This striking panorama greets the guests at California Adventure: 11-foot tall gold letters stand at the threshold of the park, and beyond them two colorful 10,000-tile mosaics of the state's renown scenery hint at the stylized, even idealized depiction of California's history, lifestyle and grandeur contained inside.

Once inside, guests pass underneath a scaled-down replica of the famous Golden Gate Bridge, which doubles as the Monorail track that offers a bird's-eye view of the park.  In the distance overlooking the Sunshine Plaze (think Disneyland's Hub), a giant gold titanium sun shimmers brightly day or night, thanks to computerized reflector panels that continually bounce sunlight off the sculpture during the day, and lights that illuminate it at night, inviting visitors to bask in the warmth of Californian hospitality.  Not quite the "weenie" drawing guests through the gates that Sleeping Beauty's Castle does at Disneyland, but an appropriate enough symbol representing California's sunny reputation as the Golden State. Below the sun, a perpetual wave fountain crests in various patterns, completing the set of California's sun and surf legacy.

To the right of the entrance, a replica of the streamlined California Zephyr passenger train has 'pulled into' the Sunshine Plaza station, offering guests snacks at the Baker's Field Bakery and Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream, or fill your need for gizmos at the Engine-Ears Toy store. Across the plaza from the Zephyr, the Greetings From California shop stocks just about every conceivable memento of your DCA visit, but save your shopping for the end of your visit. Grizzly Peak beckons us from high beyond the entrance, so onward . . .

© 2001-2002 scott weitz