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Category: California

Travel guides, information, photographs, and stories about taking a vacation in California. See https://explorationvacation.net/exploring-usa/california/ to start planning your next trip.

photo of a Joshua tree with text "Joshua Tree National Park"

Joshua Tree National Park: Explore an otherworldly California landscape

Posted onApril 26, 2021June 26, 2022Leave a comment

The USA’s desert southwest has a lot of strange landscapes, but Joshua Tree National Park in southern California stands out as one of the most alien-looking. That makes it a fascinating place to explore. Along Read More …

CategoriesCalifornia, USATagsUS National Parks

historic church with text "Mission San Juan Bautista on the Mission Trail in California"

The past is present at Mission San Juan Bautista, California

Posted onOctober 9, 2016December 14, 20215 Comments

Time is a shapeshifter at California’s Mission San Juan Bautista. San Juan Bautista is a place where the past slips into the present, where both the church building and the religious life conducted within it Read More …

CategoriesCalifornia, USATagsNational Register of Historic Places, religion and religious architecture

historic Spanish Mission and gardens with text "Mission San Juan Capistrano - Traveling California's Mission Trail"

A walk through California’s Mission San Juan Capistrano

Posted onSeptember 8, 2016August 19, 2021Leave a comment

Among the first California missions to capture the public imagination, Mission San Juan Capistrano (and its swallows) have been immortalized in song and film. A walk through San Juan Capistrano makes it easy to see Read More …

CategoriesCalifornia, USATagsNational Register of Historic Places, religion and religious architecture

Plaza Hotel San Juan Bautista California

Historic town of San Juan Bautista, California

Posted onMay 1, 2016October 20, 2020Leave a comment

Spain authorized the establishment of Roman Catholic missions in Alta California with the intent that these missions would become the nucleus for new cities inhabited by loyal Spanish citizens. In many cases cities did grow Read More …

CategoriesCalifornia, USATagsNational Register of Historic Places, religion and religious architecture

Spanish mission church with text "Mission San Luis Obispo California"

A merger of past and present at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, California

Posted onApril 11, 2016August 19, 20212 Comments

Mission San Louis Obispo de Tolosa has undergone many physical changes over time, leading to a church where past and present merge in interesting ways today. Past and present merge at Mission San Luis Obispo Read More …

CategoriesCalifornia, USATagsmuseums, religion and religious architecture

sea gulls on a fence

On the beach in Laguna Beach, California

Posted onMarch 10, 2016December 3, 2019Leave a comment

The days leading up to Christmas aren’t exactly prime beach time in California. However, since we were in the area and had never been to any of the coastal communities south of Los Angeles, we Read More …

CategoriesCalifornia, USATagsPacific Ocean

dilapidated exterior of church

The many churches of Mission Santa Clara de Asis, California

Posted onMarch 3, 2016December 3, 2019Leave a comment

The lovely church of Mission Santa Clara de Asis is the mission’s sixth church and the second at this, the mission’s fifth location. 

CategoriesCalifornia, USATagsNational Register of Historic Places, religion and religious architecture

Morro Rock at sunrise

Morro Bay sunrise, California

Posted onFebruary 15, 2016October 17, 2018Leave a comment

Morro Bay, California, is a wonderful place to watch the sunrise. First the sky turns rich shades of purple and pink. Then, as the sun peaks above the opposite horizon, it begins to illuminate the Read More …

CategoriesCalifornia, USATagsPacific Ocean

Mission Santa Clara de Asís

A visit to Mission Santa Clara de Asis, California

Posted onJanuary 11, 2016March 19, 20202 Comments

Mission Santa Clara de Asis is one of only a small number of California missions to remain active throughout its history. Today it is also the heart of Santa Clara University. 

CategoriesCalifornia, USATagsNational Register of Historic Places, religion and religious architecture

dessert flowers with mountains

California Desert Wildflower Tour

Posted onApril 9, 2011December 26, 2020Leave a comment

I love the desert in bloom and have long wanted to visit Death Valley when it was awash in blossoms. You can never predict exactly when it will be a good year or when the Read More …

CategoriesCalifornia, Nevada, USATagsitinerary

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Exploring Minnesota State Parks

Exploring Minnesota State Parks

Minnesota has 76 state parks and recreation areas, with the largest concentration in the exceptionally scenic northeastern part of the state. However, there are scenic areas throughout Minnesota and Read More ...

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