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In 1769, Fr. Junipero Serra needed a wagon road to connect his mission churches, so with the establishment of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, his first in California, he also constructed California’s first highway. The road began humbly, but eventually strode 600 miles (966 km) connecting California’s 21 missions from San Diego north to Sonoma. The Spanish called the road a “camino real,” a term then used to describe primitive wagon roads, which also translates to “King’s Highway.” For nearly two centuries this royal road, known officially as U.S. Highway 101, was the principal north-south route in California.

With the opening of the super highway Interstate 5 in the late 1960s, most of U.S. 101 was bypassed or assigned to other highways, leaving much of the original route lightly affected by California’s explosive growth. Because of this, Historic U.S. 101 is the route to take for those who’d like to see California much as it was during its first 150 years as a state. Although much of the south coast California portion of Historic U.S. 101 isn’t identified on California maps, just “connect the dots” between the California missions and look for roads named Camino or Coast Highway and you’ll likely be close to the original El Camino Real.

Within a mile of the old route are many historic and cultural treasures that make for entertaining diversions. This trip up “101 by 1” begins at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street - Lat./Long.: 32.7542 / -117.1961). This was San Diego’s original downtown and as you enter the square, your senses are stimulated by the sounds of Spanish guitars and the spicy-sweet aromas of Mexican delicacies. Near several original adobe structures and the mission church that can be toured, old motels have been converted into a street scene reminiscent of early California with restaurants and shops featuring “South of the Border” dishes and goods so genuine that a visiting Mexican tourism official once complained to another about having to travel to San Diego in order to find an experience so authentic.

Author's Note: This is the first in a three-part series on interesting places to be found within a mile of US 101. This article covers the southern part of the road from San Diego to Los Angeles.

To read the entire article, visit http://www.californiafun.us

Source: www.a1articles.com