Along El Camino Real

Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] A humble trail separating the Franciscan missions by a day's journey. first marked the way through California's wilderness. Ryhuniper Osera once trod the path that has grown into broad high-speed highways into modern streamlined railroads [Music] and a skyway through the clouds, all following the roots of the Pathfinders. The Mission Trail between San Diego and San Francisco is often called America's most beautiful 600 miles. It passes along the picturesque and fertile coastline and through towering mountain ridges for which California is renowned. This the first mission founded in California. San Diego de Alcala was established by the Franciscan Padres in 1769. Over 200 years earlier, Juan Rodriguez Cabrio first of the concistadores ventured through uncharted oceans to be the first European to land in San Diego Bay. His discovery fired the imagination of missionaries in the old world and they followed his trail to California. Today, his memory is preserved in the Cababrio National Monument, overlooking the bay he discovered. From Point Loma Lighthouse, visitors can behold one of the great seascapes of the world. From the first humble mission, San Diego has grown into a modern metropolis of over a half million people. Her harbor births vast numbers of naval craft, and she is a port of call for the cargo carriers along the sea lanes of the Pacific. She boasts of a large fleet of tuna clippers and is a prolific sport fishing area. The Sarah Museum, built in memory of the founder of California's Trail of Missions, contains many relics of early mission history. In beautiful Baloa Park, flags of many nations wave a warm welcome to a myriad of secluded gardens with lovely pools reflecting the ornamental beauty of its buildings. Animals in natural grotto never cease to amuse and fascinate in one of the world's finest zoos. [Music] Padres's traveling by foot in the early days would have welcomed this tranquil autofairy ride to the fashionable beach resort town of Coronado. [Music] Champion skiers display exciting tests of their skill in yearround water sports in the warm waters of Coronado Bay. [Music] Lying in a sheltered valley a few miles north of San Diego is Mission St. Louisis Ray Def Fransia, once largest and richest of all the missions. The original stairway, still standing in the patio, links her with its romantic past, as do the entrance stones hollowed out by the carts of the mission Indian. Nestled in the foothills of Mount Palomar is Pala, established as a branch of Mission St. Louis Ray and today the only mission church serving a congregation predominantly made up of California Indians. Along the trail to the north in Orange County is Laguna Beach, whose water wonderland and rugged hills provide an ideal setting for California living. The beauty of this magnificent coastline attracts many of the West's most famous artists. Here, outdoor art exhibits are very popular. It was a day's journey northward for the Padres, but it is a short trip today to San Juan Capistrano. Thousands of tourists come here each spring to see the return of the swallows from their southern migration. Nearby is California's most famous yaching center, Newport Baloa Harbor. Speedboat racing enthusiasts provide exciting events for the spectator. Many fleets of small sailboats cruise her quiet bays. And here too, fabulous seagoing yachts make their home. [Music] Reminiscent of the gold rush days is one of California's interesting landmarks, Ghost Town. Here the novice can pan gold in the manner of the old sourdough. [Music] Violent episodes of the Old West are reenacted to the delight of the visitor. [Music] And an Indian in full regalia pauses while an iron horse snorts past. Los Angeles. Her first name was Newestra Seora Laangles Decula and she grew from a tiny PBLO to California's largest city. In Hollywood, theaters are made famous by premieres of motion pictures and the stars footprints are recorded in the entrance. [Music] Near Los Angeles in the foothills is Mission San Gabriel Archangel. [Music] Once known as the pride of the missions, her turbulent career provides rich history that attracts thousands of tourists annually. Long Beach, Lura's son and water lovers to her warm beaches and claims the distinction of having the largest livebait sport fishing center on the Pacific coast. People come here from all parts of the country to participate in this popular pastime. Here facilities are such that a fisherman does not have to be an expert to bring in the biggest fish. [Music] Northwest between San Pedro and Roondo Beach in Los Angeles County is the world's largest oceanarium stocked with over 5,000 specimens of fish and animal life. The playful porpuses are put through their tricks five times daily. In the palm leaf shelter of Santa Monica's Pacific Palisades, the magic beauty of sunfilled days slips quickly by. The smooth white sands of its fabulous beach beckon the traveler. And for more exhilarating fun, one may test his strength on the muscle building facilities. Acrobatic stunts are staged for the hundreds of spectators. Colorful beach umbrellas provide a perfect background for lazy lounging in the sun and water sports. [Music] Also nearby the Queen City of Southern California is Pasadena, famous for its flower extravaganza, known throughout the world as the Tournament of Roses. [Music] The same day, over a 100,000 spectators jam the Rose Bowl for the annual Football Classic. Hollywood's Randolph Scott and Fred Estair attend the sport of kings featured in a