Planning your to trip to see California’s Mexican roots

THE BEST WAY

The drive is about 410 miles from Los Angeles to Sonoma, 70 miles from Sonoma to Sacramento, 190 miles from Sacramento to Monterey and 325 miles from Monterey to L.A. San Diego is about 125 miles south of L.A.

WHERE TO STAY

Amber House Bed and Breakfast Inn, 1315 22nd St., Sacramento; (800) 755-6526, www.amberhouse.com. Quaint 1905 Craftsman home on a mostly residential street. Doubles $169 to $279.

Pacific Hotel, 300 Pacific St., Monterey; (800) 554-5542, www.hotelpacific.com. Confusing layout, but central location. Rates $149 to $609.

The Cliffs Resort, 2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach; (800) 826-7827, www.cliffsresort.com. Nice bluff-top seaside location. Doubles $139 to $399.

Best Western Hacienda Hotel Old Town, 4041 Harney St., San Diego; (800) 888-1991, www.bestwesternhacienda.com. About 200 rooms spread over eight buildings. Doubles $189 to $250, plus $5 resort fee.

WHERE TO EAT

Maya, 101 E. Napa St., Sonoma; (707) 935-3500, www.mayarestaurant.com. Bright colors, loud music, busy bar. Faces the plaza. Entrees $10.95 to $24.50.

Zócalo, 1801 Capital Ave., Sacramento;(916) 441-0303, www.zocalosacramento.com. Mexican cuisine. Entrees $12.50 to $18.50.

Stokes Restaurant, 500 Hartnell St., Monterey; (831) 373-1110, www.stokesrestaurant.com. Setting is a stately, pink adobe dating to about 1840. My dinner had service snafus and mediocre food, but others have raved. Dinner only; entrees $15 to $30.

Casa Guadalajara, 4105 Taylor St., San Diego; www.casaguadalajara.com. Festive setting with big courtyard. Entrees $9.95 to $29.90.

TO LEARN MORE

California State Parks, www.parks.ca.gov, has information on the historic parks. Admission fees are typically about $2 per adult. Tours frequent and usually free. Often, paying one fee entitles you to enter other state sites nearby.