Virtual Guidebooks to
Central California, including San Francisco

Central California is not a generally recognized subdivision of the state, it is just a personal definition I have made to serve the interests of this site.

Its northern boundary runs through the Golden Gate and Carquinez Strait, then across the Delta and over the Sierra Nevada on the divide between the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers (i.e. between Yosemite and Sonora Pass). Thus by my definition San Francisco is in Central California but Marin is in Northern California. The deserts east of the Sierra crest are quite distinct and belong to my "state" of Southern and Eastern California.

The southern boundary follows an old geographic convention and runs from Point Conception along the crest of the Santa Ynez Range just north of Santa Barbara, through the knot of mountains around Tejon Pass, then east and gradually curving north to follow the Sierra crest past Yosemite. Santa Barbara and Kern Counties are thus split in two along watershed divides.

The state that results from this partition is unusually rich in famous places and beautiful scenery. Add to this the fact that I happen to live in this "state" and it is no wonder that I have well over a thousand panoramas to illustrate it.

We start with the virtual guidebook to the City of San Francisco, supplemented by another for the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area (except the part north of the bay). The next guidebook covers Monterey, Big Sur and the Central Coast, with another just inland along El Camino Real for the coast ranges and valleys. The San Joaquin Valley is the south half of the Great Central Valley, while the Sierra Nevada is divided between Yosemite National Park in the central range, and Sequoia/Kings Canyon and the Southern Sierra running down to the Tehachapis.

To begin, just click one of the guidebooks (regions) listed below or click on the map. Not familiar with VR panoramas? - CLICK HERE - to see an example. Requires QuickTime

Contact Don Bain: dbain@virtualguidebooks.com

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