setting of tropical splendor. [Music] Our tour takes us inside the land of makebelieve where history and fantasy are reenacted for the cameras in one of California's largest industries. [Music] Near Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley is the next mission, San Fernando Repa. A few miles north is Oxnard, LMA Bean Center of the World. Living is pleasurable and profitable in this agricultural community known as the treasure chest of the west. [Music] Up the coast is mission San Buvententura from which the city of Ventura took its name. The skill of the Indians is reflected in these small wax figures carved by them many years ago. The restful resort village of Ohhigh retains much of the leisurely charm of old California, and its mild climate is ideal for the active sports of today. This temperate belt is ideal for the vast citrus industry that thrives here and provides unexelled, luscious fruit for our California sun-kissed beauties. [Music] Further north is Santa Barbara, a modern city with all the charm of an old Spanish pblo. Its street of Spain retains much of the atmosphere of the days of the dawn when gay cavalieros courted beautiful senoritas. Mission Santa Barbara known as queen of the missions is one of the most beautiful along the trail. Its colorful gardens and fountains always attract visitors interested in California history. Unlike the other missions, Santa Barbara was never deserted by the Padres, and its candles have never ceased burning since the day of its founding. The yacht harbor gives access to a fishing and hunting paradise in and around the nearby Channel Islands, and the racing enthusiasts get keen competition. The annual Spanish Day's Fiesta is a colorful reminder to the citizens of their heritage. Many are descendants of the Spanish concistadores. [Music] Now the trail winds through Gabiota Pass where General Fremont turned the tide of battle for California. Just beyond are the fabulous flower fields of Santa Maria, Lampoke, and Guadalupe. For almost any season of the year, the valleys are a flame with color. 90% of the world's commercial flower seeds are produced in this area. [Music] Within this colorful flower belt stands Mission Santa Inz. Northward is Mission Laurisima Conpsion, now restored to its original beauty. Deep in the golden coastal range in the heart of the cattle country can be found a variety of dude ranches California style. Here you can find a rest with all of the comforts and entertainment of the city. Or if you prefer to recall the Old West, there are thousands of acres of open range to explore. Spirited horses on the range trails give a thrill of a lifetime, as do barbecues in the crisp mountain air. Point Conception, graveyard of ships, juts into the Pacific as we travel northward along the rugged coastline to peaceful Pismo Beach. Here you can join the throngs who come in search of the king of clams. [Music] A clamming fork and a little careful probing uncovers some of the big clams that have brought fame to another of California's attractive seaside resorts. Gourmets the world over have sung the praise of this delicious seafood. St. Louis Abyispo County excels in raising fine cattle and delicious barbecued meats tickle the pallets of all who are lucky enough to be here during roundup time. Mission St. Louis Abyspo dtolosa dominates the center of St. Louis Abyispo and is still the active church of the city. Mororrow Rock, towering guardian of St. Louis Abyispo County, shelters a vacation land and the abalone capital of the world. The rocky coastline provides the sea's finest state. Daring divers pry them from the offshore rocks. A careless hand under the shell of the powerful abalone can mean death. Michelle reveals radiant mother of pearl and the abalone pounded with a mallet of an expert provides a new taste treat from Mororrow Bay. Our trail continues to Cambria Pines where the traveler can combine the pleasures of the mountains and the sea. Oakstudded hills surround the resort town of Pasarobyl, almond growing center of the world. Next in the chain and on the California Highway US 101 is mission San Miguel Archangel restored to its original quiet beauty welcoming guests to its garden. Also restored is beautiful mission San Antonio de Padua northwest off the main highway and a new chapel is glimpsed at mission deora de la Soidad. Selenus in Monterey County is the hub of an agricultural empire known as the salad bowl of the nation. Here too is the largest sugarbeat industry in the world. The annual California Rodeale lures the nation's top riders to Selenus to participate in one of the West's roughest and wildest cowboy shows. Here they are, 1500 strong, eager to get on with four days of real westernstyle celebration. [Music] west from Selenus on the coastline. line is the Monterey Peninsula and lovely Carmel by the Sea. An enchanting village where an artist's colony is gathered to record the everchanging moods of the sea and the sky. Championship games are played on its rugged golf link. On a 17-mi drive around the peninsula, we pause at Cypress Point and then on through Pacific Grove, famous as the winter mecca for tens of thousands of giant monarch butterflies. Here is the last resting place of Fry Huniperosa, Mission San Carlos Boromeo de Carmelo, one of the loveliest of all the Franciscan missions. It stands today as a monument to the great concistador of the cross. who left the comforts of a conventional life to come to our western wilderness to teach the better ways of life to a pagan race. He rests in the land he loves, where Carmel's rugged coastline