic Potter schoolhouse, used in The Birds and the beach where One-Eyed Willie’s pirate ship sailed toward the horizon in “The Goonies.”
Bodega Bay is also home to many dog-friendly beaches, making it a location two-legged and four-legged family members can enjoy.
Info: www.bodegabay.com, www.sonomacountytours.com.
Happy Camp
Just a few miles from the Oregon border
Not a single stoplight can be found within 50 miles of Happy Camp, which is within spitting distance of the Oregon border. The area was first named “Athithufvuunupma” by the Karuk Native American tribe that camped on the Indian Creek banks. The town was later founded and renamed by trappers, loggers and prospectors more than 100 years ago, and it currently enjoys the infamy that comes with being home to legendary Bigfoot.
The first Bigfoot sighting in the area was recorded back in the 1860s, and several other sightings and one footprint, measuring 17 inches long and 11 inches wide, have been documented since.
Aside from Bigfoot, visitors can catch salmon and steelhead, enjoy white-water rafting, and the natural beauty of the Klamath National Forest, the Elk and Indian creeks, and the surrounding Marble Mountains.
Info: www.happycampchamber.com
Yreka
A short drive north of Mount Shasta
Make sure to pronounce the “Y” in Yreka, or the locals will surely laugh you out of town. The town was born when gold was discovered on the flats near a ravine nearby in 1851. Six weeks after the discovery, more than 2,000 miners had arrived to try their luck at finding the rich stuff.
Today, visitors can take walking tours of the historic Victorian buildings, the digging sites and unique shops and restaurants.
Take note of any references to “the State of Jefferson.” As far back as 1852, just a year after being founded, Yreka found itself at the center of controversy. Yreka was named the capitol of a new state called Jefferson, where people angry about how California and Oregon were governed were welcomed. On Nov. 27, 1941, “Jeffersonians” made their own Proclamation of Independence. California and Oregon state legislatures were supposed to consider the matter, but the issue was shelved when Pearl Harbor was bombed just 10 days later.
Every now and then, a move for the State of Jefferson arises, but supporters are seldom taken seriously.
Info: www.yrekachamber.com
