As Spanish authorities colonized Alta California, they established twenty-one Franciscan missions and four forts, or presidios, to bring the native inhabitants of the region under control and to provide for security and defense. Today, the missions and presidios are among California's most popular historic landmarks, and enduring reminders of California's Spanish and Mexican past. A FalconGuide to California's Missions and Presidios is a fun and fascinating tour of the missions and presidios for vacactioners and history buffs alike. This guide includes beautifully descriptive text, a brief history of each site, key festivals, plus information on nearby attractions.
Other books in the Exploring series include Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Canyonlands and Arches National Park, Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores, Dinosaur National Monument, Florida's Atlantic Coast Beaches, Florida's Gulf Coast Beaches, Glacier National Park, Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Hawaii's Parklands, Mount Helena, Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Southern California Beaches.

Tracy Salcedo is the author of fifteen Best Easy Day Hikes guides, including four to the San Francisco Bay area, as well as Best Rail Trails California (all FalconGuides).

(1) Introduction (2) Inside This Guide (3) California's Spanish Legacy (4) Mission San Diego de Alcalá (5) Mission San Luis Rey de Francia (6) Mission San Antonio de Pala (7) Mission San Juan Capistrano (8) Mission San Gabriel Arcángel (9) San Gabriel Mission Estancia (10) Mission San Fernando Rey de España (11) Mission San Buenaventura (12) Mission Santa Barbara (13) Mission Santa Inés (14) Mission La Purísima Concepción (15) Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (16) Mission San Miguel Arcángel (17) Mission San Antonio de Padua (18) Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (19) Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (Carmel Mission) (20) Mission San Juan Bautista (21) Mission Santa Cruz (22) Mission Santa Clara de Asís (23) Mission San José (24) Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) (25) Mission San Rafael Arcángel (26) Mission San Francisco Solano (Sonoma Mission) (27) The Presidio of San Diego (28) The Presidio of Santa Barbara (29) The Presidio of Monterey (30) The Presidio of San Francisco (31) Glossary (32) Sources and Further Reading