More Affordable Car Tour Vacations, Northern CA

Historic Tour Near Monterey Bay, CA Includes Spanish Missions

Aug 16, 2009

Continue on with another affordable family vacation by following historic Mission Bells on an extended day car trip near Monterey Bay.

There are five Spanish Missions located south of San Francisco readily available for educational tours by car. Two Missions located on Monterey Bay highlight this visit on a long weekend trip.

Students of all ages enjoy short car road trips sharing their experiences with the whole family as they gather information for school projects. Visiting California Missions may be useful whether one is studying the history of California, the people during this era, or the architecture of these adobe style churches.

One may schedule visits with local docents offering facts and local stories of the various historical tourist attractions with advance planning. The historic emphasis of Monterey is sometimes neglected because of other numerous fine tourist attractions.

Monterey is rich in history dating back to the arrival of Spanish immigrants in the 1770s, and emerges as a prominent city introducing California as a USA territory in the 1800s.

Monterey Bay is a short one and one half hours south of Mineta San Jose International Airport, San Jose, CA. Even on this first part of the trip, there is so much to see driving south through Salinas, the Salad Bowl Capital of the World and home of the National Steinbeck Center, by following parts of the old El Camino Real, or old King’s Highway, the road the Spanish priests followed when traveling to and from Missions.

Staying at the Casa Munras Hotel, (800) 222-2446, an upscale, yet historic hotel that is located in the heart of downtown Monterey is a must with this historic trip. A member of the Larkspur Hotel Group, Casa Munras has the historic significance of the original hacienda of Don Esteban Munras, Spanish diplomat to California in 1824.

Much of this historic tour is within easy walking distance of this hotel. First, a visit to nearby Carmel, CA, which is surrounded by the city of Monterey, to see the second Spanish Mission founded is a much desired start of this trip.

Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo in Carmel, CA

This Spanish Mission was the second Mission founded by Father Serra in 1770. It has Moorish architecture with an enclosed courtyard, extraordinary healing herb gardens, citrus and olive trees, roses, Mexican sage and bougainvillea, and considered a favorite of Father Serra’s and is where both he and Father Lasuen are buried. 3080 Rio Rd., Carmel, 93923, (831) 624-3600

Driving north one hour to visit the popular surfing town of Santa Cruz, one may visit the other Mission on Monterey Bay. Mission Santa Cruz, the twelfth Mission on this trail, was in one of the best locations, although this Mission had many challenges to endure. There were many natural disasters like flooding, and earthquakes which led the frustrating padres to departure. Today, a replica built in 1931 stands close to the original site. 126 High St., Santa Cruz, 95060, (831) 426-5686

Monterey is where leading citizens held the first constitutional convention in Colton Hall and drafted California’s first constitution as the thirty-first state in USA. It was their decision to place the first permanent state capital in San Jose, CA.

The easy to follow History Path located in the heart of downtown Monterey has historic attractions of the 1800s like the Custom House, signifying the transition from Mexican to American territory, and Colton Hall.

Ask the hotel concierge about the free tours of significant adobe buildings of Cooper-Molera Adobe, Casa Soberanes, Larkin House, and Stevenson House or call the Custom House Plaza (831) 649-7118 for information. There is a fun guided walking tour of Old Monterey offered daily at 10:30 a.m. beginning at Pacific House Museum located at the Custom House Plaza near the Fisherman’s Wharf.

A worthy item of note to see are the different gardens located at each dwelling, like the Memory Garden behind the Pacific House Museum.

Remember to take this fun and affordable family vacation by following the historic El Camino Mission Bell trail along Monterey Bay and visit the Spanish Missions and Monterey Historic State Park in Northern Calfifornia.

The copyright of the article More Affordable Car Tour Vacations, Northern CA in Historic Tours is owned by Donna West. Permission to republish More Affordable Car Tour Vacations, Northern CA in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.