stands watch over a restless sea. [Music] Father Sarah originally picked for his mission a site that later became Mterrey, the first capital of California. The original customs house has been preserved, and the first theater in California still stands nearby. Noted as a vacation wonderland, this town is also a fishing village, harboring a large fleet of boats that cruise far to the north and south in search of the albakor, the tuna, and the sardine. [Music] At the edge of the blue Pacific lies a wild and beautiful canyon known as Big Su. A playground today, but a battleground for pioneers. For the more adventurous traveler, pack trips provide a thrill through a panorama of wild and rugged forest country. And a lively trout stream challenges the lazier vacationers. The notorious bandit Muretta played his infamous role near Mission San Juan Bautista in San Bonito County. This is the largest of the mission churches. And now a 100 years later, the mission quietly continues its work. [Music] The first organ brought to California still plays and can be seen along with many other primitive instruments such as this wool carter. [Music] Exotic rock formations furnish an inspiring side trip to the traveler as he pauses at Pinnacle's National Monument [Music] in the southern part of Santa Cruz County. Apple and prune trees surround the city of Watsonville. Over six million boxes of apples are shipped from the Pajaro Valley each year. Santa Cruz links its origin to the Franciscan mission. In Santa Cruz County, magnificent giant redwoods shelter El Camino Royale, the original trail of the Padres. Many of these monarchs of the forest are thousands of years old and link the present through the centuries to a far distant past. [Music] The deer in the park have become so tame that even the children can feed them without fear. Overlooking the beach at Santa Cruz is the pavilion. This famous landmark is the setting for many events throughout the year, including the Miss California pageant. [Music] Capola in Santa Cruz County is the center of the tuberous beonia industry. Large fields of these exotic blooms present a very colorful sight to visitors who come from all parts of the country to admire these fabulous hybridized flowers. The individual beonia seem to compete with each other in gayely displaying their rich and riotous colors. The original redwood cross stands guard over Santa Clara University on the site of mission Santa Clara de Aasi. Only this old adobe wall remains. Light industry in attractive California style architecture keeps pace with modern progress in bustling industrial San Jose in Santa Clara County. Unusual surroundings in business such as this beautiful patio make working here a real pleasure. Progressing along El Camino Royale includes a quick glance at the picturesque chapel of Stanford University and the lovely blossoms of the prune and peach orchards in Santa Clara County. Noted for its communities of beautiful houses and flower gardens, San Mateo County basks in perennial sunshine. Western living is at its best in this garden spot of California. But for those who want excitement, the thoroughbreds furnish plenty of thrills at two racetracks located in the county. In Alama County is beautiful San Jose de Guadalupe. In its heyday, it had the largest Indian population of any mission in the north. Nearby is a monument erected in tribute to this vanished race who labored faithfully to help build the mission. [Music] Northward again to Oakland, California's third largest city and a thriving industrial center. [Music] In the heart of the city is a saltwater lake and a delightful yearround recreational area. Along the waterfront is Jack London Square where the tourists while dining can reminisce about the exploits of this noted writer. Holds first and last chance saloon recalls settings used in his writing. Children's Fairyland is an animated mother goose storybook park scaled to youthful visitors. Nursery rhymes come to life in this romantic world of make believe. Through Sathergate enter students from all over the world to attend one of the most noted institutions of higher learning, University of California at Berkeley. Many nationalities are represented among the students who live in the international house. The visitor will be interested in the alumni building with its beautifully landscaped ground. Dominating the view is the stately company. To meet the needs of a fast growing population, thriving industry, and bustling trade, the fabulous Oakland San Francisco Bay Bridge was created, the longest in the world. [Music] And finally, after 600 beautiful miles along the King's Highway, we approach the great city of San Francisco. After being nurtured by a gold rush, the famed city by the Golden Gate has grown into a metropolis of industry and foreign trade. Colorful cable cars clink over the hills on which San Francisco is built. At the Embaradero, ships of the seven seas unload cargos from the far east. Chinatown beckons the visitor with its quaint flavor of the Orient. Fisherman's Swarf has its sturdy fishing fleet and its fame seafood. [Music] Golden Gate Park has its exotic gardens and beautiful buildings. San Francisco's Mission Delores rests well preserved in the heart of the city. North over Golden Gate Bridge is the original site of Mission San Rafael Archangel. Early mission history ceased at San Francisco Desalano, where the northward trek of the Padres's haltered. Here on the shores of the Pacific, the dreams of humble men took root and became a pathway of history. Truly America's most beautiful 600 miles.