THE SPRINGS OF MONTEREY COUNTY 



CHARLBS R. MELANDER 

 Secretary SallnaM Board of Trade 



PROTECTED from the fogs of the Pacific, cozily tucked away in a snug 

 little valley on the eastern slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains, lie 

 the Paraiso Hot Springs, aptly termed the "Carlsbad of America." 

 The Santa Lucia Mountains are among the most picturesque, 

 and in various ways the most attractive, of the many remarkable 

 mountain ranges of California. They lie between the beautiful Salinas 

 Valley and the Pacific Ocean, and for more than a hundred years have been 

 known as the home of the most wonderful health-giving springs of the world- 



The history of Paraiso Springs is exceedingly interesting. In the year 

 1791 King Carlos IV of Spain granted to the Mission Soledad twenty acres 

 of land where the Paraiso Springs are now located. 



The priests in charge of the Mission planted a vineyard thereon, and 

 used the hot soda and sulphur waters for the healing of the sick and afflict- 

 ed. Finding the spot of great beauty and the waters full of life-giving and 

 healing qualities, they fittingly called the place Paraiso, meaning Paradise. 



Paraiso Springs is only a five-hour ride from San Francisco, through 

 three of the most fertile and beautiful agricultural valleys of the world — 

 the Santa Clara, Pajaro, and Salinas. 



Nature in one of her jealous moods placed Tasajara Springs in a seclud- 

 ed and almost inaccessible spot. Nestling in the summit of the Santa Lucia 

 Range, and reached only by wagon road from Salinas City, fifty miles 

 away, one would suppose that only the most hardy and venturesome would 

 attempt the trip, yet so great is the medicinal virtues of her waters and so 

 fascinating is the charm of her mountain scenery that yearly her stone 

 hotel is crowded and accommodations booked months ahead. 



With fame only local, the cures effected here have been marvelous. 

 No sufferer from dread rheumatism leaves here without relief, and the 

 testimonials offered are almost beyond belief. 



The ride from Salinas, while long, is not tiresome, the beauty of the 

 ever-changing mountain scenery fascinates and each unfolding vista pre- 

 sents a never-failing source of wonder, reminding the traveler of the Swiss 

 Alps or the grandeur of our own matchless Yosemite. The best proof of 

 Tasajara's hold on the one-time visitors is that they all return. It may be 

 years, yet the fever is in the blood, and sooner or later they all return. In 

 the words of a returned visitor, "He who enters here leaves care behind." 



SPRINGS OF VENTURA COUNTY 



SIM MYERS 



IN Ventura County, about one hundred miles from Los Angeles and 

 sixteen miles from the Coast, situated in the beautiful Matilija Canon, 

 surrounded by the Santa Barbara Forest Reserve, is one of the most 

 beautiful health and pleasure resorts in Southern California. At an 

 altitude of one thousand feet above the sea, it is entirely surrounded 

 by abrupt mountains, which tower to the height of two thousand feet above 

 the grounds, perpetually clothed with a mantle of green. The clear, limpid 

 waters of Matilija Creek, abounding with myriads of speckled beauties, 

 flow down the bed of the canon, noisily rushing over rocks and ripples in 

 their hurry to reach the sea. Shady nooks and cozy dells, beautified by 

 picturesque waterfalls and sparkling streams, prolific with ferns of all 

 varieties, the famous Matilija poppy and many other beautiful wild flowers 

 blooming in their beauty upon the sunny slopes, all combine to make the 

 surroundings a continuous scene of grandeur and beauty. There are 



