Explore California’s Sonoma Valley with English professor Michael Kowlewski in this abbreviated version of his popular “Visions of California” off-campus studies program.

Fort Ross and Point Reyes

On Friday you will visit Fort Ross State Historic Park, founded in 1812 and one of the first Russian settlements in North America. Next stop is Point Reyes National Seashore, a Mecca for photographers, artists, and naturalists, with a network of hiking trails and a herd of more than 300 Tulle elk. A local naturalist will lead the group on a bus tour and hike.

Inland Sonoma

Saturday will focus on inland Sonoma with a tour of the Sonoma Mission, Sonoma Barracks, and Marino Vallejo’s home. You will picnic at Jack London State Park on the grounds of Beauty Ranch. The park features an exceptional museum, Jack London’s grave, and the ruins of Wolf House, London’s magnificent wood and stone mansion that burned to the ground before the family could move in.

Night Life

Evenings at the ranch will be filled with lively discussions, book talks, and wine-tasting.

Accommodations

You will stay at Westerbeke Ranch, kicking things off with a Thursday-evening wine tasting and discussion of the Sonoma wine industry, past and present.

Faculty

Michael Kowalewski, professor of English and director of American studies, created “Visions of California” as a course at Princeton 15 years ago, then as a 10-week off-campus seminar at Carleton, which he will lead in 2004 for the fourth time. A California native, Kowalewski has focused his research on his home state for the past decade. His publications include Reading the West: New Essays on the Literature of the American West and Gold Rush: A Literary Exploration. His wife, Cathy, an art historian, will assist him on the alumni trip.