In my last blog I suggested that the snow capped mountains rising vertically from the desert floor, lush green meadows, ghost towns in “arrested decay,” more or less dormant volcanic craters, thermal hot springs, stunning waterfalls and tufa towers of the Eastern Sierras were one of California’s most beautiful destinations.
Getting there also offers unique pleasures. While the first half of the 300-mile trip can be visually boring even that stretch offers some noteworthy points of curiosity.
Read MoreEl Greco or Claude Monet? Do you prefer the drama of California’s northern coast along portions of California State Route 1 or the natural palette of colors of California’s Eastern Sierras along U.S. Highway 395?
I think the two most beautiful regions of California are its northern coastline and the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Read MoreSanta Monica Bay offers a potpourri of images and activities. Its shores reflect the ingenuity of developers adept at turning sand dunes and marshes into cities. The bay’s beaches have served a s sets for a fictional teenage surfing idol and at least one cheesy television series. Its waters have inspired noir detective stories and more than one forgettable song.
Apropos of its link with the entertainment industry Santa Monica Bay has also been the stage for an ambitious politician’s successful run for the California governorship. This in turn led to his appointment to the United States Supreme Court and authorship of a landmark decision that abolished racially “separate but equal” schools and other public facilities in America. It is this improbable series of events I want to look at.
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